EV 1504

Enigmatic Variations 1504

Pick Up by Vismut

Setter’s Blog

BED and LURE are jumbled RED and BLUE for the Norwegian flag; BRIGADIER SIR NILS OLAV THIRD is a KING PENGUIN (APTENODYTES PATAGONICUS) residing at EDINBURGH ZOO.

I have to thank Chalicea for this one. While trying to finish one of her very entertaining EVs I came across a clue using the phrase “penguin troops”, which at the time meant nothing to me, so I googled it. This did not help to find the answer to that particular clue, but did produce a video of this absolutely charming penguin inspecting his troops. “So very British”, I thought, but no, Norwegian troops in a Scottish Zoo. Bonkers! The Norwegian flag is very crossword compatible, with just the two colours and a cross, so compiling the grid was pretty straight forward, unlike The European One for example which was my previous offering to solvers. As to the title, those of us of a certain age must remember the p p p pick up a penguin campaign for a chocolate biscuit, but if you don’t you can find out all about it here

https://www.simplyeighties.com/pick-up-a-penguin-biscuit-bar-tv-advert.php#.YTX00J1KjIU

mm feeling a bit p p p peckish now. The bars have shrunk dramatically of course so possibly I’ll have two with my coffee.

As it happens, I have just returned from a visit to another zoo, Gerald Durrell’s on Jersey, a lifelong ambition now fulfilled to celebrate my xx^th birthday this year. We went for a week so that we could sample all of the delights on Jersey, but every day followed the same pattern. We pootled around for a bit and then went to the zoo. Luckily my husband is a patient fellow and was happy to sit in the sun doing crosswords while I made my way slowly from animal to animal. A rustle in the tree might be a red squirrel (still to be found in the wild on Jersey) or a little troop of (no not penguins) marmosets. Either was a delight to see.

So, Edinburgh Zoo soon. We have friends in the city who I’m sure would like to go visit a penguin, especially such a distinguished one.

Now just a quick thanks for all the support I get with my puzzles and then,

Goodbye.

Vismut

A full review of this puzzle can be seen over on fifteensquared.