DT 30288

93 comments on “DT 30288”

1. Really enjoyed today’s offering with plenty of misdirection and penny drop moments. Thanks Campbell. Top three for me were 28a, 29a and my COTD, 13a. Given that I have been suffering with pollen-induced itchy eyes and asthma for the last few weeks, I should have solved this clue quicker than I did. Thanks to pommers for the hints – not sure whether you can enjoy 38 degrees, but it sounds better than the cloud and rain we are back to in Putney today.

2. I don’t know why but I found it hard to get startedcwith this puzzle snd didn’t enjoy it as much as I normally do on Mondays . However, there were some good clues and I particularly enjoyed 8d as I have many happy memories of reading the author’s books to my son . 18a and 13a were also good fun. Thanks to Pommers for the hints and to Campbell for the puzzle.

3. I found this weeks Monday to be easier than the past few and have finished it even though there was plenty to stump me initially. I had forgotten 18a even though we had it a while back and 13a was clever. Today I have a least favourite -16d as it bought back horrid memories of having to dig up all our box hedges last year as they were infested with box tree caterpillars…we now have lavender instead.

   Many thanks to Campbell and to Pommers, what a pity we can’t average out our weather!

   1. Our problem with 16d (see my comment @10 below) sounds the same as yours. :( Perhaps we too will have to plant lavender instead.

4. An attractive mix.
   With hesitations
   At 1 and 18a and 19d.
   But three pennies performed.
   So, */4*
   Thanks Campbell and pommers.

5. For me it seems as if Campbell is staying at the slightly harder level of his spectrum as I almost ground to a halt. However, I agree with MissTFide in that it was easier than previous weeks. I had an alternative answer to 29a at first but knew there was no way it would have passed the eagle eye of our editor. I will place a bet that 7d will make Terence’s List – I had never heard of the word. I also had “free” as the first word of 1d so that held me up for ages. No real favourites apart from the bottom Quickie pun.

   Many thanks to Campbell for the workout and pommers for the hints.

   Feeling lousy today – headache, sore throat, horrible cough and aching limbs. It’s not Covid because I did a test this morning so I suppose it is “Man Flu”.

   1. 7d may make it onto Terence’s ‘list’ but it is an Oldie but Goodie although it has probably not appeared for a while.

      1. Thanks, Senf, I will try and commit it to memory. :good:

   2. I hope you feel better soon, feeling Ill always drags you down.

      1. Thank you MissTFide.

   3. Oh dear, poor you. I am up and dressed today but still feeling peely-wally. How is Mrs C, because she is not well either is she? I did make fun of George’s man Covid but in an affectionate, resigned way which only another woman would understand. 🫢

      1. Mrs. C. is better than she has been, DG thank you for asking. The thing that is getting her down at present is constant itching, which drives the poor girl mad. She is seeing a dermatologist though but it’s a slow process.

   4. I immediately thought of Terence too at 7d! I’ve vaguely heard of it – in Jamaica we’d call them “hurry-come-up”!

   5. Oh dear, hope you feel better soon.

      1. Thank you, BL but others are far worse off than I so I won’t go on. Having said that , it is Man Flu.

         1. Thank goodness it’s not Covid! Get better soon and rest!

            1. Rest? A man’s work is never done! 😌

               Seriously, thank you, Merusa.

6. I thought this was very enjoyable and probably just about right for a Monday.
   I’d never heard of the dance (and looking at it briefly on YouTube I don’t want to familiarise myself with it) nor Coward’s work but the former was fairly clued and the latter could be little else. Though I’m fine with it I predict that 4 down will get the thumbs down from some.
   I liked lots but I’ll mention 1,5,23&29a plus 17d as being particularly good.
   Many thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

   1. 18a is very popular at the Ghillies Ball at Balmoral.

      1. And at the Uni of Edinburgh some 55/60 years ago on the odd semi-formal evenings when one could find enough people still standing!

7. I agree that Campbell is back to normal in the difficulty stakes – thanks to him and pommers.
   On my podium I have 18a, 29a and 17d.

8. Just about right for a Monday, though it did take me a while to get started. 7d was a new word for me and required electronic help even though I knew it was an anagram. I liked the unique clueing of 26a which I have seen clued in many different ways, but not this one. Lots to like, especially 15a, 27a, 19d and my favourite 29a.. Thanks to Campbell and Pommers.

9. Nice and straightforward this morning with no editorial errors to confuse the commentariat. 29a and 17d take the honours ahead of 16d.

   Thanks to Campbell for the fun and to pommers. We could do with some of your heat over here as is still depressingly un-Soringlike.

   1. We don’t have the extreme heat any more. It’s a more normal 26°C this afternoon.

10. 2.5*/4*. This was slightly more challenging than usual but great fun as ever apart from the ghastly answer to 4d which brings me out in spots.

    My top picks are 1a, 29a, 6d, 17d & 19d.

    16d made me feel sad because our buxus have all died and can no longer be said to be the answer. This appears to be a widespread problem at least in our locality presumably due to some sort of blight.

    Many thanks to Campbell and to pommers.

    1. Hi RD

       What are your thoughts on scoff, munchies (also munch), fodder (also fodd), yums, fuel and tucker as synonyms for food? I really don’t mind 4d but it clearly irks with some of the punters.

       A friendly test for a bank holiday with 13a getting the nod even though I’ve never heard of it.

       Is it me or is the parsing of 29a not quite right? It’s the ‘taken in by’ bit that I’m struggling with as ‘taken’ (or, strictly speaking, ‘taken by’) and ‘in’ serve the same function. It probably is me.

       Thanks to Campbell and Pom Pom (not sure that’s going to take off).

       1*/4*

       1. I read it as “everyone” in “by” followed by most of a band but not the musical type.

       2. it’s all a matter of personal taste, Tom, and most of the words you have listed as synonyms for food would fall into my “ghastly” category. Fodder and fuel are fine, as is tucker provided its antipodean origin is acknowledged.

          1. Agreed, RD!

          2. Duly note, RD, and pleased to see that ‘fodder’ gets the thumbs’-up from both you and Jane as I often use it (like the choice of ‘personal taste’, btw)

             I’ve just looked up the origin of tucker. Tuck originated in Blighty and was extended to tucker Down Under which is against the grain as Aussies usually like to shorten things but, as it’s already a one syllable word, they had nowhere to go.

             From ”Tom Brown’s School Days”….”The Slogger looks rather sodden, as if he didn’t take much exercise and ate too much tuck.”

             SC, I read it the same way. I think I’m going down ‘Semantics Street’ regarding ‘taken’, ‘in’ and ‘by’ which is probably not worth pursuing.

             Onwards!

             1. Tuck box and tuck shop were common terms in my school days (a very long time ago!) Break time generally involved a visit to the tuck shop.

                1. Oh, those were the days – I remember my Dad made me a tuck box when I went to “big school.”

    2. RD
       We did lots of research last year when our box hedge looked sick. If it is covered in fine sticky cobweb like structures then it’s the box tree moth/caterpillar which unfortunately is apparently rampaging the country, Without industrial pesticides it is impossible to get rid of (we tried picking off the caterpillars for a bit (one eco friendly suggested solution)but we could never keep up and they are very hard to see as hide in cocoons and look like stems. We therefore threw in the towel and dug it up. I know little about the blight that is the alternative diagnosis.

       If anyone is currently tempted to plant box the gardeners we spoke to said that they do not feel anyone should plant it at the moment as it is just sustaining the problem and that you will probably lose the plant anyway. Lots of RHS and National trust gardens are having to do away with their box. The only good news is currently it remains a box only issue with no evidence it has moved on to other plants.

11. A bottom Quickie pun compared to the preceding two Campbell Mondays. A nice gentle puzzle with no head scratching required. 18a my fav.
    Thanks to Campbell & Pommers

12. Quite a few to smile about today but think I’ll go with Steve C and give the gold medal to the bottom Quickie pun.
    As Stephen predicted, 4d got a definite thumbs down here although I can assure him that an 18a can be great fun in the right company.

    Thanks to Campbell and to a sweltering pommers for the review and the iconic photo at 5a.

13. It’s Monday :good: The ‘real’ Campbell is back :good: 1.5*/4.5*

    Candidates for favourite – 15a, 23a, 28a, 10d, and 21d – and the winner is 15a.

    Thanks to Campbell and pommers.

14. About as good as our Monday setter gets, I think, which is high praise indeed from me. The first time I saw Coward’s 13a was at my initial visit to the Nottingham Playhouse back in the autumn of 1971, I think it was, and after that I became a happy and regular patron of that excellent theatre during my year at Nottingham U. Many days of golden memories. Favourites today: 7d (so good to see that term again), 19d, & 29a. Thanks to pommers and Campbell. **/****

    1. We too have happy memories of the Nottingham Playhouse, we lived in Tollerton for the first 5 years of our married life. Did you ever get the ring over the horn in the Trip to Jerusalem?

       1. Were you there in the John Neville days at the « new » Nottingham Playhouse? I am having clear out but have to read everything as I do. There were literally dozens of Playhouse programmes. So many famous names, some of whom were just starting out. Robert – Hay Fever was one of the programmes I have thrown out.

    2. Did you get to the Chichester Festival Theatre, Robert? Think that’s probably my favourite venue.

       1. Mine too Jane. We got married in Chichester!

       2. Hi, Jane. I made it to Chichester only once, to attend a chamber concert one Sunday afternoon and to see the Cathedral, where the programme was held, but never got back again to the Festival Theatre. I was actually the guest of some old Swans Hellenic Cruises friends who lived in Bognor R. That’s what I call living very well indeed!

          1. Oh dear Robert, Swan was our second home we are trying A Saga this June as it includes insurance and travel to Dover. What can possibly go wrong?!

15. Great combination of amusement and challenge. 18a brought back memories of so many joyful occasions in the past. 4d food is IMHO an awful widely used modern term even sometimes on invitations Ashamed to admit I had forgotten the 8d children’s author although of course not his stories. Thank you Campbell for Bank Holiday fun and pommers for hinting.

16. I found this crossword a little tricky – therefore the setter must be a complete dunderhead and should be locked up, without the prospect of parole, in Wormwood Scrubs.
    *Reads etiquette*
    On the other hand, this was a great guzzle that took me a little longer to solve than usual for a Monday.

    I saw an excellent revival of 13a at the Queen’s Theatre in 1983 starring Penelope Keith as Judith Bliss. She was, of course, magnificent.

    The panel met this morning following a request from Steve Cowling. However, there was unanimous agreement that 7d was acceptable and therefore did not merit an entry on to THE LIST. There is no appeal process.

    We would be going out for a lovely walk this afternoon… however H has now managed to break one of her toes by bashing into a table leg sans footwear. As this is not the first time, I have pleaded with her to wear some form of footwear around the house, but does she listen? Reader, she does not. Thus we are going out for a drive, some fresh air, and a hobble.

    Thanks to Campbell, and pommers sizzling in Almoradí

    1. You have my sympathy, Terence. I have a wife, stepdaughter and granddaughter all of whom seem incapable of wearing footwear in the house and then complain when they stub their toes. Both the first two have had broken toes in the past few years.

       1. Ah Dave… women are such a burden at times. As Professor Higgins says: “Why can’t a woman be more like a man?”
          Stubbornness leads to stubbed toes.
          :wink:

          1. I once went barefoot to the bottle store in Cape Town to get supplies for a party. A chap carrying crates of beer trod backwards on to my foot and I passed out. Never been barefoot since.

          2. It seems to me that there is a distinct separation of the sexes happening here. The ladies naturally have a cross to bear with irritating husbands who will not lock the garage door when they come in for dinner, or who take to their beds with a sniffle etc ( I could go on but it might be classed as trivia) and now the gentleman, led by The Gentleman himself of all people, is rousing the males in a protest against the charming foibles of the innocent fairer sex. Walking around with bare feet is very good for you provided people don’t move furniture around.

          3. A few years ago our lawn mower wouldn’t start – I eventually lost my temper completely and kicked it SO hard – rather wished I hadn’t!

    2. Isn’t this a case of the pot calling the kettle…? Most couples I know, it is usually the husband who will not listen to advice, however helpful it might be. I know I can make suggestions but Peter will go on in his own sweet way anyway,

       1. Now, now, BL. When Mrs. C. asks me to do something I always do it. I may do it in six months time but I will do it. :grin:

17. 11a also refers to another ancient meaning of Quarrel, does it not? Thanks, Campbell and Pommers, May 1st much more enjoyable than last week.

    1. Yes, I thought that, Tumbert.

18. Definitely a more gentle Campbell for the start of the non-work week. I enjoyed this one, but I will say the NE was a bear to solve. This one area frankly doubled my solve time. Never heard of the answer to 7d … and 27a was so far out of my memory, that it took a while to solve too.

    2*/3.5* for me today.

    Favourites were 12a, 15a, 23a, 6d & 8d with my winner 8d
    I still have many of the first editions of this authors offerings and have read them to my grandchildren many, many times and I still love them.

    Thanks to Campbell for a kinder Monday solve and to pommers for the blog/hints

19. Hello,
    Much easier than last weeks’s crossword – thank goodness for that!
    1a was tricky – to me anyway – and 18a took ages – can’t “do” dancing any better than football and all the other sporty things.
    The first bit of 23a foxed me but got there eventually.
    I liked 13 and 15a and 21d.
    Thanks to Campbell for the crossword and to pommers for the hints.

20. Good to hear from you Kath. I am up and dressed today, feeling much better after a day in bed yesterday. I actually went out and planted my beans and took a photograph to show you my loo roll method but no matter how much I cut it down it was still over 2 giggathings. A great guzzle, 13a& 14d getting my daisies. I too put ‘free’ as the first word in 1d and still have not come up with a sxox word. I also liked the Quickie puns. Funny old Bank Holiday when you cannot see anybody or do anything. Hope I test clear for the Big Weekend. Many thanks to Setter & Hinter.

    1. I had the same problem at 1d. I consulted BD’s “mine” but there’s no section for soccer! Does that mean we’re all expected to know the soccer terms?

       1. Same here. Anything I know re football, cricket or rugby, I have learnt from these crosswords. In fairness, Peter has never heard of a 1d either.

          1. 1d is common parlance in the football (not soccer!) world, but it is no different for some as the opera and other highfalutin other subjects that appear from time to time! 😏 It would be very boring if we all knew everything about everything!

             1. You may think me thick, but what is the difference between football and soccer?
                I do know the difference between Rugby and Rugby Union though, at least, I should
                say that I do know there IS a difference.

                1. Soccer is an abbreviation from Association Football, and much used in the US. They, of course, have their own version of ‘football’. Most English football fans are not fond of the word.

                   1. I haven’t a clue as to why Italians call football Calcio which is Latin / Italian for limestone but I do remember the fact

21. Good afternoon
    A pleasant solve before going into work this afty; a little bit of help needed from wor lass and a couple of quick look-ups on Google and I got there. Thank you to Campbell and Pommers.

22. Thank goodness we’re back to (almost) normal Mondays. Some bits were tricky but mainly I was the problem understanding the “why”. We had a Scots lass as a PE teacher who taught us the 18a and many others, Irish Washerwoman and Gay Gordons were others, lots of fun. The 7d took awhile but I have come across it before. I cringed at 4d, on a par with “pants” – ugh. Fave was 18a followed by 13a.
    Thanks to Campbell for his kindness this Monday, and pommers for unraveling a few.

    1. We were taught old time dancing, Merusa, including the Boston Two Step, Valeta, Gay Gordons and several reels. For some reason, we also had to learn the Mexican Hat Dance, which demanded very accurate foot work and caused much hilarity because the tempo got faster and faster.

       1. Thank goodness we were spared that!

    2. Oh, I recall the Gay Gordens! Friday night at the youth club. Ask a girl (awkwardly) to be your partner and off we all went with those in charge looking for any hanky panky. We were all of twelve years old and, as I whirled my partner around, all I could think of was I hoped everyone was admiring the new watch I had been given for Christmas.

       Innocent days!

       1. Ah! Memories.

23. I was quite hopeful to begin with, but then I had to put my thinking hat on. This was never going to be a joyful “all my own work” result, as I had never heard of 9a, 18a, 1d, 7d (which I knew was an anagram but still couldn’t solve), and I had the wrong second part for 16d. Quite pathetic really. On the bright side, I did remember the English spelling for 23a. I will blame it all on trying to concentrate while the inspector was here for our new homeowners insurance company. Thanks to Pommers for helping me finish, and to Campbell for the brain exercise,

24. Oh Dear, another Campbell. He is fast becoming another Ray T. Weird words and complex wordy clues.Finished but understood about 75% of the clues.
    Not for me I’m afraid.
    ***/**
    Thx for the hints.

    1. Brian, one of the items on my Bucket List is to solve a crossword puzzle compiled by you. However, I think it likely that I will have shuffled off this mortal coil without completing that challenge.

       1. :grin:

    2. Come on, Brian! Give us all a cryptic clue not even the mighty Elgar could solve! 🤣

25. 28a as a great clue but 8d threw me completely thank you Campbell and Pommers

26. Only problem I had was 8d. I couldn’t think of the author. There are so many children’s authors. The only word I could think of was toward which was clearly wrong. Everything else went it but not a R & W for me. Certainly a slower solve from Campbell than we’ve had in the past. Favourites 13 and 15a and 2 7 10 17 and 19d. Thanks Pommers and Campbell.

27. Flew through this until I got to 4d! Who on earth uses this word to describe food? I eventually put it in and was amazed when my device said all answers were correct! Anyway thanks to all and hope all those with various lurgies feel better soon.

    1. I have just given in to curiosity and done an unveil on 4d. What sort of sport uses terms like that? Let’s have some crochet and needlework clues! Start the revolution now. ( and that’s before I’ve had my gin and tonic)

       1. 4d held me up too. Otherwise I really enjoyed this puzzle. I remember, as a child, going across 5a bridge to Moelfre on my holidays.
          Thankyou Pommers and Campbell.

       2. Hector tangled work in wool (5)

          1. Don’t you mean 6? Fantastic clue.

             1. Still wrong. I’m missing a letter now. Another case of seeing what you want to see!

             2. I meant 6! I blame Man Flu! :grin:

    2. Lots of people use eats for food. As in “big eats”.

28. A dnf for me without using Google for 8d and 18a.

    Never heard of 18a and never will again. I have also never read any of the books by the author in 8d, although I am aware of them.

    Thanks to all.

29. I started off quite well, managing to answer half of the clues before needing help. Then followed a flurry of solves before grinding to a halt and needing more help.

    Never heard of Arriviste, so that caused me some delay.

    Hole in my shoe by Traffic? I remember the Neil (from The Young Ones) version.

    All in all enjoyable.

    Difficulty **/***

    Enjoyment ***/****

    1. You’ve expanded your alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.

       1. Apologies Gazza. I couldn’t remember which I had used.

    2. I loved The Young Ones. It was so fresh and offbeat.

30. My Man Flu (it exists, does it not fellas?) is getting the better of me so I’m away to Ballybucklebo.

    Kinkie is waiting with a soothing chicken broth, so.

31. Easier than last Monday but not that mutch. but I didn’t help myself by going to the pub after running my dog training class, some people will never learn. Thanks to all concerned.

32. I don’t know about you guys out there, but a Bank holiday Monday to me is like any other Saturday, Sunday or for that matter any other day of the week when one is retired – all days are holidays when you don’t need to clock in at your place of work.That said, today I earmarked as a day to get ‘stuff’ done outside. So, I promised myself that half of today’s crossword would be completed before anything else was done, then the remainder would be looked at after tea – and so that is how today turned out to be and all was all done and dusted by early this evenig. Window boxes planted with new geraniums, a few new cordylines potted and a general tidying of front and rear gardens and finally the crossword was done and dusted. My outstanding clue today, top of the heap was 16d, closely folloewd by 9a and 18a. Maybe a little more thought was needed for some clues than on other days, but all in all this was a very satisfying and enjoyable solve. Thanks to both Campbell and Pommers, but once again all sorted before reading all the above. Weather permitting, tomorrow promises to be another very busy day.

33. 2*/2* ….
    liked 24D ” Ocelot finally spots litter (5)”

Comments are closed.