DT 30430

67 comments on “DT 30430”

1. Absolute peach of a crozzie, great fun. One thing struck me though, either I’m overdoing the oily fish, or this was quite a bit easier than most Fridays (which is pretty much setting myself up to not finish any next week)
   Wonder how many of or foreign friends had to go to google for 1a?
   My two favourites today were 13a and 2d. Many thanks to our setter today.

   1. Never mind your foreign friends having to Google for 1a I too had to do so – soccer is not my strong point.

      1. Me too, and I only remember them by the full three word name.

   2. In this case, does ‘foreign friends’ include those living South of Hadrian’s Wall? :wink:

      1. Good point!

   3. Is this Scottish football week? We had another (the other?) Glasgow club just a day or so ago. Ah, but perhaps not here…

   4. I had to google, but the Muriel alerted me to the second word, so easy peasy!

2. Very enjoyable, witty and well-crafted throughout. I even liked the Spoonerism (they’re great when they work).
   My biggest problem is choosing a podium but I’ll go with 3,5&25d from a strong field of contenders
   Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

   Ps This setter seems to have a penchant for Scottish football clubs. I know he’s used Livingston in the past and here’s a really great one incorporating East Fife from last year.

   City defence is breached by East Fife regularly (9)
   Solution…Sheffield

   1. Who is the setter?

      1. I’m guessing it’s someone who I know you particularly admire!!

         1. Crikey my Silvanus radar seems to have gone wonky of late – didn’t peg yesterday’s Toughie as one of his nor this one but no wonder I loved them both.

      2. See Comment 10 for my thoughts on the answer to your question.

3. I needed help with the last couple of clues but this was most enjoyable for a Friday. I had a couple of bung-ins – 19a for example – so I will need to look at Mr. K’s hints. I’m not sure where the walls of a distillery fit in at 25d, either. Not to worry I will find out soon enough.

   My thanks to the setter for the fun challenge. Thank you Mr. K. for the hints and wonderful pusskits.

   PS I still don’t get 25d even after looking at the hints. The walls of “distillery” are “DY”.

   1. (DY)nasty (house)

      1. Ahhh! Many thanks, SL. 👍

         1. Glad you asked that, I hadn’t passed it either!

         2. Took me yonks to get the “why” too.

   2. 25d was a bung in for me too.

4. 2*/4*. A lovely puzzle to finish the week with only the parsing of 25d requiring some head-scratching.

   Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K.

5. A two speed puzzle. A fair few quickly done and great optimism but then a slower and more pencil chewing progress to completion.
   Great puzzle. Challenging but doable!
   Thanks to compiler.

6. 25d the parsing head scratch for me also but the penny dropped reasonably quickly. Very enjoyable indeed.
   Thanks to the setter & to Mr K

7. At first, I thought this was going to be anurher slog of a crossword having not solved a single clue as I went through the NW, NE a d SE. Then I solved a cluster of clues in the SW and as rthe checkers went in, the grid began to fill up, although I didn’t uunderstand some of the parsing. There was an element of enjoyment not often found in Thursfay and Friday puzzles. I liked the clever missing letter clue at 25d and the Spoonerism at 15d (my COTD). Thanks to Mr K for the hints and to the compiler for an unusually pleasant Friday guzzle.

8. Most enjoyable whilst lasted. It pains me to say it but 15d made me smile. Thanks to today’s setter and Mr K.

9. The first time I have commented on here and I found this quite gentle for a Friday, but very enjoyable.
   So may have to have a go at the Toughie now to bring me back down to earth!!

   1. Welcome to the blog, Marcos.

   2. Hi, Marcos. Welcome from me as well.

10. Most enjoyable and not too challenging for a Friday back pager, relief after yesterday’s Ray T head scratcher – 2*/4.5*

    As to the setter, not a pro_imal or a proXXXXmal and it does not ‘feel’ like a Zandio; it does however have the ‘feel’ of a production by the third member of the Friday triumvirate, even though he was on back page duty last Friday and Toughie duty yesterday. So, two half-crowns on Silvanus.

    Candidates for favourite – 11a, 30a, 15d, and 18d – and the winner is 18d.

    Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if my five bob goes down the drain, and thanks to Mr K.

11. Very entertaining stuff – thanks to the setter and Mr K.
    My podium contains 20a, 15d and 25d.

12. Yes, as per Senf, I found this a pleasant diversion after RayT’s bleak offering yesterday. Initially tried to settle on a 2-word alternative solution to 13a using an animal rather than a bird. 7d unparsed as key didn’t occur to me. 9d held out until the end. Fav 21d. Thank you Messrs. Ron and K.

13. Great fun while it lasted, rather gentle for a Friday. Great wit throughout, an admirably restricted number of anagrams. Clues of the day for me the excellent Spoonerism, and 25d.

    <1* / 4*

    Many thanks to the setter & to MrK

14. Well I couldn’t believe that I even managed to get a toehold on a Friday cryptic but what do you know? I’ve still got 4 to go- piddly 4 letter words! I guessed at the spoonerism and was delighted to find that I got it right. Have read Mr K’s explanation but still none the wiser. I found the second half of 1a first. A lovely crossword- thanks to setter and Mr K. After a very rainy night the sun has come out and I’m off to meet friends for lunch.

    1. Re the Spooner clue, did what the “Detailed Explanation” button reveals not help? I tried to spell out there exactly how it works.

       1. Your excellent detailed explanation did it for me. I’ve never enjoyed a Spoonerism before.

       2. Oh sorry- I was in such a rush to write comment and get ready to go out that I didn’t see the detailed explanation button. Have read it now and it does totally make sense so many thanks to Mr K for taking the extra time to help me and others who struggle with Spooner.

15. 25d my favourite from a very long list of possibles this morning. The smooth surface readings, the football clubs, the humour, all point to a Silvanus production I feel. Whoever was responsible, take a bow for a great challenge.

    Many thanks to the aforementioned and Mr K.

    1. Mine too, I think. It was my last one in, because, while the answer was obvious, I totally failed to parse it, until the penny dropped about the (for me) 3rd synonym for house. Face-palm/duh momemt!

16. Another excellent puzzle which was very enjoyable. Favourites were 16A, 27A and even (for me for once!!) the Spoonerism but the best, imho, was the very clever misdirection with 1A. Thanks to setter & I would agree with ***/***

17. Very mild for a Friday which, for myself and I emphasise for myself, was a little disappointing – I do like a stiff back-page challenge (like a Zandio) on this day. I’ll soon get over it, though (and no M, I haven’t tried the Toughie – no access to it). It was enjoyable enough whilst it lasted (a phrase I don’t particularly like using or reading). Favourite: 3d. 2*/3*.

18. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout with just enough head scratching to make it challenging. I suppose football does make a change from cricket though both are a mystery to me. However, I had heard of the Scottish club and the Spanish one could have been nothing else, so all was well. I took far too long to realise that 3d was an anagram and I needéd help with parsing both 28a and 25d. Favourite today was the Spoonerism at 15d joined on the podium by 11a and 19a. Thanks to our setter for the enjoyment and MrK for parsing help and the kitty pics.

19. A Friday puzzle that, had its moments but overall was gentler than many Friday puzzles can be. Took a bit for me to get going but bit by bit it came together for me. Found the bottom harder than the top of the puzzle.

    2.5*/3.5* for me

    Favourites include 1a, 20a, 22a, 27a, 15d & 24d — with winner 15d

    A couple of the clues I could not figure out the parsing even though the answers fit, so will have to refer Mr K’s brain on the hints Friday morning as I check it out.

    Thanks to setter and MrK for hints/blog that will help me.

20. Looks as though I’ve been thoroughly spoilt with our editor’s choice of setters for Thurday/Friday of this week – no doubt I’ll pay for it next week!
    Silent prayer of thanks yet again to my dear old dad for checking his football coupon with the radio announcements of the scores on Saturday evenings – funny that I can remember the likes of Queen of the South, Heart of Mid-Lothian etc but not necessarily what I ate for dinner last night!
    Excellent Friday puzzle for me with biggest ticks going to 13&30a plus 3,5&24d.
    Thanks to Silvanus for the fun and to Mr K and his felines for the review.

    1. Just seen your reply to my post on DT 30427, yes it does seem a bit rude
       on second reading!

       1. Conjured up some amusing images, Tipcat!

          1. I’ve just booked Wells Crab House for lunch on 9th November during Norfolk Restaurant Week. It was the very last lunchtime booking available for the whole 10 days of NRW!

             1. So pleased that you’ve managed to secure a booking – the chef will doubtless be on his knees by the end of NRW! Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts when you’ve visited – I’m really curious after watching it featured in the TV series.

21. Very cleverly constructed puzzle
    With every crossword land
    Ingredient
    Lower half went in like
    A whizz
    Upper, not so.
    Pennies and Duhs galore
    And pleasingly, unaided.
    Crowded podium, 1a takes
    Gold.
    Many thanks, indeed, Sivanus
    And Mr K.

22. Fun solve with 15d as a very clever spooner clue. Thank you compiler and MrK. PS … writing this on holiday in beautiful old Rhodes … just seen a HUGE cruise ship dock and there must be over 3000 passengers coming into town. Help!

23. Pleasantly and fairly swiftly done, right up until I only had 9d left, which took a little while and was the LOI. And I only understood it after looking at Mr. K’s explanation. Still managed ** time and **** for enjoyment so thanks to the setter (how do you all seem to know who it is every day?) and Mr. K for the hints.

    1. Hi, Gaspode. For most of what we know about identifying setters, have a look at http://bigdave44.com/faq/#28

24. 2/4. Splendid puzzle which seemed easier for a Friday but very welcome. It all went in smoothly but not so for the NE quadrant which took as long as the rest of the puzzle. 1a gets the podium place. Thanks to the setter and Mr K.

25. Completed with help from the hint at 21d. I bunged a lot in without parsing them, but they were correct when I checked, does that really count🤔. A lot milder than most Fridays but very enjoyable. Thanks to all.
    PS. Is 16d one for the list.

26. I can’t believe this is Friday, not easy but very doable and lots of good stuff. I found the SW a bit tricky and needed a little ehelp there. I remembered the sherry ship at 18d and that opened up the rest of it. There was so much to like, I never thought I’d say this, but the Spoonerism amused as well. Fave? I have no idea, 15d, 13a, 22a, take your pick, but it could have been others.
    Thank you setter, my brain is still intact which is a plus, and Mr. K for his helpful hints and pusscats.

27. Many thanks to Mr K and to everyone commenting.

    May I wish everyone a good weekend!

    1. Hi, Silvanus. Thanks for dropping in, and thanks for a great puzzle to solve and to hint.

    2. Thanks for the perfect Friday puzzle.

    3. Many thanks for the puzzle and for popping in, silvanus.

28. So it was Silvanus after all!! I thought it can’t have been because he was yesterday but, at the same time, he is the only setter that I have a fighting chance of getting any answers on Fridays and I did quite lots today.
    Oh well, onwards . . .
    I could write lots but it’s probably a bit too late now – most things have already been said I think.
    I particularly appreciated 14 and 20a and 3 and 15d. My favourite was 27a.
    Thanks to Silvanus for a “doable” Friday crossword (a rarity) and to Mr K for the hints.

29. Good evening
    I see from comment no.27 that today’s crozzie was put together by Silvanus; in which case, I say take a bow, sir, for 15d! 🤣
    Plenty of chewy clues today, and lots to get the brain working; in common with a few others,
    I guessed 25d without parsing it. Excellent stuff.
    Thank you Silvanus and also to Mr K for the hints and explanations.

30. I enjoyed the puzzle despite finding it quite challenging in places. Initially, I ignored 1a as I can’t stand football clues and ditto 5d but with checkers in place they were doable. Again, Spoonerisms are anathema for me but I actually got 15d. Though appreciated Mr K’s detailed explanation, including 25d. I struggled to get 30a had the hounds but kept thinking of bays and roans for the horses. The penny would probably have dropped if I had given it enough thought but our ‘hound’ wants his tea! Many thanks to the setter Silvanus and Mr K for the hints. Have a nice weekend everyone.

31. Another most enjoyable puzzle. We have had a most fortunate week it seems. I’m not up on football clubs but immediately knew the Muriel reference especially as she is a favourite of mine. Thanks to Mr. k although for once tips were not needed but the 19a pic was fun. Thanks also to Silvanus.

32. As straightforward as they come but that didn’t detract from the pleasure. My biggest hold-up was breaking my pencil (I haven’t said that for ages). Hard to pick a favourite as nothing made me scratch my head so I’ll go with the one that made me laugh which was the Spoonerism. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr. K.

33. As I am always late attempting the crossword on Fridays, I was pleased and surprised to find this one was doable and a lot of fun. I confess that some of my answers were bung ins, which I later understood, with the exception of 25d which was a mystery to me. Thanks to Silvanus for this treat, and to Mr K, particularly for picture for 24d. Adorable.

34. What fun that was. I completed it whilst we drove home from Wales where we had a lovely time and fantastic weather, it is now pouring with rain here. This was a great puzzle with 15d my favourite as for once I got it!

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K for the kitties and hints

35. I know I’m a day late but just had to say what fun. Greatly enjoyable and done this morning without a pause. Just didn’t parse 25d. Had to check the football club but getting the second word made it easy. Yes I remember it from the football results as Queen’s Park Rangers. Thanks Silvanus et al.

    1. Thank you.

       1a is a Scottish club, based in Glasgow. QPR is an English team, based in London. Apart from the similarity in the name, they are entirely unconnected!

       1. Well they both play pretty lousy football

36. 3*/3* ….
    liked 13A “One always standing out in their particular field? (9)”

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