Comments for Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Comment on DT 26795 by Kath

Kath — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:11:19 +0000

It’s always the little four letter words that finish me off too – I couldn’t see 1a for ages and the one that I really nearly missed was 31a – I don’t think I’ve ever heard of “f” being “following” before.
Do hope that all your injuries are getting better and that your heroic dog is still getting lots of treats!

Comment on Toughie 723 by droolie

droolie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:23:57 +0000

Completely thrown by getting BOLTS for 16a, which I still think is a better answer.

Comment on DT 26795 by jaehancock

jaehancock — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:19:43 +0000

Found my way through this puzzle without help, but came here to understand a couple of yesterday’s clues, namely 13a and 11d. Those two had me stumped. Thank goodness for this blog – finally I understand.

Comment on DT 26795 by andy

andy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:51:21 +0000

Have no problem in learning new words, I love words but can see how it could be annoying. As is usual a four letter word stumped me e.g. 1a. So bl”"dy obvious when you see the hint. GGrrr. With so many topical clues today in other xwords I liked 9a. Thanks to Jay and BD

Comment on Toughie 724 by andy

andy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:33:56 +0000

Elkamere Anax that was hugely enjoyable and well done. I agree with the sentiments in your post. I think I have converted some of my pub regulars, the various ways of making a clue for Rufus or Roger Squires had them gobsmacked but when I took them through the process, there seemed to be an enormous amount of lightbulb moments. I was however suitably humbled and embarrassed when a total novice told me how to parse 20a which I just couldn’t see!! Thanks as ever to Gazza and setter

Comment on DT 26795 by gnomethang

gnomethang — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:21:52 +0000

I agree a gentler Jay puzzle today but none the worse for that, entertaining as it was. 2d was OK – Haven’t run by the word recently but I knew it and the cluing was fair as usual.
Thanks to JAy and to BD for the review.

Comment on Toughie 724 by gnomethang

gnomethang — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:19:51 +0000

A hugely enjoyable puzzle and a great tribute (amongst others today as noted). Certainly solving the first two across clues made spotting some of the others a bit easier (I actually got the Birmingham Post first then realised and the majority came in quite quickly after that.
A very Happy Birthday to Rufus (again) and thanks to Anax for the fun and gazza for the review.

Comment on Toughie 724 by Anax

Anax — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:35:23 +0000

Good evening everyone. Many thanks to Gazza for a great review and to all for your comments.
A quick note on the Manchester Evening News. Yes indeed, Roger supplied its double puzzle (cryptic & quick clues) daily for many years and it was my first introduction to cryptics. I had no idea how cryptic clues worked at the time (I was probably 12/13 years old) but because I already had a long-standing interest in crosswords it was clear there was something going on that I needed to understand. Those MEN cryptics, by the way, were anonymous – it would be many years before I knew Roger had set them.
As well as wishing Roger a very Happy Birthday, I’d also like to thank Phil for his counsel in the editing stages of this. The original puzzle featured many clues which would be meaningless to anyone who didn’t know something about Roger’s life and Phil advised me to replace these with ‘standard’ offerings. Today’s tribute puzzle in the Guardian, by Elgar and a number of other setters, was I thought quite brilliant, but a few 15sq commenters noted that the majority of ‘outsiders’ would be left cold by the references. It’s understandable, but also worth pointing out that a puzzle which is a personal tribute is extremely difficult to pull off if you have to hide all of the thematic material! Historically, crossword setters have always been pretty much hidden from view – the much more public face of cryptic setting has only been possible because of the Internet, but not everyone has the time or inclination to go browsing the web to further a hobby they didn’t need the web for anyway.

Comment on DT 26795 by TimCypher

TimCypher — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:30:26 +0000

Pretty straightforward stuff today, with 1a and 28d my last in – didn’t really like 1a to be honest.
2d was a word I’d not heard of before but the wordplay, the checking letters and a quick google to make sure that this was actually a word saw me through!
No fave clues today – thanks to Jay and the big guy for the explanations!

Comment on DT 26795 by collywobbles

collywobbles — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:29:14 +0000

No, honestly. My fav is Rufus

Comment on Toughie 724 by Kath

Kath — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:14 +0000

As a novice I found this difficult – I know it’s a toughie, and therefore should be, but I only managed about four answers before running to the hints for help! Gazza’s hints are SO clear that I didn’t need to look at any of the answers inside the brackets. Having got all the across answers in place the down clues nearly did themselves although I needed a few explanations. With thanks to Elkamere and Gazza, and happy birthday to Rufus.

Comment on DT 26795 by mary

mary — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:19:25 +0000

It took me forever to see it Brian!! so not so impressive

Comment on DT 26795 by mary

mary — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:18:35 +0000

Thursdays collywobs but not every week, are you winding us up now?

Comment on DT 26795 by Brian

Brian — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:14:28 +0000

Blimey Mary, i am impressed! Like Andrew I could see the answer but until you said I had no idea why. Well done.

Comment on DT 26795 by collywobbles

collywobbles — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:11:41 +0000

Do you know what day he covers

Comment on DT 26795 by Brian

Brian — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:11:25 +0000

Thought this was very tricky. Kept missing the a in so many clues. New word for me today, 15a.
Only finished with the help of the excellent hints.

Comment on DT 26795 by mary

mary — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:01:17 +0000

I see what you mean Kath I have had a quick look and don’t know if my mental powers are good enough especially this time of day!

Comment on DT 26795 by Kath

Kath — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:40:34 +0000

I think it’s really difficult. I have just given in and looked at the across hints and now I’m going to have a go at the down clues.

Comment on DT 26795 by mary

mary — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:39:58 +0000

Thanks Gazza I’ll print it out ans hopefully have time to look at it later

Comment on DT 26795 by Kath

Kath — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:38:02 +0000

It’s very rare for me not to enjoy a crossword but my absolutely favourite setter is Ray T, especially when he’s in a “saucy” mood! There’s always at least one clue, and usually more than that, that makes me laugh.