DT 29343

96 comments on “DT 29343”

1. All over in */** time today. I felt this was more like a Monday than a Tuesday offering. My only ‘ermm’ moment was 4d; I was trying to split it 2/3, but missed the obvious reason.

   I do wish this cold wind would die down so that I can sit in the sun, in my garden, with my paper and cup of tea without a woolly sweater on!

   Many thanks to the setter and Mr K.

2. I enjoyed it also in **/***. I agree that 24d was a neat and clever clue.

3. I hope the setter (Donnybrook?) outs him/herself as I thought this was great. Fresh and contemporary. Like Mr K, I was heading for 1* for difficulty but the SW put up a tad more resistance.
   In a strong field I’ve gone for 26a and 24d occupying the minor places with top spot going to the simply brilliant 26a.
   1.5/ 4*
   Many thanks to the setter and to Mr K for a top notch review, and in particular for the ZZ Top clip.

   Incidentally I have the most beautiful display of wild bluebells in my back garden, nature continues to amaze, even in troubled times.

   1. *25a favourite, not 26a!

   2. As noted by JB below, Donnybrook is on Toughie duty today so this is not one of his.

      1. Thanks JB and thank you too Senf.

   3. Glad you liked the ZZ Top. Fans of Billy Gibbons and/or Les Paul might enjoy this:

      1. That was excellent. Thanks Mr K

      2. I’m a fan of both but I’ve never heard Billy Gibbons play like that.

4. Elusive synonyms caused a slight hold up, specifically on 25a and 15d, both satisfyingly clever when understood. 4d only made sense after reading the blog – oh, that kind of drop! Thank you to setter and Mr K, another really fun crossword. 🙂

5. Me too with the top half. Really thought it was going to be one of those rare puzzles where you do every clue in order, but the bottom half took twice as long. 14a was my last one in and favourite ahead of 24d. A delightfully straightforward crossword, just over too quickly.

   Thanks to both Misters.

6. I agree with MalcolmR. It felt more like a Monday puzzle. I think that I’d have liked a bit more of a challenge, but it was pleasant enough. Many thanks to the setter for the light entertainment. Thanks too Mr Kitty. Loved the 8d pic. It reminded me of my cat Monty.

   1. Thanks, Florence. The pair of 8d pics show my own much-missed kitty.

      1. And a handsome fella he is, too!

7. I found the NW and SE relatively straightforward but the rest more tricky. There were some quite good clues (14a and 22a) but some that were less well constructed. The synonyms at 8d and 22a were a little too elastic for me and i found the cricketing clue at 24d incomprehensible until Mr K enlightened my darkness. Thank you for your help as usual. I’d rate this 2.5 for difficulty, largely because of the time it took me to think about 24d and 2.5 for enjoyment also. Thanks to the setter. Another sunny day to work on my vegetable plot and Her Majesty’s Government have at last woken up to the fact that Mr Chriscross is shielding, so I might actually be able to get some groceries delivered. Also on the bright side some good friends have done some shopping for us. Things are looking up. Stay safe and well everyone.

8. I knew that I was going to end up needing help from here as I had done 1 ac before the paper was out of the printer. This is usually a bad sign for me. I got many of the answers but yet again had to be directed as to why they were. Thanks again, as ever, for this sanity saving web site

9. Just beaten by 26a. Wanted tease but it didn’t feel right.
   Donnybrook is today’s Toughie setter. Pretty straightforward but a bit too much GK for the purists I suspect. Perhaps Stephen L should try it?

10. Well, I thought this was quite a challenge for me, brilliant as much of it is and quite clever, especially the podium winners: 25a, 13a, and 12a. My problem was with 8d (why is xxxxxxxx the definition for ‘pal’?) and 24d (completely lost on me as a cricket-y term). I finally had to get electronic help for those two. Is 8d perhaps an example of Cockney rhyming slang? And what part of 24d refers to ‘this drops’? The rest of the puzzle went quickly and I was headed for a record * finished until I just hit the wall. Thanks to Mr K and the setter. *** / *** The Deplorables over here are breaking the law everywhere, not unexpectedly, but still shockingly so.

    1. Oops, meant ‘finish’ above. Sorry. And thank you, Mr Kitty, for the picture at 8a!

    2. Hi Robert
       When the ball hits the wicket (bowled), the 24d drops (almost always) to the ground.

    3. Where I came from instead of saying “look here pal” people would say “xxxxxxxx” instead of “pal” so ithey are synonymous to me but I haven’t heard it used for a long time.

       1. Thanks Stephen and LROK: Yes, I’ve heard xxxxxxxx used as a kind of endearment but usually to slightly reprimand the listener, like “Look here, Xxxxxxxx!” Ah, these cultural differences as we cross the Pond, eh? But then, there’s “You are the xxxxxxxx of my life!” Very different meaning, I’m glad to say. Hope all of you today have a nice, sunshiny day.

          1. Think Morecambe and Wise.

       2. “Listen here pal” was also used to draw someone’s attention in a similar way to “look here pal” and together with the body language applied it could be interpreted as aggressive or friendly.

    4. It is probably a somewhat archaic term nowadays but I remember it from my childhood.

       On another point I notice that bloggers are using xxxxxx so as not to give away the clue. Is that the convention now?

       1. Hi, Steve. Readers should not be surprised to find spoilers in the comments, so the convention is that self-redaction is optional. If it’s easy to avoid a spoiler with an xxxxxxx then feel free to do so, but sometimes the discussion has to involve the answer. Prize puzzles, when they return, are of course an exception.

          1. Thanks, Mr. K. That makes sense.

          2. Yes I thought I remembered self redaction was not necessary on non-prize days but I didn`t want to risk a naughty stair visit already with cloudless blue skies we have had plenty of xxxxxxxx today.
             The Johnny Cash “You are my 8d” would have brought back memories as the 40s / 50s versions (Bing Crosby seems to ring a bell?) were mother`s favourites. The song is one of the most covered & mr Wiki tells me it is one of the State songs of Louisiana as its co-composer became state governor in 1944. There`s here today gone tomorrow fact if ever there was one.

       2. Instead of all those xxxxxxxxxx’s why not use 8d. Yesterday I put in the time it took me to complete DT 29342 this is not allowed and the time changed to XXXXXXXXX. Hugs and xxxxx’s to everybody.

    5. I can’t do ‘crickety’ stuff either – or ‘footbally’ stuff or anything to do with golf, horse racing, rugby and a million other things but what little I know of any of them I’ve learnt from doing crosswords and when I don’t ‘get’ it someone from this blog explains very patiently and without making me feel too dim.

    6. I think 8d is Britspeak that hasn’t crossed the pond.
       I see your guv has decided to “open up” what I didn’t think had ever been locked down?

11. On the gentle side for a Tuesday puzzle, completed at a gallop – **/****.
    Candidates for favourite – 5a, 14a, and 3d – and the winner is 5a.
    Thanks to the setter and Mr K.
    A very happy 94th to HM and whatever number he has reached to BD – I will raise a glass to both as soon as the sun is over the yardarm.

12. Yet again felt I made fairly heavy weather of completing what really wasn’t a particularly difficult crossword. Like others the top was a breeze but I stalled on the bottom finishing in a shade over 2.5* time. I thought a few of the clues a touch clunky but really enjoyed 16d, 24d, 25a & 26a as well as the simplicity of 6d.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K for his always entertaining review & pics.
    Ps. Graun looks doable today though struggling currently with the left hand side.

13. A fun-time to be had with today’s painless exercise with only a slight delay in the NE. Silly me overlooked the lines in 6d and tried to use two L’s. Fav definitely 25a. Thanks to Mysteron and MrK (who may currently have his head down).

14. A pleasant romp through this one and I did have to laugh at the seafood terror.
    Favourite was 10a both for its topicality and the rare appearance of PM as something other than our leading member of parliament.
    Thanks to our setter and to Mr K for a spirit-lifting blog. Loved the cute marine mammal and listening to The Proclaimers again.

    Birthday felicitations to Her Majesty and also to our own BD who will doubtless get to watch another couple of hours of the recording of Bleak House as his birthday treat!

15. A most enjoyable puzzle with all but the SW corner putting up little resistance. The SW resisted all attempts at first but once I got the checkers from 16d in gave in slowly. Clues of note for me were 4a, 16d and 24d with 16d taking the top spot.

    Many thanks to the setter and also to Mr. K. For the hints. Thanks for ZZ Top,.

    The Quicky pun also works, almost, with “dime”.

    1. Apart from the fact that “dime” does not fit with the other clues.

       1. That doesn’t make sense 😬

          1. If said quickly enough, it sounds like something other than “dime”.

16. A couple more headscratchers today but not too bad time-wise.
    Beautiful day again here so off outside to do some painting – if only I could source some paint I might be able to finish
    Thanks to setter & Mr K. Fancy having a wild cat clue and no picture!

    1. Hi, LrOK, it’s good to see you back commenting here. I pondered a snow leopard pic, but this puzzle had already given me more the usual number of picture opportunities. I’ll illustrate him on his next appearance.

       1. Thank you Mr K.
          In these troubled times it is pleasing to rsturn to the site -always a source of continuity , humour and sanity (mostly).

17. Lovely weather, fun crossword, entertaining blog. All’s well with the world – well not quite all …

    My rating today is 1.5*/3*. My favourite was 24d with 10a hot on its heels.

    Many thanks to Messrs R & K.

18. One of those puzzles where you just need to find the definition and ignore the intricate wordplay with the stretched synonyms.
    Not my favourite puzzle but having said that i did like 20d which made me smile.
    Thx for the hints
    **/**

19. An enjoyable offering today. Like Brian, I found myself working back from the definition and confirm the wordplay. My COTD, 5a. Thanks to the Setter and Mr K for the added insight with some of the wordplay🦇

20. Lots of satisfying pleasure in today’s puzzle. Completed mostly over breakfast – fresh sourdough bread by a baker who bakes in his house and puts the loaves on his garden wall with an honesty box, and a sign saying don’t worry if you don’t have the right money – just pay next time! Marmalade and heather honey, all washed down with filter coffee. What bliss!
    So many delightful and clever clues, but especially 10a, 14a, 25a, 1d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 15d, 17d, 20d and 24d. Only one that grated a bit (but not too much) was 8d. Thanks to setter and Mr K.

    1. Sounds like a wonderful breakfast. I’ve read that sourdough is becoming popular now that shops are sold out of yeast. It certainly makes better bread.

       1. Good puzzle. I too slowed down in the bottom half. When this happens I always resort to fruit – an apple or pear – and for some reason I speed up again!

          Here in the Gargano the main bread mix is sour dough. They make these big wheels of bread weighing about 5 kilos. Luckily you can buy a kilo or so of it because by the next day it will be stale. But that gives rise to many traditional recipes for stale bread. The main one is “Pan’ e Pomodor” – slice tomatoes in two and rub the pulp into the bread on both sides, salt to taste and drizzle extra virgin over it. Most people eat this at some point in the day (the tomato skins go into the next sugo). A second recipe is “Pan’n Fuss” – wet bread – finely slice the stale bread and layer in a soup dish, add a stock of any variety to wet the bread. Add hot chillies or chilli oil to taste.

          Thanks to setter and Mr K

          1. I have had Pan e Pomodor before (or something very similar in the Pyrenees) I fancy having a go at that as a base for Welsh Rarebit. What could go wrong? Cheese and toms with bread and beer Sprinkle a few scallions on top after grilling and we are good to go!

             1. Hi JB

                I don’t recommend toasting the stale bread! But we have another recipe here which is Bruschetta – toasted sour dough, rubbed with garlic and then a drizzle of extra virgin. Toppings are typically tomatoes (sliced), cheese etc. That may be nearer to your rarebit. The Pan e Pomodor is what I describe as soggy bread! We might typically eat it after fried fish to cleanse the pallette along with piccante cacciocavallo cheese and lashings of vino nero😎

                1. The bread in my rarebit is usually baked and the oil from the cheese soaks in and adds to the flavour I think the tom pulp would complement it. I used the last few cloves of garlic in yesterdays chickenbut will try your bruschetta another time.

                   1. Buon appetito🍷🍷🍷

             2. I also had something very much like that in the Pyrenees last year. Quite delicious.

21. Overall, easy and pleasant enough but I agree with Brian…..

22. Zipped through the top half – I’m very grateful for the ‘sanctimonious’ tip given in the comments last week! I struggled with a few in the bottom half and had to call on help from Mr K.
    Thank you to Mr K, and the setter, of course.

23. Nice enjoyable crossword **/**** 😃 Lots of good answers but I will “Trump” for 14a & 25a as favourites 🤗 Thanks to Mr K and to the Setter. Lovely sunny day again here in the East😎

24. As with most, I flew through the top half and had a little trouble with the SW, last in 25a but my fav was 24d which enabled me to get 25a overall a **/***.
    Thanks to Mr K and the setter.

25. Very enjoyable puzzle today thank you setter whoever you are. 14 and 25a with 20d as my favourites. Thank you Mr K for your blog.

26. Thank you everyone, as usual, from sunny Cambridge where we desperately need rain. I didn’t get the crickety one
    so thanks for the clarification. Is your illustration for 21a showing two Maine Coons? They look very like the two I had
    some 20 years ago – adorable creatures and so intelligent.

    1. Hi, DG. The 21a pic came from https://www.boredpanda.com/norwegian-forest-cats-sampy-hiskias/, which has some background info on the cats.

       1. We had a Norwegian Forest Cat when we first came to the pub. It was a stray left behind in the village by evicted lowlife. Charlie was the best cat we have ever had. So intelligent and very loving. When a visitor to our campsite said he was a Norwegian Forest Cat I thought he was having me on. A google search proved him right.

27. Not too much trouble today and I enjoyed the whole thing – 8d was my last one.
    14a caused a spot of bother as did 25a.
    I did want 25a to begin with ‘in’ as in ‘is wearing’ but that wouldn’t work.
    I liked 10 and 26a and 2 and 19d. My favourite, eventually, was 8d. My Dad used to call people that.
    Thanks to the setter and to Mr K – there’s nothing quite like a ginger cat!

    1. Kath I am a D.T. subscriber can you please tell me how I can access the cryptic crossword online ? Regards Colin Joyce

       1. Go to the App Store. Download Telegraph Newspaper Edition. You will need your subscriber number.

          Open the app. The newspaper is there in sections similar to the real paper. The Cryptic The Quick A sudoku and A Codeword puzzle are at the very end of the online paper. No Toughie as yet

28. **/***. Like many others I flew through the top half but the SW held me up for a while with 24d the last to yield along with a d’oh. 10a was my favourite. Thanks to the setter and Mr K for his usual fun review.

29. Completed but 8d and 24d were bung ins….thank you for the explanations, Mr K.

    Not good at sporty things and don’t remember ever calling anyone ‘sunshine’ ……or at least not without expecting a fairly swift thumping in return. ‘Pal’ on the other hand is a different kettle of fish.

    Anyway, an enjoyable puzzle , thanks to the setter and to Mr K.
    Stay safe everyone, even if the sun is shining in a very tempting way.

30. My first coffee break revealed not many answers so in my 1/2 hour lunch break instead of trying again I took a wander to the Co-Op at the petrol station for a sammich. When I finally sat down to do the crossword the gaps filled themselves in no time.
    I did laugh at 20d and spent too much time with Prawn as my seafood in 2d. I did put a ? mark against 8d as I thought the first three letters were a bit of a stretch for brown. That was, therefore, my LOI and unfilled according to the Miffypop rule. I can’t claim to have saved graphite though as I have just noticed I have written the answer and the question mark in the space I usually use for tricky anagrams. 24d gets my COTD by a nose from 20d.
    I am having a similarly slow start to the toughie but maybe if I give it a break it will start to come to me.

    1. OOps got carried away with planning supper and forgot to thank MrK and setter. Those Norwegian forest cats have very broad tails rather similar to Scottish wild cats, maybe they are related. I will follow your link and see.
       Thanks for the pics and music too I think there is a landlord of our acquaintance who will approve of Mr Dylan.

    2. More ink and graphite can be saved by solving anagrams mentally. No pens or pencils needed. It may be slow at the start but with time and patience it should all come together.

       1. I was having some success with that technique when I was on lockdown but at work, I find it too hard to juggle all the checkers. I will persevere as I quite liked your anecdote about handing a blank crossword to a doubter who could test you.

31. The little grey cells obviously not working today, I found this tough needed electrinic help for SW corner.
    Thanks to MrK and setter

32. A nine hour solve today. After the first run through At 6.30am I went to let the chickens out and heard a distressed lamb across the river. I put my boots on and went to see what was up. The poor thing was tangled in the wire fence so I spent a while releasing it. The lamb kept trying to run away from me which meant it kept getting more tangled just as it was about to be free. I eventually won the battle and the lamb trotted off with its mother. Neither said thank you. As I was up and about I forgot all about the crossword and got on with the day. I’ve done lots of chores, and enjoyed an hours worth of cider and chatter with a neighbour outside the front of the pub.
    I’ve just sat down and referred back to the puzzle. All in all a jolly experience with some scampi as a bonus. I wondered if the sat at 14 across would be ok with Kath. 8 downs Sunshine always makes me think of the time Labour MP Dave Nellist said “Listen Sunshine” to Margaret Thatcher. The memory makes me smile every time. Thanks to the setter and thanks to Mr Kitty. The Dylan clip is probably his most watched ever.

    1. Maybe we should call you St Francis of LI

       1. You can call me whatever you want but never call me late for breakfast

    2. Thank you for rescuing the lamb, and I’m sure he’s grateful too, so here’s his thanks to you!

    3. Oh the poor lamb, so good you were on hand to help it. I’ve only rescued a tiny spider and a young lizard this week, both trying to hide in the house. But they did both scamper happily off when I reintroduced them to the garden.

       1. One of our hens ate a very large spider yesterday. Now I will be scared to crack open any eggs just in case a spider leaps out at me.

33. Enjoyable with SW corner finally completed. I think that the clue for 25a would be better if the last word was “issues” rather than “problems”. Or is self isolation making me more miserable than usual? Good fun in any case.

34. Nice quick solve today after a struggle with today’s Graun.
    Nothing to add, sorry for being boring!!
    Thanks Mr.K and the setter.

35. Very enjoyable and not too taxing today which is good because I’ve had a really busy day with other stuff.

    Very many thanks to the setter and Mr. K.

36. Thank you to the setter, and Mr K. I haven’t started this yet because the rating and a quick glance at the comments suggest this is another candidate for trying with the 7-year-old, as an important part of home-schooling.

    The Tuesday puzzle 3 weeks ago we did together over several days, and it worked pretty well: nearly all the clues had at least one component the 7yo knew, then often could check another in a dictionary.

    It’s now stuck in the journal to show the teacher what we’ve been doing, with different bits coloured in for definitions, anagrams, and so on, with a list of words learnt.

    1. What a brilliant idea!

    2. That is such a good idea! Well done.

    3. That’s a wonderful idea. Through solving cryptics I’ve learned a lot about grammar and expanded my vocabulary, so I can well imagine that it’s a great vehicle for home-schooling.

       This one should be good for that – some straightforward clues up top to build confidence, then becoming more tricky towards the bottom.

    4. I expect we shall see Son of Smyler (or Daughter) setting puzzles before long. S/he has about 8 to 10 years to beat Elgar or Navy to publication!

       1. That would be great!

37. Thanks to the setter and Mr Kitty for the review and hints. This was a very good puzzle, most enjoyable. Top half went straight in, but the bottom half required some thought. Needed the hints to parse 1d. Last in was 15d. I liked 10a&8d, but my favourite was 27a, which really conjured up a country scene by a river for me. Was 2*/4* for me.

38. I really, really liked this! Like everyone, the north was a gift, but SW held me up. The pesky 24d got me, I bunged in “ball”, not sure bother=ail, but as I didn’t know what a bail was, it makes no difference.
    Fave was 25a, but 20d gets megapoints for being giggle worthy.
    Thanks to our setter for the fun, and huge thanks to Mr. K for the usual brilliant illustrations.

    1. Oh, meant to wish BD and Her Majesty very Happy Birthdays and many more!

39. Well wasnt that fun! I really enjoyed it. Lots to like. I’m going to go with 20d for favourite closely followed by 25a. Many thanks to the setter and Mr K. I’ll go back and watch the videos now and then answer all the messages I’ve been ignoring.

40. The picture at 8 down looks just my much missed lovely Oscar lying by the Aga.

41. Good Tuesday fun that we thoroughly enjoyed.
    Thanks Mr Ron and Mr K.

42. 2*/3*….
    liked 13D ” bizarre fast dance holding one spellbound (10) “

43. Like others, most of the puzzle came steadily, but held up in SW corner for a while. 14a and 18a also took a while to drop in too. Favourites for the day were 14a, 25a,13d & 16d
    Thanks to setter and Mr K

44. Only came round to solve this crossword.
    Waited till the end to solve the anagrams in 13d and 22a as they didn’t come readily.
    As Corky said, 8d made me think about Morecambe and Wise but the Brown = Tan = Sun seemed a bit remote.
    Thanks to the setter and to Mr Kitty for the review.

45. Is this a Crossword Blog or a chat on sour dough bread preferences ?

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