DT 30317 (Hints)

90 comments on “DT 30317 (Hints)”

1. Good clean fun this morning. 17d was a new one for me but couldn’t be anything else by the usual rules.
   I didn’t pop by on Thursday but hopefully it’s not too late to thank the setter for 1a & 1d. Right up my street, the middle of a Venn diagram of my life and such a pleasure to find a puzzle easier than the crowd for once.
   RIP Big Dave.

2. Brilliantly enjoyable for a plodder. We (Mrs Ww and I) finished without assistance. 2*/4*. Would have struggled with 5d had it not been a clue earlier in the week when I did need to use Google.
   Thanks to the setter and crypticsue who I didn’t really need for a change. 😎

   1. Adding a space between the two parts of your alias sent you into moderation

      1. Sorry, I’ll do better in future, or just stop commenting. ☹

3. It took me a while to get into this crossword but, as is often the case, things speeded up as the checkers went in. I really enjoyed 5d, which appeared quite recently but with a totally different type of clue. There was some splendid misdirection, great lego cckues and well-camouflaged anagrams. Apart from 5d, I liked 3d, 9a and my COTD 18a. Thanks to our compiler and to CS for the hints. A nice anecdote about BD and Saturday Club too.

4. My former boss used to use the phrase in 5d all the time. I never really knew what he meant. Oddly enough, it was only a week ago when I finally asked a knowledgeable friend of mine to explain the concept – and then it comes up twice in a few days in the cryptic crossword. Now I suspect that my ex-boss meant that he could never tell whether I was awake or asleep at my desk, or both at the same time. Enjoyable puzzle today – 8d my favourite even though the saying is not strictly true as my last place of work did generously provide these. Thanks ex-boss, thanks to the setter, and thanks to CS for the hints.

5. Getting the first three across clues and the first six down clues straight away set the mood for this delightful puzzle. I see a certain animal made another appearance this week and I nearly messed up the spelling of 3d. I have ticks all over the paper including two short ones – 13a and 19a. However, my favourite and COTD is 12a.

   Many thanks to the setter for the fun and to CS for the hints, which I will now read.

   I will submit for The Mythical.

   Another warm, sunny day here in The Marches. The hay has been mown now so there are fields for Hudson and I to roam over.

6. Twice in one week for 5d! Youv’e got to be joking!! If anybody can tell me where it is in Chambers I’d be very surprised.,
   Bring back Val Gilbert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   Very poor

   1. Page 1395 in the 12th Edition of the BRB has the name of the equation

   2. Twice in one week makes it GK! :wink:

7. Nice puzzle today EXCEPT for 3d which rather spoilt it. Best clue was 5d.
   Thx to all
   ***/*** (would have earned a 4th star but for 3d).

8. Blimey,
   A certain, shall we say.
   Interesting clue twice in
   One week.
   A lite, enjoyable Prize offering,
   In * time.
   Last in, 25a,
   Toyed, wrongly, for a little time
   With a Russian (German) lady.
   Thanks to the setter and CS.

   1. I am somewhat surprised to see you admitting to ‘toying’ with any ladies, Russian or German. Behave!

9. A very pleasant SPP for which, after some thought, my two half-crowns are going on X-Type as the setter – **/****

   Candidates for favourite – 12a, 15a, 25a, 14d, and 16d -and the winner is 16d one of my favourite dishes from the country of my ancestors.

   Thanks to X-Type, or whomsoever if my five bob goes down the drain and to CS.

10. thanks Crypticsue, fair point, but it doesn’t say the animal and twice in a week!!

11. No problems to report today but the ear worm is well and truly lodged!
    Top three here were 9,12&27a.

    Thanks to our setter and to CS for the hints and the little anecdote about BD’s Saturday solving.

12. Saturday Club was on The Light Programme and later Radio 2. I don’t think it played exclusively 60s music. If memory serves Sounds of the 60s was originally introduced by Keith Fordyce and later by Brian Matthew. It is now introduced by Tony Blackburn who does not have such eclectic tastes as Brian. He (Tony) likes soul music and plays a lot of Motown, but he has said that he does not like rock music, so bands such as Led Zep, Family, Cream and Jefferson Airplane barely get a look in. The other problem these days is that it starts at 6am, so I am frequently still asleep for the first hour or so.

13. First impression was somewhat daunting but softly, softly catchee monkee and all came true. Can’t single out a Fav from numerous clever clues. Thanks to 11a I have the song on my mind whilst remembering Andrew Neil and Co. letting their hair down during 2005 Election Newsnight broadcasts. Lack of familiarity with Harry led me to work on potter from other points of view. Not sure about “woody” for 2d. 0nce again the umlaut is overlooked in 5d. Thank you Mysteron and CS.

14. A lovely solve today, much enjoyed. 21a last one in and made me smile when I finally saw the answer. I’m also now ‘delighting’ in the ear worm that is 11a! 🎶
    Thanks for the anecdote, CS, and to the setter for the fun.

15. Nice crossword .
    Had to consult others for 23a as my knowledge of marijuana cigarettes stopped at reefers.
    Surprised to see 5d again so soon after its last outing.
    Thanks to the setter and to crypticsue.

    1. Haha. Me too. We must be innocents, I could only think of reefers.

       1. Me three!

16. Am tempted to have an all in punt on Chalicea but with the plethora of safer gambling advice the Gambling Commission now requires the bookies to put out I’ll stick to a modest 5 bob. 2d new to me but otherwise nowt obscure. Top 2 were 8d&27a in a fun guzzle

    1. Apologies thanks to the setter & to CS

    2. Once more, mistaken for Chalicea! Glad you enjoyed the fun…see you again soon

       1. Delighted to know that my 50p wagered on you being the setter of this crossword was a safe bet

17. 2/4. Well after yesterdays tour de force this was much easier. 5d makes a second appearance in a few days. But I had a packed podium including 11,23&26a and 5,14&16d. 11a gets it by a short head. Thanks to the setter and CS.

18. A very pleasant Saturday morning puzzle. I’m now well and truly educated re 5d which I have to admit had passed me by completely until Thursday. Favourite today was 8d, closely followed by 3d and joined on the crowded podium by 9a, 21a, 16d and 20d. Thanks to the setter and Cripticsue.

19. What a fun puzzle. Nice too to see that the experiment designed to solve the mystery of TS Eliot’s Macavity appears for a second time. Though I was foxed first time around by the spelling. I always thought that o umlaut was normally written ‘oe’ rather than plain ‘o’.
    Thanks also to CS for her photo of swans and cygnets last week. We live about 20 mins away from the crossing of the canals in the Parc de Versailles where every spring a pair of swans nest there and in May the fun was to see how many babes arrived, usually 3 to 5. Unfortunately, owing to my wife’s illness we haven’t been able to check for the last couple of years, but it was nice to have the memories revived.
    12a brought back memories of a book of my father’s, “So this is science” (1932) by HF Ellis, where they are so called because they may not.
    Many thanks to the setter and double thanks to CS.

    1. My friend and I count the cygnets every day on our walk. There are still nine who have grown a lot since last week

       1. 😊

20. I enjoyed this clever puzzle and completed it sitting outside in the sun. Some clues flew in but others took a while to permeate through. I like it when a word comes up twice with in a timely fashion as there is more of a chance it will stick in my brain!

    Many thanks to CS for the hints and to the setter

    I would also like to thank all of you, who have been, and I am sure still are working hard to keep the site running at such an uncertain time. Many of you have lost a friend and someone you knew and respected and it must be difficult to for you to have concentrate on producing the blog at the moment. I am sure we all appreciate your efforts.

    1. Hear, hear.

    2. Well said MissT. May I add my thanks to the ‘back-office’ team for your work, and my sympathies for the loss you too have all suffered.

       1. I’m adding my thanks to the “back room boys” and girls for keeping this valuable site running

    3. Well said. The blogger team go above and beyond every day on our behalf. It’s quite a commitment, for which we are all very grateful.

       1. It’s a thank you we apften forget to say. Thanks for reminding us Miss T.

    4. Well said MissTFied👍

    5. Absolutely, couldn’t agree more.

21. * apologies should say’ to concentrate ‘

22. I had trouble spelling 3d and was t sure about 18a but apart from that OK but quite slow. 5 and 21a and 16 and 17d favourites but was not a barrel of laughs. Thanks setter and CS.

23. I seem to remember someone assuring Terence that he would probably never have to face 5d again and here he is! And a bit of the bible sure to upset someone else. But I thoroughly enjoyed it in a brief respite from catering for this wretched supper tonight. I long for tomorrow. I am about to go and scoop out 3 dozen eggs, mix the yolks with something and pipe it back in. And decorate a trifle and fill a pavlova. 11a has to be the favourite because it is so jaunty and I would not cavil at 2d being put on The List. Many thanks to the setter and to Cryptic Sue – I do hope that the tortoise has emerged and is giving you a run round the garden!

    1. Having spent all week trying to tuck herself into the undergrowth to try and keep warm, Tim is so delighted that it is bright and warm that she is in the middle of her run basking in the sunshine. My responsibilities for her well-being end this evening which is quite a relief as she was quite poorly all winter and I didn’t want her to come to grief during my ‘watch’

       1. I had 2 tortoises from the age of 8 until we moved here and they had the run of my aunt’s quite large walled garden so it was tricky to find them. They loved wild strawberries but they often mistook a painted toenail for one and believe me a tortoise nip is jolly painful. They would have had to be confined here so I donated them to the Bristol Breeding programme which I am sure delighted them as they were both male and probably made the most of it.

          1. We also had a tortoise for many years until a neighbour put down weed killer without telling us. Delightful creatures – I have always wanted to replace him but nowadays they are very hard to get hold of.

24. Most enjoyable while it lasted, with plenty of amusement throughout. 5d makes me wonder whether a crossword clue only exists when it is actively being solved or reviewed…

    COTD 11a, 5d the runner-up.

    1* / 3*

    Many thanks to the setter and to CS

    1. As I understand it, the clue both exists and doesn’t exist until it is observed. At which point the superposition collapses into one of the other. Or, for each of us that saw the clue there is now an alternative universe in which a version of us didn’t. All makes perfect sense.

       1. Of course it does, G+D. As the Reverend Berkeley stated “If I cannot see it then it does not exist”. However, does that really mean the object he cannot see does not exist? Quantum physics says that it can exist and not exist at the same time but the good clergyman philosopher had not come across quantum physics. As you say, it is very straightforward. Either something is or is not or, as Shakespeare put it, “To be or not to be, that is the question” but he had not heard of quantum physics either.

          I wonder what he would have written had he known. 🤔😀

          1. To be and not to be; that is the paradox?

             1. Welcome to the blog, Lexico.

25. So for this Saturday puzzle, I’m not really sure of the setter, but I don’t think it is Cephas. Another week where I will keep my money in my pocket. Went in relatively easily, with a couple of head scratchers in the SW. Never heard of the word in 25a

    1.5*/4* for me

    Podium contenders today include 5a, 13a, 15a, 27a, 17d & 22d — with winner 22d
    13a made me laugh and can’t believe 5d showed up again within this week.
    That is just plain spooky. What’s the chance of that???

    Thanks to setter and CS for the hints/blog

26. Thanks to setter, CS and, to echo earlier comments, all you wonderful people who keep this blog going for the benefit of the rest of us, particularly at this sad time.

    1. Regret that, as I don’t join in every week, I don’t know what the “sad time” is? Sorry & sad if this is a loved-one lost.

       1. Big Dave, the founder of this wonderful blog died last week. See the post at the top of the home page.

27. What a cracker of a puzzle and the sun is shining here in Norfolk although there is a chilly breeze. Some really clever clues so thanks to all. I also echo pah’s comment above concerning the wonderful people who keep this blog going. If I knew where my emojis were on this computer and put in lots of claps but I don’t know where they are!

    1. When I lived in Cape Town the singer of 11a gave a concert and in the interval he was just standing at the bar on his own having a drink so I went and said hello. We then chatted for 10 minutes or so before I rejoined my mates. They were utterly amazed that I knew him and I gained many Brownie points. Except that I didn’t know him at all, I was just being friendly to another Brit – did I tell them that? No way!

    2. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
       Howzat!

       1. Show off! I can find them on my phone but not my computer.

          1. 😂👍 Hee hee, just found it by googling but can’t find clapping hands, in fact very few emojis come up

             1. 👏 Thiscclose. I found it in the sign language section on my phone while looking for one to send my grandsom, when he got his green belt in karate.!

28. Finally finished. As surprised as others to see 5D again so soon. 11A made me smile, but for obvious reasons my favorite is 1A. Many thanks to CS and the setter.

29. Straightforward solve in the glorious sunshine, like others strange to see 5d again so quickly. Time to enjoy a nice cup of liquorice & mint tea with a tea cake from our independent baker in the garden.

    1*/3.5*

    Fav 1a LOI 21a.

    Thanks to setter and CS.

    1. You are lucky to have a baker so near. And an independent one at that.

       1. If you’re ever in Barnard Castle, can recommend Rise Artisan Bakehouse & Café. 😋

30. I can’t understand why Brian makes such a fuss about clues referencing the Bible. Without some knowledge of it literature before 1945 would present readers with problems of understanding. Perhaps he doesn’t read any books written before 1945, and throws any book written after out of his house. Irish literature would be a closed book as it mostly deals with the conflict between the church and the individual. Quite a lot of poetry too for Brian is willingly verboten. If we were all so petulant about clues referencing our pet hates this blog would be something to read on the Via Dolorosa.

    I think he must play golf and read biographies of golfers if he does read at all.

    1. I’m a weddings, christenings and funerals type of person, and my bible knowledge is limited to Sunday school and divinity classes in high school. Clearly I absorbed very little of all that as I did not know 3d. I think Brian feels about religious questions the same way as I do about sports ones.

    2. Oh dear, you certainly seem to have it in for Brian , seems a bit of a personal attack. I enjoy his posts as do a few others. And with all the fuss about free speech in universities I think we could set an example by allowing it here.

       1. Did you read that the Bible has been banned in schools in Utah because of its “ vulgarity and violence”?

          1. Wel that should please Brian😂😂

31. A nice gentle solve and an anecdote about BD to accompany the ear worm which is 11a A good start to the weekend

32. Big sigh of relief from me, after two days when I was completely baffled. Having tackled the backpager since number daughter was born in 1969, I think I must have reached the limit of my expertise. Which would have been even less without the benefit of all the things I have learned from this blog. Today’s puzzle is much more my cup of tea, despite the quantum paradox. Got a chuckle out of 5a. Thanks to setter and CS.

33. My personal crosswording travails have finally come to an end today as we managed this fairly easily apart from putting the wrong answer for 1a, which I couldn’t parse, ams held us up for 2d. Favourite was 8d. Thanks to the setter and CS.

34. Good afternoon
    Not a lot happening on the iron road today, so I’m at work although not actually doing anything…which at least means I can have a brew and finish the crozzie.
    Stunned to see 5d appear again! Needed to look up 2d and 17d, chuckled at 11a.
    Thanks to our compiler and to CS

35. Another excellent Saturday crossword and like many surprised to see 5d back so quickly. I wish we had studied Quantum Physics at school, it might have been more interesting than whatever I didn’t learn in the aforementioned subject! Or maybe it wouldn’t until observed?!
    I’m not much of a setter spotter but I’d put 50p on x-type. Thanks too to Cryptic Sue.

36. A nice puzzle today, only held up by interruptions to attend to my DIY bathroom project. Nice to see the cat that may or may not actually be again so soon. Coincidentally the paint I have just had mixed for the bathroom is named for the earworm 11a. It would seem the paint mixers at B&Q are as familiar with Spanish as our setter.
    Thanks to he/she (small punt on Chalicea from me) and thanks to CS for the Saturday Crossword Club

    1. I’m leaning towards Chalicea, SJB but I’m not confident enough to put five Bob on it.

37. This puzzle is the perfect accompaniment to two pints of Guinness. (I do drink quite quickly)

    1. The perfect health food 😊.

38. 5d If Mr K had been blogging today, we might have seen pictures of the feline (dead or alive).

    1. Or both. 😳

39. Not me. I had never heard of 5 down until Thursday.

40. Currently on holiday in sunny Shropshire. Late to the puzzle I found it more enjoyable than Friday’s. Had a few head scratching moments for eg 3d and it took awhile for the penny to drop with 5d. Many thanks to the setter and Cryptics Sue.
    So lucky to have this site and reiterate thanks to the setters and hinters especially for keeping things going during Big Dave’s long illness. His demise will be felt by us all but none more so I’m sure than by yourselves.

41. No particular comment on this puzzle, which I very much enjoyed as it was within my range of ability. I want to take this opportunity to join all the others who have thanked the setters, hinters, and everyone who has given their time to keeping this wonderful blog going during BD’s illness, and we trust that they will all continue to do so.

42. Only getting to the Saturday puzzle on Sunday due to some unwanted water all over the kitchen floor. Why can’t it stay in the pipes where it belongs?

    Really starting to get into the cryptic mindset as I was able to complete quite a few without outside assistance today. 13a gave me a giggle as I often had that type of clue in mind anytime I went there.

    Still struggling with a few, but the weather is glorious over in N.I. for a change, and I think if the dog and I relax in the garden just long enough, I’ll get inspiration.

    I’d like to echo the comments previously, many thanks to the back room team keeping things going. You’ve lost a good friend.

43. Yes, we have all lost a good friend. So sad! And thanks to CS and the team for keeping things going. Thanks, too, to X-Type for this one.

44. I’m struggling with 21a. Pretty sure I have the answer but I’m just getting a lightbulb moment

    1. The definition is the first three words of the clue – a concert and an abbreviated (small) part

       1. D’oh!

45. So many new words today or at least words that were new to me 1a 3d and 17d but at least i was familiar with that cat.

    1. You’ve changed from your full name to an alias. Both will work from now on

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