DT 30368

84 comments on “DT 30368”

1. Tricky but doable is my take on today’s guzzle. Plenty of teasers, laughs and “write-em-ins”. I spent far too long trying to get “AL” to fit into 26a. I had not heard of the old soldier but he was easily gettable. I liked the stories about the city cat at 10a and the rude joke at 5d raised a laugh. My COTD is the one about the confused retailers and their CCTV cameras at 17a.

   My thanks to the setter for the fun challenge and the 2Ks for the hints.

   Bright and sunny in The Marches despite the dire warnings of torrential rain and storms. I’m having laser treatment on my left eye this afternoon so I should be able to see the lightning clearly if it arrives.

   1. I was on the ‘AL’ trail for a bit as well, hence it was my last one in today.

   2. Me too looking for Al. What’s the betting 19d goes straight on to Terence’s List?

   3. I only got 19d by following the rule about lurkers!

2. Absolutely brilliant puzzle, the most entertaining in ages. Not too hard, not too easy, Goldilocks would have been delighted!
   Wonder how our friends over the pond got on with 1d, maybe lets us know, a real misdirection if ever there were one.
   My favourites today were the aforementioned 1d, 9d, and the lovely 20a. Thanks to our setter, top drawer material.

   1. In fact I (on this side of the pond!) agree about 1d – I solved it without needing to know where Yorker came into it.

3. This has been a gentle crossword week for me so far but what are we going to get on Thursday and Friday?

   Todays puzzle was a good mixture of clue types including some clever misdirections. My favourites included 11a and the amusing 13a. My LOI was 26a which was ironic as a spent part of yesterday checking this type of Conference at Fyvie Castle.

   Was more familiar with one of the answers as the NATO reporting name for a type of Russian helicopter.

   Thanks to the setter and 2Ks and to all those who have worked hard to keep this invaluable site up and running.

4. A 2 for difficulty I think? 1d looked a promising start, with a bit of misdirection, but thereafter it was a bit like yesterday.
   As said above surely Thursday and Friday may be a bit more of a challenge?

   1. If you would like a greater challenge, how about the 4* Toughie today?

      1. You’re spitting in the wind there. I’ve tried that tack ad nauseam to no avail.

      2. My thoughts exactly. Always, so few comments on there. Why do people come to the backpager if they are looking for something more difficult?

5. I thought this was absolutely brilliant from beginning to end with loads of misdirections. 1d and 11a my favourites. I hadn’t heard of the old soldier either but as Steve said, easily gettable. Thanks to the setter and 2Ks.

6. 1d clue of the week thus far in an excellent puzzle, though I do think the actress at 11a has become somewhat hackneyed.
   Many thanks and much admiration to the setter and to The Ks for the review.

7. It took me a long time to really get into this puzzle but once the checkers went in and I began to see past the clever misdirection, things speeded up a lot. There were some clever clues, two of the best ones being the geographical lurker at 223a and the Ancient Greekchistory lurker at 19d. The long anagram at 15s appealed to me to. I find it impossible to pick one COTD today. Thanks to the Kiwis for the hints and to the compiler for a challenging guzzle for a Wednesday.

   1. Hope you had a lovely day yesterday CC, I picked up on your birthday too late – but congratulations nevertheless. 🥰

      1. Thanks Daisy.

8. 2*/4.5*. Despite a sense of unease about the surface of of 8d, I thought this was an excellent midweek puzzle. I would have awarded 5* for enjoyment except for the unindicated Americanism in 25a (and on this occasion the BRB actually agrees!)

   19d was a new word for me but readily derivable from the wordplay.

   11a, 24a, 26a, 1d, 3d, 5d & 14d were my top picks.

   Many thanks the setter and to the 2Ks.

9. On wavelength from the off today, and enjoyed the whole solve. The lurker at 19d was a new word for me and I surprised myself by quickly getting the cricket based clue at 1d. I thought 25a a little weak, but accept that, given those checking letters, there can’t have been a lot of choice. Unusually for me, the anagram at 21a is my favourite today – lovely word! Joining it on the podium are 1d and 9d, though could be several others. Thanks to our setter for the absolute pleasure and 2Kiwis for the beautifully illustrated review.

10. Quite hard.
    Good surfaces, though
    Thought 4a a bit stretched.
    Completed unaided apart from
    Spelling checks.
    Took disproportionate time
    Over 9d, very clever clue.
    COTD 7d with 20a taking Silver.
    Brilliantly placed lurker in 23a
    Many thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis.

11. Twmbarlwm has already tweeted (or is that X’ed now) ownership of this fine puzzle, the old soldiers were a bit of a stretch but ok. I did like 40% off my curry, I hope my local offers a similar discount on my next bhuna) thanks to Twm and TwoK’s

    1. Trust me even with 60% off I’d give the range available in store mentioned in the clue a wide berth. Absolutely tasteless

       1. I favour a rather nice local curry house in the old waiting rooms at Church Fenton Station, their Chicken Shatkora is worth paying full price

    2. Love ‘Twm and Twoks’, Sloop!

12. Perfectly pitched for a Wednesday – thanks to the setter and 2Ks.
    The old soldier was new to me but the wordplay was clear.
    There are some very neat misdirections here – I particularly liked 13a, 7d and 16d but my favourite was the superb 1d.

13. A very enjoyable Robyn(?) midweek challenge to provide the transition from Campbell and Mr Plumb to presumably Ray T and, hopefully, proXimal – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 10a, 17a, 24a, 7d, and 22d – and the winner is 17a.

    Thanks to Robyn(?) and the 2KIwis.

    1. I missed SJB’s comment when posting mine and as I don’t Tweet/X/whatever name Musk is going to come up with next I was 11a of Twmbarlwm claiming ownership – so thanks to him rather than Robyn.

14. This was an enigma of two distinct halves – a breeze in the North but squally in the South. Suppose 12a is relaxed. 16d bunged in as it had to be but why? 19d now in my personal Thesaurus. Misspelled 20d to begin with but had to think again to accommodate crossings. 13a bunged in however with 2Kiwis help the bouquet amused. Thank you Mysteron and 2 Kiwis.

    1. Rather contrived Quickie pun but clever

15. Very straightforward and enjoyable. Pears not my favourite fruit. Last one in and my COTD. Thanks to all. Looking forward to tomorrow and Friday with mixed feelings.

16. An absolute peach, best of the week so far for me. I see SJB has already outed it as a Twm (more please!) production and that doesn’t surprise me at all. Very clean, very fresh. 1D was especially toothsome. Thanks to all.

17. Super guzzle. I had it pegged as probably one of Robyn’s but see that SJB has saved us from wasting our money. Needed to parse one or two post grid completion & also to confirm the likely next entry into Terence’s LIST so not the quickest solve for me (Toughie took about the same time) & reckon *** for difficulty about right. Ticks for 11,17,21&26a along with 1,3,5&16d. I’m with Steve & Senf so another vote for 17a as COTD which is what I was on the golf course yesterday
    Thanks to T & to the 2Ks for confirming a couple of parsings

18. Some of the best misdirection I have seen in a backpager for a while, and that certainly upped the enjoyment. I didn’t find it terribly difficult, but it was beautifully constructed and an absolute delight to solve. I think 1d has to take top spot – quite brilliant.

    My thanks and congratulations to our setter for a terrific puzzle, and thanks, too, to the 2Ks.

19. Not my favourite of recent Wednesday puzzles and quite a few ‘hmms’ on my sheet. Not to worry, can’t win ’em all.
    Only ticked clue was 11a.

    Thanks to our setter and to our 2Ks for the review.

20. A tricky guzzle indeed, with 9d my last one in because I just couldn’t see it. 19d goes on THE LIST.

    Of course I had to solve 5d as I wrote extensively for the series back in the 1980s (not the recent limp revival, I stress).

    Last night we visited the ever-splendid Opera Holland Park for La boheme. All in great splendour, with a picnic beforehand and smashing seats. My birthday treat held over from June.

    

    1. I just knew that The List was going to come up. I would never have guessed had it not been a lurker but still had to look it up. I agree with this addition. 5d – you are full of surprises!

21. Unusually I am against the tide of general opinion on this one at */***. It just flowed from the SE to the NW and that was that! My two favourites were 11&21d and of course 20d would have been ideal for an appropriate Mr K picture. Thank you to the 2K’s for their hints and our setter for his ingenuity.

22. Sorry Twmbarlwm – have just spotted you were our benefactor. Excellent and well done.

23. Another good puzzle, in a week where so far there’s been something for everyone rather than two toughies. I might be saying that at least in part because this week I have heard of all of the answers, including 19d. Also, perhaps I have learned stuff. For example, I start off assuming capitals are a red herring. They often are, as was the case with 26a. Having said that, I am thankful to 2K for the parsing of 12a. I knew what the answer was, but didn’t think of the actress even though I was aware of her – the capital letter was appropriate in this case, but in the time available I didn’t get the painter out of my head. Lots of good clues, favourite probably 19d, although I do accept that this might be difficult on a GK level as it probably isn’t widely known.

    1. Hear hear re the painter of course

24. Really liked this and sailed through it until the SE corner. Despite having had one for supper last night, failed to parse 26a so needed the 2K’s explanation and again for the answer to 19d. Ever since unlurking have trouble when they’re split over 2 lines and my 2 months of Greek didn’t cover those soldiers – though it was 65 years ago, so I may have forgotten. Seeing my ophthalmologist in a couple of weeks so will ask him about adding a ‘Lurker blindness’ correction to my glasses.
    Very many thanks to Mr T and to the 2Ks.

    1. I did one year of Greek, only ‘cos I had to, and don’t remember much except the alphabet. But some seeds must be lurking around somewhere.

       1. 🤔

25. A 21a of clues to set the little grey cells charging off 17a. As Merusa said last week – What larks!

26. Excellent puzzle, thanks Twmbarlwm, and thanks to 2Ks.

    Agree with earlier comment – perfect Goldilockss puzzle for me.

27. Light, swift & enjoyable, a nice balance of clue types, a few old friends, generally good surface reads, and plenty of smiles throughout. The old soldier was new to me but very fairly clued, no complaints there! Not sure Royal Mail still offers 15a as it seems now to be Special Delivery & Signed For – the latter not being worth a penny since the letter’s not tracked in the system, amd postman seems to sign that he’s delivered it, which rather defeats the object! Hon Mentions to 21a, 1d (good red herring!), 5d & 16d, with COTD for me to 26a, quite brilliant.

    1.5* / 3*

    Many thanks to Twmbarlwm & to the 2Ks

28. After a very slow start, something seemed to click and then I thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzle. I was quite chuffed when I spotted the cricket term at 1d – these usually go straight over my head, and like others, hadn’t heard of the soldier – and was amazed that my non-quizzing/ non-puzzling husband had! Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

29. Seems this Wednesday puzzle, which I assume is from Robyn as I have not yet read the blog, was much friendlier than last weeks offering. No GK or specialty knowledge required, just a nice steady solve.

    1.5*/3.5* for me today.

    Favourites include 10, 15a, 17a, 21a & 20d — with winner 20d

    Thanks to Robyn and 2K’s for hints/blog

    1. As I have now read the blog and I do not Tweet, thanks to Twmbarlwm for the puzzle.

30. That went well with my lunchtime salad with special dressing. Most enjoyable, especially 10,11a and 5d. Sorry Huntsman, I didn’t know 1d was crickety but I do now. Some nice misdirections, I think 31s is favourite because it is such a scrumptious word. Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and the Two Kiwis. My get up and go has got up and gone today, I think I have to take a nap.

31. Not 31s but 21a.

32. Lovely puzzle, super clues that I enjoyed solving very much and that very much brightened a rainy day. 16D got the biggest smile from me. Thanks all.

33. 2/4. A very well constructed puzzle with so much to like. My favourites were 11a and 1,5,16&19d. The winner was 1d although I thought 16d was a very close second. Thanks to the setter and the 2Ks.

34. I’m going against the grain here, I thought this was tricky and I had three unsolved in the NE. I didn’t know the actress, thought 6d was spelt with two “r”s, and couldn’t see the why of 13a, I shudda bunged it in instead of just pencilling it in to the side. I liked 1d, I’m not crickety but that one I did know. I liked 23a, but tops are 17a and the lovely word at 21a.
    Thanks Toombarloom, and thanks 2Kiwis for sorting my missing answers for me.

    1. Merusa, I am crickety, but missed the connection in 1d. I put together the anagram bit and ‘absolutely’ bit and bunged it in. The penny dropped when I saw the lady Kiwi bowler shown by our 2Kiwis. (How I long to be back in their wonderful country).

       1. I never made it there, one of my regrets after 40+ years working in the airlines!

35. This was excellent.

    Plenty of beautifully crafted clues with lots of lego and some superb misdirections (love a misdirection, me). It was also good to see some new words to stash away for future use.

    My podium is 1d (obvs), 19d for a tremendous lurker and 21a for pure effort by the compiler.

    Many thanks to Le Touquet and Mr Tumble.

    2*/5*

36. Enjoyed that!

    Loads of good clues – favourites were 17A, 24A and (in particular) 26A. The last-mentioned was a very clever clue for a five letter word – “Gore” had me thinking of an American Vice President for a while, which was a neat misdirection.

    19D presented a new word for me, but luckily it was a lurker.

37. Rats – it won’t let me post my comment!

    1. Try again. The site has transferred to a new one, as opposed to the one Big Dave ran

       1. Thanks CS – a very quick comment.
          Today’s crossword was way beyond me – partly lack of sleep but also a wavelength problem, to put it mildly!
          Thanks to today’s setter for the crossword and to the K’s for the hints.

          1. I found it tricky Kath, having to use ehelp quite a lot, and I never did finish in the NE. There was some good stuff so it wasn’t all bad.

    2. Oh – well now it will – maybe I’ll just leave it at that for today.
       Thanks to our setter and to the 2K’s.

38. Id as my favourite thanks twmbarlwm and 2ks, agree with the *** rating

39. On the harder side for a Wednesday perhaps, but that’s always to my liking. Great fun.

40. Good evening
    Well, chums, that one took a bit of doing, with some good misdirection, a tricky lurker in 19d, a laugh out loud in 5d, a Crikey!! for 13a, and 1d comes in as COTD. Oh, and a special mention for 20d – Double Crikey!
    Thank you to Twmbarlwm and to 2Ks

41. A little bit harder that Monday and Tuesday but nonetheless quite enjoyable and doable. I got off to a good start by getting some of the longer clues early on. Was held up getting the second part of 9d and had to check the hints for 25a. Hadn’t heard of 19d before but being a lurker it wasn’t a problem. Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and the 2 Kiwis.

42. Morning all.
    So it was by Twmbarlwm. It did not feel like a Robyn puzzle to us but we did not pick who else it might be.
    Thanks Twm. So much clever misdirection to work our way around and a joy to solve and blog.
    Cheers.

    1. What goes quick?

       A duck from New Zealand.
       (Olaf Falafel:)

       Sorry just been reading the review of some of the Edinburgh Fringe jokes maybe you had to be there

       1. Hmmm… I did have to read that twice, SJB. 🤣

43. Thanks for your comments, and to 2Kiwis for the excellent blog.
    I didn’t realise ‘Stubbs’ for Una was an old chestnut, but the connection with ‘art’ and George Stubbs made it hard to resist.
    I made the two more obscure solutions lurkers to be fairer – sometimes you get painted into a corner with no alternative words available.
    Coincidentally, the solution with a similar clue to 10a turned up in an Allan Scott/Campbell puzzle a month ago, but by that time this puzzle had already been submitted. A last-minute change from ‘cat’ to ‘Tom perhaps’ was made to avoid déjà vu.

    Cheers for now!

    1. Thanks for the puzzle
       I should have kept schtum about the tweet/X. I could have made a killing taking money from the Robyn plumpers

    2. Thank you, Twmbarlwm for a great guzzle. I have to admit that “Una” never entered my head having admired the paintings of Stubbs for a great many years.

    3. Cracking puzzle, very enjoyable 👍

    4. Great puzzle, Twm. Many thanks.

    5. Game of two halves, but brilliant.

44. What a wonderful Wednesday wheeze. I just happened to be on wavelength today and although I didn’t know the soldier I did for once remember to check for a lurker. I managed to complete it whilst we were driving round the circular car park in the awful weather that we had today. 1d is my favourite as I got it and it’s a cricket clue, something obviously has stuck in my brain!

    Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to the 2kiwis

    1. Hadn’t heard of it either! Sounded like a low-alcohol beer 😁

45. I found this decidedly tricky in places and needed some hints to finish this morning. This afternoon I could not open the blog, got “this site has been suspended”. The ever patient CrypticSue explained that the new site would soon be available. Hooray, and there it was, but only until I tried to open today’s 2Kiwis page. Same message. But admirably, because I have no patience, I waited for another 2 hours, and now all seems to be well. Thankfully. Thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis, and of course to CrypticSue for taking time out of her day to reply to me.

46. Really enjoyed this one although the last few clues in the southern hemisphere took a while mulling over the dregs of the vino 😋 Favourites were 1d, 21a and 15a. Huge groans for 26a and 18d. I liked that none of the clues were over eight words long.

47. Fair for a Wednesday. Favourite was 5d. Thanks to the setter and 2K’s.

48. What an enjoyable guzzle, finished with a little help. Top of the shop COTD 17a although many clues were worthy of the podium. Many thanks to Twm and I will now read 2K’s hints.

49. I am just delighted that I actually finished the whole crossword and didn’t find it too difficult. Not being the experts who write comments on here.

    1. You’ve used a different alias which sent your comment into moderation. Both your aliases will work from now on.

50. 3*/4* …
    liked 1D “Absolutely following idle New Yorker? (8)”

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