DT 30476

83 comments on “DT 30476”

1. Superb puzzle.
   I particularly enjoyed 11a, fabulous bit of misdirection, plus 27a along with 9&21d but could have mentioned so many more. Great stuff.
   Many thanks to the setter and The Ks.

2. A 25 letter answer? You’ve got to love that……though some won’t.

   This was good fun with lots of great surfaces. 1a kicked things off nicely: roast nuts is excellent.

   Whenever I hear the name Holst, it reminds me of the classic question: Which came first, his Jupiter composition or the hymn ‘I vow to thee my country’?

   Always a goodie, even though it’s fairly obvious.

   My podium is 1a, 30a and 23d.

   Many thanks to the setter and the 2 Ks.

   2*/4*

   1. TDS – to answer your question, assuming that the unimpeachable source Wikipedia is correct, I would suggest that the answer is not so obvious and depends on whether one is a poet or a musician:

      Cecil Spring Rice wrote a patriotic poem in 1908 or 1912 which he modified in 1918 to the version that became the hymn ‘I vow to thee my country.’

      Gustav Holst composed ‘The Planets Suite’ between 1914 and 1917. He adapted the stately theme from the middle section of the ‘Jupiter’ movement in 1921 to fit the patriotic poem. Then the hymn-tune was named ‘Thaxted’ by Holst’s friend Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1926.

      So, modified poem in 1918 and modified music in 1921.

      1. Who needs Wikipedia when we have Senfeedia!

         As Holst came before the hymn, I assumed that was that. I wasn’t aware of Gusty’s middle section tweak.

         So, thank you for that.

3. This was a pleasant diversion over the morning coffee with the wonderful 1a getting things started. Then I managed only four of the across clues but the downs came to my rescue with the first half going straight in. It took a while to sort out the 21a, 24a and 14d combination but once it arrived the rest came along at a steady pace. My COTD is 18d with its serious fare dodgers.

   Many thanks to the setter for the Wednesday fun. Thank you 2Ks for the hints, which I will now read.

   Overcast and decidedly frosty in The Marches today but we’re going out for lunch so no need to think of cold tasks in the garden.

4. A Google straightforward puzzle with no question marks beside clues needing the hinter’s explanation.

   Favourites 9d, 16d and 25d.

   Just been on a rescue mission to take The Better Half home from her work. She had gone back too early after flu / heavy cold and had caused consternation by keeling over. Now in bed being kept warm by several hot water bottles and Emmy the Dog.

   Thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis.

   1. Supposed to be “good”. Mr Google intrudes again!

   2. Nothing like the comfort of a dog to make you feel better. I wish I could have another😞

      1. They are able to sense when you are not 100% and try to comfort you.

      2. Why can’t you have another? Surely you can get an adult that’s already trained?

         1. I am too old Merusa! It would not be fair.

            1. Contact a local shelter, they’ll “loan” you an older (and trained) dog for you to keep, they promise to care for it when you are no longer able to do so. At least, that’s the arrangement I have if anything happens to Sadie. A homeless dog will have a home and be loved for as long as you live. Think on’t.

   3. I know Emmy is doing her part! I hope for a speedy recovery for the invalid.

      1. Thank you from Shonagh 🙂

   4. Just going through the blog I came across your post, DaveP. I am so sorry to hear about your good lady and Mrs. C and I send our best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.
      I’m so pleased she has Emmy. Dogs have great empathy. This is Hudson taking care of me while I was ill.

      

      1. Thank you both. She is feeling better but is going to leave it for a few more days before she goes back to work.
         Hudson’s sympathetic look is just like Emmy’s was. That’s why animals are such invaluable companions.

      2. I love you Hudson!

      3. It looks to me as though there is another animal there peeping at us. Is it your bear, Steve? You can tell us, we won’t breathe a word.

         1. That’s Gruff. He is Hudson’s favourite toy and he gave him to me because I wasn’t well. 🐶

5. Another in a run of relatively easy puzzles, I fear we are heading for a fall just in time for Christmas
   I always wonder whether it is you or one nibbling in excess of capacity so had to wait for a checker
   Thanks to Kiwis and setter, time for the toughie methinks
   Sunny with a hard frost here much waiting for the de-icer to kick in before driving to work

6. A not too challenging, very pleasant and enjoyable mid-week back pager – 2*/4.5*

   No problem with 21a, etc – it ‘fell’ reasonably easily when sufficient checkers were in place.

   Candidates for favourite – 28a, 2d, 4d, and 23d – and for the winner I would be 23d if I didn’t choose 23d!

   Thanks to the Mysteron and the 2Kiwis.

7. A pleasant diversion whilst I pretended to pay attention to a video conference.

   10a, 8d and 18d were my picks.

   Thanks to the 2Ks and today’s setter.

8. I enjoyed this. 27a being the one I needed the hint for
   My name and email have gone AWOL. Anyone else suffering this problem?

9. Far better fare this morning, put me in a much better mood to face the morning walk in a bitterly cold pea-souper here in Sandhurst.
   Last one in was 27a, which I’m surprised didn’t click earlier as I used to drive past a signpost for this village on the A34 at least once a week.
   Not as tough as many Wednesday offerings, but great fun none the less.
   Favourite today was 21d, many thanks to our setter.

10. Loved 1A. Struggled with 15A until one realized one had the wrong three-letter word in 14D. Altogether a really enjoyable solve. Thanks to the 2Ks and the setter.

    1. Snap on 14d!

       1. Me too!

    2. Double snap! Luckily 15a saved the day!

    3. Nearly did the same, but opted instead to wait until I had a checker. Funny, “one” has nearly always been used before.

11. 2*/4*. I enjoyed this although I gave myself a couple of red herrings. I twigged 21/24/14 as soon as I looked at it except that I put “one” for the fifth word. Every other time I can recall coming across the choice of “you” or “one” (and “your” or “ones”) in an answer, it has never been other than “one(s)”. I also wasted a bit of time in a blind alley with 18d, thinking that fare dodgers might be anorexics.

    18d eventually made it onto my podium, joined by 1a & 23d.

    Many thanks to the setter and to the 2Ks.

    1. One is not alone in this.

       1. :smile:

    2. Your idea for ‘fare dodger’ is brilliant.

       Have you ever compiled a cryptic crossword because, with that kind of example, I think you’d be good at it?

    3. My thoughts on 18d did briefly include consideration of fare as food.

    4. Oh I like anorexics for fare dodgers

       1. Funnily enough, George came up with that one as well!

       2. Suggest it to proXimal for his next 4X puzzle

12. Put me down as another who wanted the fare dodgers to be on a diet!
    Decent enough puzzle but nothing that particularly appealed – maybe 10a and 4d came the closest.

    Thanks to our setter and to our 2Ks as they resume ‘normal’ life!

13. Quite nice puzzle today but wasn’t too keen on 11a and 4d, very quirky. 18d was weak and 29a odd.
    Not too difficult and quite fun.
    Thx to all
    **/***

14. Surprisingly gentle for a Wednesday but no complaints about that from me. Last one in was 18d which I think has appeared a few times before. 10a seems an ugly name for such an attractive fish. Thanks to all.

15. Nicely clued and an enjoyable srart in the top half especially 12a 11a and 4d,took a while until the bull dropped into place.
    Reminded me of the toilets in the village of Elton near to the shell refinery , the locals have christened them The Elton John!
    21a,24a and 14d were a mouthful indeed, the bur in 21d was new to me-thanks 2K’s.
    Going for **/****

    1. “Bur” is reversed, remember Hamlet, “Aye, there’s the rub”.

16. A beautifully compiled puzzle that was a brilliant solve, first clue to last. As others have mentioned, 1a got us off to a great start and the rest were entertaining and fun, surely the point of doing the crossword?

    I will happily nominate 1a as my favourite, although the list of potential winners was lengthy.

    My thanks to our setter for a lovely challenge, and to the 2Ks.

17. 11a Growth for Plane Tree felt like a stretch and 27a Hermitage for retreat was completely new to me. But a very nice puzzle pitched just right for my (not particularly good) level of solving ability.

    1. I thought 11a a stretch too. Maybe if it ended with a question mark it would have been fairer. Solved it quickly though with ‘planet’ being a helpful start

18. A lot of fun – thanks to our setter and 2Ks.
    For my podium I’ve chosen 1a, 9d and 18d.

19. A better start to the day after yesterday’s self inflicted confusion.
    Good to see our local composer featured in both 4d and 11a. He was organist, choirmaster and conductor in our local churches, but of course this was even before my time on this planet.
    Thank you 2Ks and setter.

20. Great puzzle. Really liked 4d and 11a as well as the 21,24,14 combo clue which provided some nice checkers. Finished quite quickly except for 18d which took a long time to solve.

21. Briefly held up by the wrong pronoun in 14d. I thought it was more or less conventional that “one” is used in crosswords in these sorts of phrases?

    1. O, 14d. If there’s an option in a phrase (sometimes there isn’t), then the convention for setters is to use one/ones. I asked this specific question (because I always picked the wrong one) regarding one/you several years ago and got two definitive answers. From the late BD and former blogger MP – both confirmed the convention to be one/ones.

       I have tried to find this old exchange by using the Google search facility at the top right of the Home Page on this website, but couldn’t locate it. I wonder if one of the regular bloggers could use their enhanced search methods to find and post it (please)?

22. The only thing that spoilt today’s excellent guzzle for me was the continued refusal of the DT in their digital paper to display the full enumeration beside clues across multiple answers in the same away as in their new or old puzzle site. 21a/24a/14d displayed as follows – 21a (4,3), 24a see 21a (4,4) & 14d see 24a (3,3,4). I don’t use the new puzzles site but had a look at it for this clue & when I entered the first bit at 21a the clue disappeared altogether which seemed even worse. Quite why they can’t organise it like the Graun & Indy puzzle when you can input the answer without having to locate each bit is beyond me. Moan over.
    Loved the guzzle today – so much more fun than yesterday’s rather humdrum affair. 18a just pips 11a for top spot with the gourmand’s multiple mouthful just losing out to food lover at 1a for the last podium spot. The Toughie will have to wait until after a good long walk in the sunshine.
    Thanks to the setter (wouldn’t be surprised if this is Robyn doubling up) & to the 2Ks

    1. Meant 18d

       1. Robyn’s Toughie is by no means difficult & is excellent- well worth a stab for those who don’t usually venture there.
          Go on Corky give it a go…

          1. I am just tackling it now!

23. I really do not like the skeleton which is appearing above this post telling me I have the wrong pillow. I have always bought new pillows every January and if I could, I would always travel with my own pillow. Rant over. Lovely guzzle completed bish bash bosh with no need to refer to the 2Ks although I read them anyway. . Some fine misdirection and the long 21a ensemble came to mind straight away. I know it may have been used before but I just liked the simplicity of 6a and am going to give her my accolade. On a tip from Lynn The Foot yesterday, I went to Sawston Post Office to renew my passport. Oh boy, a doddle. So efficient and when I got back in the car I had a ping to say the Passport Office had received the application. They even took my photograph and verified it.

    1. And that wretched skeleton came down over my writing and I could not get at it to add my thanks to Messrs Setter & Kay’s.

       1. Funny, I haven’t had any ads today thank goodness. Also just got a new passport via a post office, easy peasy for our hols tomorrow that we’ve cancelled due to bad leg. Sadly the passports are produced abroad and look really cheap and nasty.

24. Lots of fun. Last in 18d which was my fav.

25. Again this week I found this Wednesday puzzle quite straightforward to make my way through. Took a while to get the 21,24a,14d words but with the checking words it came through fairly easily … except ‘one’ of them was wrong and that held up the area in the west, but it all came together in the end.

    1.5*/3.5* today.

    Favourites other than the 7 multiword answer were 1a, 11a, 12a, 4d, 9d & 23d — with winner 23d
    Smiles came from 10a, 12a, the 21,24a,14d set & 23d

    Thanks to setter & the 2K’s for hints/blog

26. (whispers) Hooray for ad blockers (don’t tell anyone)

    Best wishes to Dave P’s missus. The dog is fine for warmth, but I suggest you don’t bring your horse in.

    When I was a teenager, Elton’s mother gave me one of his jackets as she was worried I looked cold (it’s a long story). The jacket was black with silver threads running all the way through it.
    I don’t think Elton drives any more due to various injuries, but until relatively recently he could be seen, quite regularly, driving through Old Windsor on the school run, and I always thought he looked so grumpy, but I think it is just his resting face. So three cheers for the lad from Pinner (and his late ma).

    Thanks to the setter and The TwoKays.

    

    1. She is still sounding a little hoarse 😉

       1. Groan!

       2. :good:

    2. I bet you could tell a tale or three Terence.

27. Good afternoon
    Finished on the way into work! I started off after breakfast, and I had to pull the regular trick of walking away and letting my subconscious go to work on the clues I couldn’t twig.
    After more tea and a dog-walk, only the SW quadrant remained, and I’ve just put my pen down 5 minutes before arriving in Paddington.
    4d is COTD today, because of the marvellous penny-drop moment.
    My thanks to our compiler and to 2Ks

28. Straightforward for me today except for putting part of Italy (which also happened to be a type of car) in 19a instead of part of France, and I also joined the you/one group. But it was all sorted out fairly easily so **/***

29. A nicely straightforward guzzle, which I very much enjoyed, especially the clever misdirection. Iia was my COTD and I thought it a fine lego clue with good misdirection. The two geographical clues, 19a and 21d also appealed to me and, of course, the 21a, 24a, 14d combination clue with you not one. Thanks to the Kiwis for the hints and to the compiler.

30. I loved it all, best puzzle for ages. “One” cannot choose a fave amongst that lot, so much amused. I liked the long phrase, 18d gave a chuckle, as did 27a, but fave has got to be the 4d/11a clues were very clever … and I like Holst.
    Thank you setter for the fun, and the 2Kiwis for the hints and pics. Chilly here today, I’m going to try getting in the pool for my routine. The pool is heated but it’s the coming out … brrrr!

31. Not as intimidating as it looked to begin with – I really find multiple word answers tricky – I’m allergic to them!
    Once I’d got going most things went quite nicely – the main problem with the very long answer(s) was getting the words in the right order!
    1a was a good start and the long 30a at the bottom was another help.
    I liked 12 and 27a and 5d (nasty illness) and 16d. My favourite answer was 19a – not because it’s any better than other clue but because it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.
    Thanks to whoever set today’s crossword and to the K’s for their hints.

32. I didn’t find this as straightforward as some above but got there in the end after presuming 11a as vaguely growth and settling for rather circuitous 20d. Missed the teachers’ part of my 4d bung in. Thank you Mrs/MrRon and 2Kiwis.

33. The only trouble with this puzzle was me. Fell for every misdirection but got there unaided.18 d seems to be one of the most liked clues and I go with that. Ever grateful for this box of tricks and thanks to all involved.

34. Completed and enjoyed this once I had thawed out after a 45 minute ride in a bus with a broken – and permanently open – window. I fell into the one/you trap, but I’ll pick 27a as favourite, as it brought back lovely memories of a visit there a few years ago. Always vowed I would return, but that seems unlikely now. Thank you to the 2 Kiwis and setter.

35. Morning all.
    Our last one in was also 18d and food was something that we considered for fare until the penny dropped. When we got to the long phrase answer we already had the answer for 15a so ‘one’ was not an option for the 5th word by then.
    Lots of fun to solve and blog. Many thanks setter.
    Cheers.

36. I thought 27a and 18d were clever. Not so keen on 21a, took a while to work it out. I thought Nimrod first of all which made no sense. 11a soon came to the rescue.
    Lots of football to choose from this evening. I shall be watching my reds against a blue team!
    Thanks to setter and 2 K’s

37. Lovely puzzle today but I have to admit I failed to get 18d. Stared at it for ages but , no go.
    I blame the optician for putting drops in my eyes.

    Thanks to the setter and the 2Kiwis.

    Still very cold here. Hard frosts overnight. And now we await more heavy rain and high winds…..
    At least it should be milder.

38. Great puzzle despite a couple of old chestnuts, as with others 18d last in + held up by putting one in for you…

39. Came to it late but loved it. Thought I’d tried every possible way of reading 20d until I finally saw how it worked – lovely.

40. Pleased to find this waiting for me when we got back from breakfast out, some Christmas shopping and a visit to No.1 daughter. I am usually short on patience when I start later in the day, but this one was sufficiently friendly to keep me going. The crossword gods have been very kind this week, reminds of the cryptics we used to be treated to many moons ago, long may they continue. Thanks to setter and 2Kiwis.

41. Even though some chose it as favourite my least favourite clue was 18d.i thought this was an ok puzzle without hitting the highlights, just me I suppose. I also tried to fit the wrong pronoun into 14d but I had the answer to 15a so I ruled that out. I’ve made serious inroads into the toughie but it might have to wait until tomorrow now. Favourite was 4d. Thanks to the setter and 2K’s. I’ve got to buy a ‘secret Santa’ present for a maximum of £10 that would suit the old and young (about 80 down to 7, male or female) any suggestions, however facetious, would be welcome. I’m rubbish at this sort of thing. Swapping is allowed.

    1. Chocolates or tin of Quality Street or biscuits – definitely not socks, soap or a candle. Good luck!

42. Slow to start on this puzzle. Thought I would never get there with 21a/24a/14d combo, then did but then got stuck again by answering one instead of you. After that things fell into place steadily. Favourite 16d today. Thanks to the setter and 2Ks.

43. Great fun, completed this morning before a long day out and before the blog was published.
    I liked lots of clues especially 11a and 1a.

    Many thanks setter and to the 2 kiwis

44. 3*/4* ….
    liked 16D ” I love bananas, hot in the middle, with the Italian dressing (5,3)”

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