DT 30598

79 comments on “DT 30598”

1. Wow, is it Monday already? That one positively zipped along.
   Some really great clues today with a good dollop of general knowledge chucked in for good measure, and good luck to anyone not from these shores with 1a. Can anyone let me know if this show is screened anywhere else except the UK?

   The only slight niggle for me was my last one in, 6a. it just didn’t sit right with me for some reason.
   Apart from that I thought the whole thing was straight out of the top drawer, very good fun, my two favourites were 3d and the lovely 18d

   Many thanks to our setter today.

   1. Just seen the clip for 28a, very rarely do you get absolute perfection, but this was one such occasion. She is sadly missed.

      1. Georgio Moroder – an absolute genius and his ‘I Feel Love’ with her vocals will surely last for many decades. TC, if you can bear to hear the music without seeing the lady herself, try this remix for a half-hour of getting lost in electronic disco perfection – I don’t know how Mr K blurs the picture so as not to give the game away, so I’ve put a space in the address to break the link and make sure the Youtube page doesn’t appear : ht tps://youtu.be/V12AJ-7XAjI

         1. Hi MG,
            I’ve been trying to get this on a CD for years, or even download it, any ideas?

            1. TC – I’ve been using the free version of AVC, an incredibly useful and versatile piece of software, for a long time – https://www.any-video-converter.com/en8/for_video_free/ I’ve found it invaluable for converting my audio files from MP3 to M4A, for transferring my CD collection into a format that I can keep on my phone, and for downloading video/audio files from their URLs.

               It’s more user-friendly than many, less so than some, but I have found it worth my while familiarising myself with those functions that matter most to me – I’d say it’s worth giving it a try.

               1. Ta, I’ll give it a go.

2. More straightforward than usual for a Friday at */*** with no particular stand outs for me although the misdirection in 28a made me smile. A pleasant affair and thanks to our hunter and setter.

3. Typical Friday fare with lots of crossword techniques on display.

   I couldn’t parse 19a and my LOI was 7d which was a great play on words. 14a was Lego that was seriously wired! Good fun though.

   My podium is 21a, 4d and 7d.

   Many thanks to Mr K and the setter (my guess is Zandio but, after going all-in on Wednesday with Jay, I clearly know Jack who is actually a nice guy)

   3*/4*

   P.S Where did you find that cat video, Mr K? It’s hilarious!

4. Cracking Friday puzzle which for me was the more challenging of the week’s back pagers – could not parse my answers to 6a, 19a & 26d (thank you MrK) and spent as long on my last three as on the other 29 combined, which to be fair had flown in. What a wonderful, witty, clever crossword – top three have to be 7d (COTD), 28a & 22d, but hot on their heels were so many more.

   2.5* / 4*

   Many thanks indeed to the setter (Silvanus? Zandio?) and to Mr K

   1. & FWIW my last three were not my unparsed three – the joy of biffing!

5. 2*/5*. What a delightful finish this made to the “working” week with smooth, accurate clueing. It was great fun to solve and my inclination is to attribute this fine puzzle to Silvanus.

   Many thanks to whomever and to Mr K,

6. Lovely puzzle for me today.
   Too many favourites to mention.

   Thanks to the setter and to Mr K….great pics as usual.

   Will I still be able to get the crossword within my digital edition ?
   I cannot be bothered with the Puzzles Site so don’t look at it….given up on the sudokus and code words….but it would be a big miss if I could not access the back pager within my normal digital DT when I am away from home.
   Who thinks up these “improvements ” ?

   1. As far as I can tell, you won’t be able to get the crossword without signing up for the puzzles so I have reluctantly done so.What I’ve tried so far I don’t like much – and the numbers on the crossword grid are so small as to be unreadable for those of us (most I suspect) of advancing years. Would I be cynical in thinking the improvements are aimed at the coffers of the DT?
      Enjoyed the last Friday puzzle on the old site -3*/3* and thanks for the hints

      1. I’m dreading it. I only have one eye and the other isn’t that great, I’ll have to us a magnifying glass. This would be very awkward, holding a pencil as well. I may not bother, I’ll see how it goes. One of these techie clever clogs may be able to tell us how to enlarge the print.

         1. try using the app as opposed to the web site . it works fine for me

            1. if you have an ipad or iphone you can get the puzzles app from the app store. much better than the website

               1. Thank you, I’ll get my techie friend to set me up!

      2. Thanks for getting back to me…even if the news is not good.
         I struggle with the Puzzles site ……and cannot understand how removing the back pager from the online paper is in any way an improvement.
         Sigh……

         Is there any point in writing to someone about this ? The EV was saved by protests.
         Would Chris Lancaster be the person to contact ?

         1. I’ve tried and tried Ora, but sadly no one seems to be listening.

   2. There’s a ‘free’ Puzzles site for the next year – and then I’ll cancel it !

      1. You appear to have changed your name (again!)

         This and the previous ones will work from now on

7. For the most part I found this fairly straightforward; Wednesday’s puzzle was the greater challenge to me this week.
   Though I was able to determine the answer, 6A confuses me still. What is the informal word for a brief period that loses one letter to get this answer?
   I guess the missing letter is “m” but It only works for me if a further four letters are lost from a word.

   Great puzzle overall, 15D being my favourite, very cute

   1. It was a new one on me, but the BRB gives one of the definitions of spasm as “a brief period”.

      1. The thing is the BRB only shows things that are in use. So if spasm is used as a synonym for a short period then in it goes. Personally I think they are wrong, eventually everything will end up as a synonym of everything else. I wonder how many words get dropped?

         1. Specifically, a spasm is a brief period of painful muscular contraction; however, the word is sometimes used figuratively to mean a brief period in other contexts as well.

   2. Oh dear. I read you as a rogue elephant. So 😔

8. Spot on Friday puzzle , straight forward excellent cluing.
   Favourites everywhere! 1a 7d 27a 18d.
   Special mention for Mr K’s 2d pic- when will she stop?
   Going for a ***/****

9. Friday back pager’s don’t come much better than this and my Toonie is on this being the work of the ‘smooth’ member of the Friday triumvirate – 2.5*/5*

   Candidates for favourite – 27a, 23d, and 24d – and the winner is 23a.

   Thanks to Silvanus, or whomsoever if my Toonie goes down the drain, and thanks to Mr K.

10. Excellent puzzle & reasonably straightforward too. My 5 bob would be on Silvanus. No particular favourite but liked all of ‘em.
    Thanks to the setter & to Mr K whose review I’ll read later.

11. Oh no. What is happening to the Puzzles site? First I’ve heard of it maybe vanishing.

    1. The “old” site at https://puzzles.telegraph.co.uk/ is shutting down on May 1st. All puzzles can be accessed on the “new” site at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/

       I say “can be accessed” as some may not be able to as there was some query regarding subscriptions carrying over.

       1. try the app! see above

       2. For the amount I paid for my subscription I would expect it to carry over…

12. Right. Let’s look at the puzzle. Deep breath, it’s Friday.
    Well, I’ve finished it!
    As others have said, not so difficult as expected, although the parsing of some was beyond me.
    Thanks to Mr K for his review and the cat masseur and thanks also to the setter.

13. Thought this was going to be more difficult than it proved to be. Once I got a toehold with 1a/d it was almost plain sailing and very enjoyable.I completely failed to see the lurker at 13a, but still managed to parse it to my way of thinking, if a little clumsily. I also failed to parse 19a though the answer was obvious. My overall favourite today was the cleverly smooth 15d, with podium places for 21a and 22d. Thanks to our setter and MrK – loved the kneading kitty.

14. I thought this Friday puzzle was at the easier end of the spectrum for “Friday- the hardest puzzle of the week”. I found it went in nicely with no real hitches.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites included 1a, 16a, 24a, 1d, 3d & 23d with winner 1 … pick ‘a’ or ‘d’ either works for me.

    Thanks to setter & Mr K for hints/blog

15. A sea change from last Friday, but still an enjoyable challenge with a nice mix of the straightforward and a few head scratchers. I too cannot parse 19a so will look at the hints on that one in particular. I really liked the Cornish banker’s voice and the explorer dog. 27a takes third spot on the podium. Thanks to the compiler and Mr K.

16. The only pause for thought was with 6a, which took me into 2* solving time.
    Many thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle.

17. What a joy, must be the work of Mr Smooth. After much debate, my top three awards went to 30a plus 7&18d.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K and the masseur for the review.

18. Re the new puzzle site. I always print the puzzle to enjoy doing at my lunchtime. The new site font is much smaller and therefore I am having difficulty reading it. Has anyone else got this problem? I’ve contacted the puzzles at DT but I doubt it will have any effect.

    1. Welcome to the blog, SueC28.
       You’re not alone in your difficulties but complaints to DT seem to have no effect.

       .

    2. try the app. see above

19. Fairly gentle for a Friday but very enjoyable – thanks to our setter and Mr K.
    My rosettes are pinned firmly on 1a, 30a and 7d.

20. Enjoyable but for me not as much of a shoe in as some of you seemed to find it. Although I had the answers there were a few where I needed Mr K to explain the parsing! 19a being one example – still don’t like it even now I understand it.

21. Banker = river? Really?

    I only just got my head around “flower”!

    1. Welcome to the blog, Steve M.

    2. Welcome to the blog, Steve M.
       Get ready for “number” being something that numbs 🙂

22. Many thanks to Mr K (love the feline masseur!) and to everyone solving and commenting on the puzzle.

    I hope Daisygirl’s cuts are improving. May I wish everyone a good weekend.

    1. How kind of you! I finally had the dressings taken off this morning and am told to keep my hand open to the air but clean! Not easy and I am feeling very exposed. I found an old large white suede glove of my father’s ( why had I kept them?) which I am putting on when I have to use my hand. But more to the point, what a super guzzle to end the week. The Cornish banker was my favourite followed by the cultivated accent. Many thanks. Whilst I am here, thanks to Mr K as well, we had a kneady cat once.

       1. So glad to know you’re feeling better now, Daisy. Now, how is the greenhouse feeling?

          1. Shattered?

             Just like me … now I have been told that the “brilliant” old site will be no more!

    2. Great puzzle, Silvanus.
       Many thanks to you and to Mr K.

    3. Silvanus. Cheeky, I know, but do you have any influence that would make the Telegraph listen to our complaints about the printed font size on the new website.

       1. No influence whatsoever, sorry!

          I’m sure though that Chris Lancaster is fully aware of many solvers’ concerns and he will do his best to address them.

23. That’s it then. I’m lost to the TG and unfortunately to this blog unless I can download the back page cryptic from somewhere else.
    As far as this puzzle is concerned I’ll give **/****.
    Favourite 18d

    1. Bob – and Hilary Walls (Brickrabbit), above – I’m sure I’ve read posts from others on this site in recent weeks who expressed the same concern but then found that by some jiggery-pokery they were still able to access the “new and improved”(!) puzzles site as part of their DT subscription without having to take out a new puzzles-only sub alongside.

       While I’m on a puzzles-only sub, I’m very surprised at these suggestions that “DT Full” subscribers aren’t able to access the “new” puzzles pages as part of their subscription and would suggest contacting Chris Lancaster, the Puzzles Editor, with your concerns – puzzleseditor@telegraph.co.uk and chris.lancaster@telegraph.co.uk

       1. It was quite a while ago but I was only able to access the new site by taking out a subscription to it. I did take advantage of an offer with a special price that included an M&S voucher. I’m hoping that if the old site doesn’t get a reprieve, someone will let me know how I go about getting a refund for the ten months left on my subscription to the old site and confirm that the WorldPay agreement for the automatic renewal has been cancelled

          1. Sue, I have a single puzzles-only subscription (like you, changed in order to take advantage of that offer) but can access both puzzles sites. Frustratingly the new site does not seem to save my log-in details – which are exactly the same for both – but apart from the new site being generally abysmal that’s the only hitch I’ve experienced.

             Old Puzzles site: https://www.puzzles.telegraph.co.uk/
             And New site :https://www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/

             As for WorldPay, they are so appalling that even the new DT puzzles site is polished perfection by comparison!

             Edit to add: I now think I misunderstood your initial post, so much of this will be irrelevant – if so, please feel free to delete this one!

24. 7, 17 and 18d were my top three from this exquisite puzzle, although they were a very arbitrary choice: any one could have been chosen. Just superb.

    Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.

25. Thankfully I have the paper delivered so won’t have to worry about the puzzles site but I do hope that it doesn’t mean people can’t enjoy the guzzles. Very unfair I say!
    I really enjoyed todays challenge, 12 and 18 especially but 15 my favourite and they certainly need all the help they can get after Wednesday’s performance. Thankyou Mr K for the cats and our setter.

26. This screams Silvanus, and I see he has taken ownership. I had a problem parsing a couple but Mr. K has explained them all nicely. As usual, nothing to make me feel that he’s battling me personally, good fun all round. Impossible to choose a fave, but I think 12a, 2d and 18d were special.
    Thank you Silvanus for the fun, and Mr. K for the unravelling, plus the kitties at 2d.

27. I don’t usually find Mondays to be an easy ride which Tuesday usually is and for me this was nearer a Tuesday level although admittedly it did take two sittings to refresh the grey matter.
    1a unparsed by me as I rarely watched Dad’s army although the episodes I did see brought back memories of my Father and the Home Guard. Still don’t “get” 19a so bunged in and likewise 28a as I regret I have never heard of her. Thank you Silvanus (?) and MrK.

    1. Have only just read Silvanus’
       Comment 22 and see he has in fact confirmed his identity – sorry.

28. Absolutely excellent. Generally straightforward but some clues made me think more than a bit. All in all thoroughly enjoyable with the cotd being the brilliant 7d. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr. K.

29. Good afternoon

    Having read the comments above ref the puzzles site, I am sticking firmly to the dead-tree version of the crozzie. Lucky green pen ahoy!

    Actually, I couldn’t find my LGP, and opted for Parker Blue. Poor old PB spent hours this afty lying by the side of the paper or being clicked on and off in frustration! I got there in the end, though I must hold up my hand and admit to having help from Mr K’s invaluable hints for 26d, and my last to fall, 28a. 28a!! PB was dropped on the table in astonishment, I can tell you!

    Many thanks to the Brain Of Silvanus for the challenge, for challenge it was; and of course to Mr K.

    1. Sadly, some of us do not have access to the dead tree version, which I am pretty sure is reflected in our subscription costs. My subscription is included access to both the DT and the puzzles site, and if they deny me access to the puzzle as of May 1 I will most likely cancel. What a sorry state of affairs.

30. I found this a little trickier than others seem to have found but I have been busy so that’s my excuse! I needed the hints to explain the parsing of a couple, but overall I enjoyed the challenge, it has been a very good week blessed with a lovely collection of puzzles of different styles.

    Many thanks to Silvanus and to Mr K for the hints and pics.

31. Having been away all week with no access to the puzzles I approached this with trepidation, starting on a Friday with no “run-up “. However it was a lovely puzzle with some penny drop moments and just 6a giving me pause.
    Top picks for me were 12a, 28a and 26d.
    Thanks to Mr K and Silvanus.
    Here’s hoping Monday’s puzzle access goes well for everyone here.

    1. We, and I mean mainly the 2Ks and I, don’t have to panic until Wednesday as the old site is supposed to work up until then

       1. Whatever happened to the supposed updates that would be implemented to the new site?? … like size of fonts and less wasted white space. I.E. make the grid and clues MUCH more like the old site in size. That’s all I (we??) are asking for.
          I would send this to CL if I had his email.

          Is it too much to ask for?

32. Well that was a delight for a Friday. For some reason I was held up for ages in the South East but, as ever, once I solved them I could not see why. I loved 1a with its reference to the “Don’t tell him” guy and 28a was very clever. I have no idea what possessed me to enter “carrot” at 23d. My COTD is the witty 7d.

    Thank you, Silvanus for a great Friday workout. Thank you, Mr. K. for the hints and pusskits. I especially loved the massaging cat.

    As I spent my career practicing it in one form or another I have to give a shout out to the Quickie pun. 😊

    1. I thought of you when I did the pun!

33. Most enjoyable crossword. Thanks to Silvanus and Mr K.

    Naturally my absolute favourite was 15d. (Shame they are stumbling on the run-in at the end of the season)

34. 1a His name will also go on THE LIST™ (Terence)

    1. 👍🤣

    2. Seen it many times but still makes me laugh😂

35. Feeling the odd one out today. Just did not gel and there were 6 blanks at the end of the attempt. This is down to me because Silvanus a fine setter and today’s puzzle got very positive responses. There is always another day

36. Some indicate “like” validation although numbness until solution

37. 3*/3* …
    liked 4D “Face losing case with old fashioned brief (8)”

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