DT 30749 (Hints)

74 comments on “DT 30749 (Hints)”

1. 1a and 4a went straight in so I thought I was going to walk through it. I soon lost that thought when I solve not one more across clue. However, the downs came to the rescue giving some checkers to kick start the across clues. After that it was a steady finish and a very enjoyable one. I thought 22d had a terrific surface and the open clothes displaying a boob at 14d had me grinning from ear to ear. Ticks all over the paper again today but my COTD is 1d with the poetess on her holiday in March.

   Thank you, setter for the fun challenge (I have to say that now because Terence likes it). Thank you, Gazza for the hints.

   I’m now going to play with my new toy – a bread making machine!

   1. I have had one for many years and the bread is beyond delicious. I use my own mix of 250gr white,150 whole meal and 200 seeded. Yummy. You will never look back.

   2. Sorry, – 100 seeded – 500gr in total

      1. Me too – same mix, and agree ‘beyond delicious’.

         1. I have to admit I am hooked although I’m not too keen on today’s milk loaf. Pleasant texture if a bit on the sweet side. So far, I have used strong white flour with water, yeast and butter/olive oil with dashes of salt and sugar. I’m pleasantly surprised at how long it keeps. It lasts up to four or five days.

            1. We have also had ours for years – 600g wholemeal flour (from the watermill 3 miles away,) yeast, chia seeds, flax seeds, 2 x tsp salt, 2 x tbs sugar, 420 mls water, 40 mls extra virgin olive oil. Never fails, delicious. Used to do half and half but changed to all wholemeal when white ran out and never went back. Enjoy experimenting!

   3. I had one for years Steve, that was when I used to cook! Fresh bread beats “store-boughten” hands down!

   4. We have one too and agree that the bread is delicious…..only downside is that we eat it almost as soon as we make it . Not good for the waistline. But so good on the tongue.

   5. I have had a bread machine for a very long time…………….me!
      Yes – homemade bread is great, full of goodness, no preservatives, and can always be stored in the freezer, and you
      can make your own pizzas…………….they cost very little!

      1. Yes, I’ve just found out it will make French baguettes – well the dough for them.

         1. I like mine with poppy seeds Steve.

2. It took me some time to get on the setter’s wavelength, but once achieved, I made reasonable progress. Not being familiar with the Polish PM and having chosen to forget ***** held me up a little.

   I thought the 6 & 13A combo with it’s link to three other answers was very clever. although I solved it before seeing 9,20, & 22. The ovine next door at 24Awas my favourite.

   ***/*** Thanks to the setter and Gazza.

3. Great for a SPP
   The linked clues were solved from memory/GK and cryptically parsed later
   The Spanish runner and Eastern European leader took the longest to drop
   Thanks to Setter and Gazza
   I shall walk a thin line along the naughty step with this…

4. Good Saturday fun
   No real standouts today
   2*/3*
   Thanks to all

5. Another very nice SPP. I thought of Kitty at 17D, as I half-choked on my croissant.

   All good stuff as usual, with favourites being the film reference using other answers, the cat, the football one, but today for some reason I found 25D particularly tickling of my fancy. A really good spot that one, and an amusing image.

   Thanks host Gazza, and compiler.

6. Lots of fun to be had with this one which should be the case for a Samedi: a nice strewed, multi-worded howdy doody, a few gentle anagrams with some gentle GK thrown in.

   I’ve never heard of the 6d/13a ‘process’. So, having just read up about it, my day is full.

   My podium is 4a (an outstanding anagram), 23a and 14d.

   Many thanks to the setter and CS.

   2*/4*

   1. Apologies.

      Ta muchly Gazza.

7. Very entertaining: spot-on anagram indicators, witty wordplay and even a splash of Carry On (14d, 17d, etc). Breezy fun. Many thanks to our setter and Gazza. What, no illustration for 14d? Admirable self-restraint, sir!

8. Pleasingly testing for a SPP with some tricky parsing to keep me interested throughout the solve. 6d/13a with the links was very good and were my favourites. Great fun for a sunny Saturday.

   Many thanks to our weekend setter and Gazza.

9. Excellent puzzle but isn’t it tricky enough remembering our own PMs without having to worry about other countries politicians! Apart from that very enjoyable.
   Thx for the hints
   ***/****

10. Took longer than most, but not so long as to get frustrating, with plenty of entertainment along the way.

    My favourite was 6d/13a, once I finally realized what the last 2 words of the clue meant. The precise form of 21a was new to me. Thank you to the setter and Gazza, and hope CrypticSue enjoys her day off.

    Our two both have dance exams today (spaced so as to maximize the amount of walking between home and the church hall, naturally), and this afternoon we’re juggling childcare with Ilkley Literature Festival talks — hopefully everything will run to time!

    1. Good luck to the offspring. 🤞Did I show you a few weeks ago DD1’s aide memoire for the ballet positions which I unearthed? I was showing it to everyone! So funny.

11. Given my present travails, more on that in the preamble tomorrow, Mr Bringloe, for it must be he with 6d/13a, just right for me.

    Candidates for favourite – 24a, 7d, 17d, and 21d – and the winner is 21d.

    Thanks to NYDK and Gazza. Now it’s time to prepare the first caffeine of the day to support the NTSPP!

    1. Hi Senf, you’re right. Hope all well with you!?!?

       1. Thank you, NYDK for an entertaining guzzle. 👍

12. I thought this was good fun today, what with Doreen’s bad back, and the reshuffle, I had a few smiles this morning.
    Thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

13. My rating is 2*/4* for a quirky, very enjoyable puzzle which had the feel of an NYDK production.

    I can’t make much sense out of the surface of 16d and personally I don’t think that the synonym for complain in 14d is valid.

    I had a lot of ticks with 23a my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

    1. Ah! I see I was right about the setter’s identity.

14. Really liked this one, so many thanks NYDK. Got the 6d13a film from the checkers before the keys. Interesting because I know the subject of that film because one of my mother’s brothers was one of the many who didn’t come back, but had forgotten the name of the overall operation. (Is he still an uncle if he predeceaces one’s birth?)
    Anyway putting that film combo as fave, followed closely by the ornithological 16d! Thanks also to Gazza for the blog!

    1. Oops, “predeceases”.

15. Well! Who on earth does this so-called ‘Cryptic Sue’ think she is, swanning off like this? I think her pay should be stopped and…
    She doesn’t get paid you buffoon
    Oh… well… even so… I mean to say…

    Although the Hall Of Fame is getting mighty crowded, a spirited meeting of the committee this morning, saw both 24a and 21d admitted to THE LIST.
    A place has been found for them in between ‘a bootless errand’, and ‘cloisonne’. May they prosper in their new home.

    Thanks to the setter, and the former player/coach of Gansu Tianma.

16. Very enjoyable and educational as I had to check the link between the multiword answer and the other clues. Lots to like particularly 14d which was my favourite.

    Many thanks to NYDK and to Gazza for the hints. I hope CS enjoys her well deserved day off and that Senf your travails are not insurmountable.

17. Not one of my favourite NYDK puzzles although have to applaud the skill involved in constructing the 6/13 combo – a film that I haven’t seen. My top three for humour were 12&15a plus 25d.

    Thanks to Mr Bringloe and to Gazza for stepping into CS’s shoes.

18. Phew, thought I was never going to get off the ground but once that was eventually achieved a steady, enjoyable solve ensued. Surely it’s no rather than not in 5d. 19d surface for relationship somewhat broad. Crafty 22d indicator new to me. Thank you Mysteryone and filling-in Gazza – enjoy a play-day CS. Quickie pun obviously aimed at cockneys!

    1. I remember an aunt of mine would always stick “H” before words if she wanted to sound posh! 😊

       1. Much like Eliza Doolittle ;
          ‘urricanes ‘ardly Hevver ‘appen

       2. My grandmother was very posh and used to say an ‘otel ! She also used to say Vawse instead of vase. Very odd.

          1. “Vawse, vase or vaze” my mother used to jokingly say when she wanted to refer to it.

          2. Or “fingers crawsed” by the county ladies is another one I love!

19. A lovely puzzle for a lovely sunny (for now) day. Lots of smiles and a bit of headscratching over the parsing of a few.

    Top picks for me were 10a, 16d and 23d.

    Thanks to Gazza and NYDK.

20. Terrific guzzle (solved on a soggy 1st tee in my first respectable 🕰️ since Monday’s back-pager) that had Donny written all over it. Had forgotten the codename for the WWII operation (somewhat pedestrian film despite the galaxy of stars in it) so that needed a check as did what exactly 21d was. An otherwise problem free solve with ticks all over shop – loved 14&23d (had expected a pic of George Cole had it been hinted) but I’ll plump for 23a as my pick of ‘em.
    Thanks to Donny & Gazza.

21. I thought this Saturday puzzle was back to being harder than normal … but then Zandio’s Friday was a gift.
    A few clues hard to parse and some tricky wording, but eventually it came together.

    2.5*/3.5* today

    Favourites include 12a, 18a, 2d, 17d & 25d — with winner 2d (with 17d a close second)
    Smiles from 15a, 24a & 29a

    Thanks to NYDK & Gazza

22. Most enjoyable. Pouring with rain when I started it but now the sun is shining and I must go into the garden. The polish PM was LOI. I don’t know why – it wasn’t difficult. I’m inclined to agree with Terence that one would hardly call a neighbouring landowner (particularly if he had an ancestral pile) a 24a and I add my vote to its addition to the list. I know someone in the village called Doreen and she has a bad back so that will be my favourite. Many thanks to NYDJ and Gazza and hope SeeSue has a nice day.

    1. Still pouring up the road from you and jolly chilly!! Shabbo had the best of the weather last week in Wells.

       1. We had wonderful weather in Wells-next-the-Sea last week and drove home today in the pouring rain.
          A lovely break, as ever.

    2. I sometimes admit to my real Christian name and I have recurrent spinal stenosis so ditto to your friend.

23. Same for me, simply could not remember his name. Thank you NYDK and Gazza

24. Thought this was quite meaty for a Saturday but was enjoyable none the less. 1d was a new term for me , and my favourite was 24a. Last one in was 25d , convinced I was it was the usual polish middirect. Thanks to NYDK and Gazza.

    1. I too was looking for a cryptic rather than literal definition for Polish

25. Well, I had to work for that one, but what a lot of fun along the way! My “word search” programme popped out of my iPad so I had no help! On first read 1a and 4a went straight in and lulled me into false complacency. I bunged in 6d etc. from the checkers, thanks for explaining it Gazza, but wasn’t that clever? It’s my fave. As is my wont, I went to BD’s “mine” for the rugby player, but there are no rugby terms there; cricket and soccer yes, but no rugby! And why, Gazza, is there no pic for 23d? The young lady at 19d is as bright as her parents, I hope we see more of her in the future.
    Thank you setter for the fun, and Gazza for stepping in and for your help. Enjoy your day Sue!

26. I must have got on the right wavelength straightaway, as I found that pretty easy. Lots of fun though.

    Favourites are 1d, 5d and 12a for the surface.

27. Loved this and plenty of ticks. However , I did not like 21 d. I did A level chemistry and there were so many white powders involved in that subject that it hardly counted as a definition.
    Many thanks for this morning’s entertainment. Put me in such a good mood that I booked up Waiting for Godot. When asked if I wanted one or two seats at the theatre I said DEFINATLY 1. Put my otherwise super husband in a comfy seat, turn the lights down and he goes to sleep. Many thanks to all those who are crossword setters and enablers.

    1. Hi D

       Looking at your name, spelling is obviously tricky for you.

       Does this help?

       The word ‘finite’ is inside the word ‘definitely’.

       There are deFINITEly a FINITE number of letters in the word deFINITEly.

       No problem if it doesn’t work.

       1. And another thing!

          It derives from ‘finire’ the Latin for ‘limit’

          finire
          finite
          finish

          Simples dimples pimples.

          1. A clear gulf in education – you go down the Latin path & I immediately thought of Line Of Duty & the possible clue to the identity of H.

             1. Ah, yes. A great moment from a top series.

                I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve seen it spelt ‘defiantly’.

                In fact, I can……loaaaaaaaaads.

28. I found this one a bit harder than most folk seem to have, but got there in the end.

    Thanks to the setter and to Gazza

29. Definitely a workout but an enjoyable one. It was all there in the clues, I just took a bit longer with some than others. COTD goes to 6d/13a, a terrific film, must have seen at least 3 times. Wonder how many others bunged in the wrong second word in 11a like me, before realising their mistake? Took a while to figure out the minister, and needed help for 16d, as couldn’t see how Heron fitted. Thanks to NYDK and to Gazza. Happy that CS is having a well deserved Saturday off.

30. Fairly plain sailing once we’d got 6d/13a.

31. Many thanks all. Cheers to Gazza for standing in, hope all had a good time at The George.

    NYDK

    1. Thank you so much for that, super fun!

    2. I think a number of people were going to the George but it had been a very long day and an emotional ‘remembering Richard Rogan’ part of the proceedings was quite emotional, so I decided to come home rather than going to the pub

32. Not as much trouble today as I had last week, as far as I can remember anyway.
    Lots of really good clues and a sensible number of anagrams.
    A bit dim with 11a – wrong part of London and so the wrong kind of meat – so 4d was completely wrong etc etc – oh dear!
    I don’t quite ‘get’ 16d or am I being dim, again?
    I particularly liked 1 and 23a and 3 and 4d. I think my favourite was 2d – eventually!
    With thanks to NYDK for the crossword and to Gazza for the hints.

    1. Kath, for 16d have you, as per the clue, “taken up” the heron and put it in dip?

       1. Yes – can’t make any sense of it at all – must be me, well, usually is!!
          Never mind, but thanks anyway!
          Supper, oh, and wine too!! Let’s get the priorities right!!

33. Enjoyable second weekend in the UK, and finished puzzle before supper( that’s what we call it in RSA ) of slow pot sweet and sour shin with veggies. Family just arrived.

34. Thank you to Gazza for doing the hints although I won’t say that my ‘day off’ was particularly relaxing!

    

    1. Where on earth … looks like you’re all sitting an exam! Doesn’t look like much fun.

       1. The Annual Times Crossword Championships – so yes it is an exam, three crosswords to start and the fastest go on to do some more crosswords of increasing difficulty

35. Haven’t read the comments but late on this so just happy to finish. Some straightforward some not so. Favourite was 15a thanks to the setter and Gazza.

36. 1 across was a wee bit niggling… the answer is not what the liver is… or not truly so.. led me astray for longer than it should

37. I dont know why 24a was many peoples favourite.. it struck me as desperation to fill the space. I rammed it in but would think a billy would have been better. Can you billy something in?

    1. You’ve changed your alias so this needed moderation. Both your aliases will work from now on.

38. 3*/4* …
    liked 21D “Former student ingesting one white powder (7)”

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