Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30770
Hints and tips by 2Kiwis
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
“Kia ora. Kiwis are normally shy creatures who spend most of the day asleep and come out only at night, but we have emerged, blinking into the light to bring you our very first review of a Wednesday puzzle. It has taken much beak scratching.”
The above is part of the preamble we wrote in September 2014 on our very first BigDave blog. Today, the statistics on our computer tell us that this is our blog number 500 so we have decided that it would be an appropriate time to step aside and return to our underground nest as kiwis do as daylight approaches.
Before we started blogging we used to secretly refer to Big Dave as The Headmaster and the team of bloggers as The Prefects and it was a great honour to be invited into the prefect’s study. We still feel in awe of those amongst us who do so much behind the scenes to keep everything running so smoothly.
We don’t intend to leave the site but to continue to solve puzzles and make comments as we have done for so long but we will be able to use the word ‘Wednesday’ again instead of ‘Blogday’.
Once again we found a few tricky pieces in today’s puzzle to keep us on our toes.
Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.
Across
1a Step behind Somerset’s opener – to put him off? (6)
SLEDGE : A bit of crickety knowledge needed here. It’s an all-in-one clue with the definition being ‘to put him off’. The wordplay is made from the first letter of Somerset and a step or shelf.
4a Handle online customer with reputation (8)
USERNAME : A customer or consumer and then reputation or stature.
9a Chips in very hot container overturned (6)
NACHOS : Going from right to left we have a two letter word for very, H(ot) and a metal container.
10a Spiritual, Clapton converts and embraces India (8)
PLATONIC : An anagram (converts) of CLAPTON contains I(ndia).
11a How emotional librettists express themselves? (9)
LYRICALLY : A somewhat cryptic definition based on what librettists add to works that are to be performed.
13a On the drink, disoriented (2,3)
AT SEA : Drink here is figuratively marine.
14a Very tired girls went to play sport (3-2,9)
ALL-IN WRESTLING : A 3-2 phrase meaning very tired and an anagram(to play) of GIRLS WENT.
17a Routine article on source of coal tar (8,6)
ORDINARY SEAMAN : Routine or not unusual and a two letter indefinite article follows a band in which coal is found.
21a Chasing promotion, wise guy oddly ignored for so long (5)
ADIEU : A ‘commercial’ promotion and alternate letters found in two words of the clue.
23a Romans in a new land (3,6)
SAN MARINO : An anagram (new) of ROMANS IN A.
24a Applauds winning rallies (6,2)
CHEERS UP : Applauds or verbally encourages and then winning or ahead.
25a Forty per cent of Simpson & Son’s capital (6)
HOBART : The first two letters of a five letter cartoon character plus his son’s name.
26a Stay with South American novelist (8)
SALINGER : The abbreviation for South American and then stay or tarry.
27a Abandon Antarctica? (6)
DESERT : A double definition.
Down
1d Croon On the Wings of Love unaccompanied (6)
SINGLE : Croon or vocalise musically, then the first and last letters of love.
2d Hemmed in and losing head, uncle cried out (9)
ENCIRCLED : An anagram (out) of uNCLE CRIES with the first letter of uncle removed.
3d A lot of chocs and gin after stirring pasta (7)
GNOCCHI : An anagram (after stirring) of CHOCs GIN with the last letter of chocs removed.
5d When there’s not much going on goose, add salt? (5,6)
SILLY SEASON : Goose used in the sense of frivolous, and the purpose of adding salt to a meal.
6d Go back on essential part of Scream plot (7)
RETRACT : The two central letters of scream and a plot of land.
7d Juliet avoiding pleasure trips for relatives (5)
AUNTS : Start with pleasure trips and remove the J(uliet).
8d Switch conversation (8)
EXCHANGE : A double definition.
12d Bass power, a feature of Weather Report? (3,8)
LOW PRESSURE : Bass described by its sonic range and then power or force.
15d Dull prisoner welcomes one in-law occasionally turning up (9)
INANIMATE : A prisoner or detainee contains the reversal of Roman numeral one and alternate letters from in-law.
16d Perhaps kings my French son holds in bridge (8)
MONARCHS : The French word for my, then a curved bridge followed by S(on).
18d No charge for such a small thing (7)
NEUTRON : A cryptic definition of something found in the nucleus of an atom.
19d Shellfish caught by Ahab, a loner (7)
ABALONE : A lurker, hiding in the clue.
20d Time in advance to get stationery item (4-2)
POST-IT : Advance or put forward a theory contains T(ime).
22d Possibly 4 meals M&S put out – perfect (5)
IDEAL : How the answer to 4a is often expressed in two letters, then the three letters left of meals when m and s are removed.
Quickie pun bear + leaf + lop = belly flop
Thank you both for your sterling service.
I thought I was going to enjoy this puzzle having got 1a and was proved to be correct. This was quirky, amusing and with lovely surfaces. My LOI was 17a and together with 1a are my favourites from a cast of many.
With thanks to the setter for the fun and of course the 2Kiwis.
Lots of fun today. 1a’s clever, 24a’s neat and 25a’s fabulous. 14a’s a nice spin on a familiar, too. Many thanks to our setter and the 2Ks. Very sorry to see you go. You’ve really put in a tremendous shift. Hats off.
A big thank you to the 2Ks for all their hard work over the last ten years, and congratulations on reaching the 500 milestone. Your blogs will be missed by us all.
As for today’s puzzle, I didn’t find it too taxing. but it was a most enjoyable solve with some terrific clues, of which 18d was my favourite.
Thanks again to the 2Ks, and today’s setter.
Firstly, thank you soooooooooo much for your 500 blogs. 500? That is awesome! Your efforts are hugely appreciated. Welcome back to the peloton.
Another midweek tester which was fun to take on. I got there in the end with my LOI being 4a. I need to remember that, when there is a tricky combination of checkers, think ‘compound words’.
I do take issue with 25a across though: ‘capital’ on its own is brutal as you’ve got the 197 world capitals plus all the state and provincial ones. Maybe add ‘is in Australia’ at the end or something.
Lots of great clues to choose from but I’ll go with 1a, 5d and the brilliant 14a.
Many thanks to the setter and many, many thanks, once more, to the 2 Ks (no apostrophe)
3*/4*
Sorry, I should have said the 44 of the 197 countries whose capital contains six letters.
TDS65, 25a. I think you’ve got a valid point, but mentioning “Australia” would make the clue too easy considering the word-play is pretty helpful. Maybe island capital or state capital would suffice?
Agreed though the wording would need to be thought through as we have to keep the meaning of capital to be money/wealth. *
The wordplay wasn’t that helpful for me, btw. I had to reverse engineer it when all the checkers were in place. I got that we were looking for the first two or four letters of a five or 10 letter word but that was it. I love the construction – ”Simpson and Son’s” is genius.
* For some reason that I can’t explain, it’s very satisfying to have though, thought and through in one sentence.
I liked the deliberate deception of capital being possibly money or city, and agree with Jose that giving Australia would have made it too easy. Indeed I think it would have spoiled a superb clue to have removed the red herring factor by clarifying in any way.
Tom, for me the whole point is for the setter to be scrupulously fair when they make you go down blind alleys and off at tangents, until the light suddenly dawns. I was even thinking of the famous Strand restaurant at one stage, briefly.
A N Other paper has recently allowed for the first time the inclusion of living people in its main cryptic. There have been howls of huffy grumpiness in some quarters. A clue the other day raised particular ire: “She runs house — assume good family’s taken in (10)”
The definition is “she runs” … compared with the options for “capital”, in my view that really was a loose definition! However as with 25a today, it was very fairly and precisely clued, and could be solved without having any interest in or knowledge of, athletics & athletes.
I don’t agree. Having on its own, for me, made it really hard.
I’d prefer a difficult construction, that was beyond me, with a ‘Get out of jail free’ card. If the parsing is too tough then you are asked to think of all the six letter capitals of countries, states, provinces and territories.
Maybe you could have ‘is far away’ (or something similar) to not make it so obvious.
Me too with the restaurant
And don’t forget ‘capital’ is often an indicator for currency!
I love the term for when it means something is splendid…..a capital idea.
So many definitions, Sister Splitz.
Oh dear, you will be sorely missed but congrats on your 500th blog. I didn’t find this too bad but did start extremely slowly and thought it was going to be another tricky one. Car still at the garage so am glad to get the digital version as my friend didn’t turn up with the paper yesterday until midday and today I suspect will be the same. Lots of good clues especially the tired girls. Out to lunch today for Norfolk Restaurant week so I’m looking forward to my Baron Bigot galette, my favourite cheese so I hope they don’t ruin it. My next door neighbour wasn’t impressed with the BB, she took it out of the fridge a whole hour before tucking in and was amazed when I told her I left it out of the fridge for 5 days at least. Thanks to all on a horrid chilly day.
Enjoy your lunch. We had a wonderful meal at Queens’ last night, top notch nosh! By the way, it is gloriously sunny here – sorry 🙁
A college friend went from Queen’s to Queens’, where he did his DPhil on “Feasting & Gluttony In Ancient Rome” if I recall correctly. Evidently he could still write such a paper today: “Feasting & Gluttony In Modern Cambridge”!
Baron Bigot galette sounds right up my street Manders. As a frequent visitor to Norfolk I wonder where you are finding this on the menu. Sadly I can’t make this years Restaurant week.
Welcome to the blog, Mark.
After 10 years of consistently excellent blogs the 2Ks will be sorely missed and Wednesdays will not be the same but it’s good to know that they’ll still be commenting. A new blogger will be taking over the Wednesday blogging chair from next week.
I liked this puzzle a lot – many thanks to the setter.
The top clues for me were 17a, 21a, 25a and 20d.
I thought I was in for a big battle but in fact made steady progress. I needed to check a couple of parsings at the end, especially 1a which I might have known was a cricket clue! My favourite was 14a but many clues were very clever. I see Twmbarlwm has claimed this one on X.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and to the 2 Kiwis for the hints. Many thanks to both of you for your years of blogging, I am glad you will still be commenting.
Many congratulations on 500 blogs! What an achievement. You will be missed every Wednesday but I’m pleased to hear you will still be commenting. Thank you for all your hard work.
I got off to a cracking start with today’s guzzle but then ground to a halt. I found some of the clues quite obscure and needed the hints to make sense of them. No favourites today, just pleased to get over the line.
Thank you, setter for the challenge. Once again, many thanks to the 2Ks.
Are gnocchi pasta? Made from potato in my recipe book.
Agree!
Looking online, it can be both.
These compilers always do their homework.
I had the same question. Collins definition says it’s pasta made from potatoes. But I’ve never thought of it as pasta.
I was waiting to see who was going to challenge the “pasta”! Pasta made from flour dough .. Gnocchi a potato dumpling (and U’ve been an Italian cooking lesson to make them). However apparently gnocchi can be made with flour … who knew eh!
Sorry to see the 2kiwis standing down .. Wednesdays wont be the same.
Exactly
*Only because I was asked – here is a link to Spotify for the media related podcast I have co-hosted since 2011. Latest episode is 666 <- wah!
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ibZEZ34q5x4ngonjHiTG2?si=e0e0ea2f97214951
Thanks to the Kiwis for their incredible run. I will miss them and writing 'Thanks to the TwoKays' each Wednesday.
This was a hugely enjoyable guzzle. Because of the splendid nature of the crossword, the committee feels churlish about considering 19d for THE LIST, so a decision has been deferred.
Thanks to the setter and The TwoKays.
‘T’was I who asked Terence – but I am so ignorant I do not know how to access a podcast. Do I just put it in the search engine? (666? The devil’s in the detail!)
DG – many people will use a podcast player to listen to podcasts (eg spotify, podcast addict, & many others) but you don’t need any special software or programs for many of them, including Terence’s long-running production.
If you click on the link below it should take you to the Devil’s Own episode, and you just press play (the green/white arrow); there are many other earlier episodes available but not all 666:
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7n995-1737e48
Lovely Daisy – in this instance you may just click on the ‘play’ button next to where it says ‘1:18:16…’
Thanks for posting. I do wish you hadn’t hidden your light under a bushel & told us earlier. Listened to it on the journey back to Harpenden from the Royal Free & particularly enjoyed the Nicky Hopkins section – had no idea he was quite so prolific – Reese Wynans my current fav keys man & Lou Martin playing with Rory another fav of old.
Just had a quick shufti at the content of other episodes & will be sure to dip into ‘em.
Ps I’m with you on Primrose Hill (Hampstead Heath/Kenwood not so bad) & Fiona B – Robin Day must turn in his grave if he ever watches QT.
Firstly a huge thank you to the 2Kiwis for their sterling efforts over the past 10 years. 500 blogs, you certainly deserve a rest and it’s good to hear you will continue to comment.
Lots to like in this puzzle. Took me ages to think of the correct Simpson. OJ was my first thought which took me nowhere.
I also thought ‘note’ should be after 20d.
Top picks for me were 14a, 17a and 11a.
Thanks again to the 2Kiwis and to the setter.
Hi MF
20d without the word ‘note’ is very much in common parlance.
We are in a world of shortening everything, eg deffo, CBA, totes, emosh…..the list is endless.
And you have added MF to it 😃
I certainly have.
The list is even more endless.
Thank you to the 2Ks for their sterling work on the blog – you will definitely be missed
Wednesdays won’t be the same without the 2K’s blog, but thanks for all your help in explaining the mystifying and arcane over the 500 blogs. Today was a case in point where I had an answer but needed confirmation. This was a puzzle that benefited from perseverance or sheer “b-mindedness” to complete, but well worth it in the end. Many ticks on my page, but I’ll plump for 1a, 14a with 4a in top podium position. Thanks to Twmbarlwm and 2K’s.
Congratulations to the Two Kiwis on 500 blogs and many thanks for all your help over the years. Wednesday won’t be the same without you!
A fine Wednesday puzzle. Great clues and an enjoyable solve. Top 2 clues for me: 14a and 25a. 3*/4*.
*Many thanks to the 2 Ks for their sterling service over the past 10 years. I wonder if their replacement will be another surprising newcomer?
A big thank you from me too to the 2k’s. I’ve always enjoyed your blogs and especially the references to the wild life and plant life of your country.
Glad you’re not leaving altogether
I only recently started commenting in this forum, so have only benefited from a fraction of your blogs, but a big thank you for your great work. Thank you to todays setter as well.
I enjoyed this puzzle, and agree with the three star difficulty. I enjoyed the classic episodes of the Simpsons, so 25a is the COTD for me, followed by 4a and 17a.
Colin and Carol,
I’ll miss you more than I can say – don’t take your sanity with you – it’s still needed in this place too! xx
First things first: many, many thanks to the 2Ks for such a tremendous stint, for being so much a part of what has made this website the “go to” for crossword help and advice. I’ve always enjoyed your blogs and can only wish you a very happy return to your underground nest!
Absolutely loved this cracking puzzle, where I had the fortune to tune-in swiftly, so very sadly it went in at a Monday/Tuesday pace, and was over way too soon.
Such wit and humour throughout, quite brilliant, excellent surfaces, and a candidate for puzzle of the month, if not year. 1d was quite outstanding, but so many vied with it for the podium – 25a’s laugh-out-loud penny-drop moment, the superb combined surface read and answer of 1a, the deceit at 13a, the lego of 17a, the other big PDM of 20d.
Thank you so much, Setter, I do hope you call in so that we can learn who you are! Thanks too once more if for the last time to the 2Ks
Evening MG
A few solvers have said that they didn’t get 25a or it was their LOI as knowing the cartoon series requires specialist knowledge.
As good as it is, it’s too difficult a clue with ‘capital’ on its lonesome.
For me this was a bit of a tussle today, albeit a very enjoyable one. It’s a good job I don’t time myself and I had no other plans for the morning! I got off to a poor start as Ia was my LOI rather than the first, being completely outside my realm of knowledge. Mr Mhids was able to explain once I found the only plausible answer – I should have learned by now that it’s invariably cricket. Favourite was 17a which misled, as was the intention, for quite some time. Podium places 21a and 16d. Thanks to Twmbarlwm for a pleasurable morning and the 2 Kiwis for your years of splendid blogging. Keep commenting and telling us about the birds and other wildlife.
I’m sure you deserve to be released from duty after 10 years of loyal service to the blog but – my goodness, you’ll be sorely missed by us all. I see that you are intending to continue solving and commenting, I do hope that means that we can still look forward to getting updates from you on the weather and wildlife in your part of the world. Many thanks for all your efforts on our behalf over the years, it has been very much appreciated.
’emotional librettists’ in today’s 11a definitely brought opera to mind and I thought ‘lengthily’ would have answered rather well but ’twas not to be and I didn’t have a clue when it came to Simpson & son which was my LOI when nothing else would fit. 20d would seem to be short of a ‘note’ to make any sense but our setter does sing from a very different hymn sheet than I ever use.
Top clue for me was 1d, simple but smileworthy.
Thanks to Twmbarlwm and to our 2Ks for their 500th review.
Thank you Carol and Colin for your 500 quality blogs and for the privilege of occasionally substituting for you. I trust that you will continue to include meteorological and ornithological reports in your future comments.
An enjoyable puzzle today which didn’t feel like a Twmbarlwm but as he has ‘claimed’ it elsewhere what do I know – ***/****
Candidates for favourite – 13a, 24a, 25a, 1d, 16d, and 18d – and the winner is 18d.
Thanks to Twmbarlwm and the 2Kiwis.
Really fun puzzle which was much more straightforward for me than yesterday or esp Monday. Best clue for me was 14a although 4a was also excellent.
So far this week I have struggled but this restored me.
Thx to all
**/****
Thanks for your blogs and all the help with the crosswords.
When I started regular crosswording, following my retirement 4 years ago, I was happy to complete a couple of cryptics a week . Thanks to the tips from yourselves and from the other bloggers I now complete all the cryptics and Prize Cryptics and usually complete the Toughies ( except for most Fridays!!)
These days I only need to use the blogs to clarify or identify some parsing. It is wonderful that all you bloggers give up your time to provide this service
Thanks again
Kia ora and thanks for all the help.
My warmest wishes to you both on your retirement 2Kiwis. How wonderful you are to have blogged 500 crosswords so expertly for us! You certainly will be much missed. Huge thanks to you both. I always enjoy reading your reviews although I don’t often comment as I tend to do the puzzles later in the day than other solvers.
At this point, I’d also like to express my gratitude to all our reviewers for giving so generously of their time and expertise. You’re all greatly valued.. Without you I would never have been able to solve those puzzles that are now within my capabilities. Think of how much enjoyment I would have missed! Hardly a day ever passes without a crossword! Much appreciation to you all.
Enjoy your retirement Kiwis. There’s a lot to be said for it!
And good wishes to both of you from me too. It’s quite liberating not to be tied up one day every week.
500 blogs! Wow what service you have given to us all here. Congratulations on reaching such a milestone and many thanks for all the help you’ve given over the years.
I really enjoyed this crossword although got stuck in the SE. I always forget the snowy continent can be so defined and like others was a bit surprised to see 28d got past our editor without the word “note”.
One minor quibble – doesn’t the lady in the phonetic alphabet end in a double ” t”?
Loved the deception of 17a and the excellent anagram of 14a but top marks go to 5d for the chuckle it provoked.
Many thanks to Twmbarlwm and once again and sadly for the last time, to the 2Kiwis
A DNF today being stumped by 25a – annoying as the rest flowed.
My thanks to the setter and to the 2 Kiwis for their sterling service – please continue to let us know when the Godwits arrive and depart and wnen the bird of the year vote is due
Needed the hints for this as I found it tough, I managed yesterday’s unaided and struggled with Monday’s, so not a great week for me, and there’s worse to come aaargh. The two Ks will be missed, I always enjoyed their hints and tales of the happenings in their part of the world, hopefully they will pop in occasionally and keep us updated. Thanks to all.
It has mostly been said – I was sidetracked by a Bobby Scheme gentleman coming to talk to me about security after last months scam call – so am a bit late but we owe so much to the wonderful Hinters who, certainly for us, have improved our solving skills immeasurably. Thanks to all of you. Enjoy your ‘retirement’ TooKays, I always thought it fun to be sitting here in Cambridge having clues explained to me by someone on the other side of the world! I really enjoyed this guzzle and although I had guessed sledge or sleigh I had no idea really but thought perhaps it was golf. I liked 2d and 7d but 26d my favourite. Good to hear that Merusa is back home – keep taking the tablets! Many thanks to the Setter and the TooKays 500th set of hints and I leave you with a picture of the wonderfully understated decor of Queens’ dining room.
I thought this was excellent with great surfaces and a few tricky clues.
Fav today 25a for the penny drop moment, definitely one of the trickier clues for me.
Thanks to setter and the 2 kiwis for the hints and the previous 499!
3*/3* for me today. Apart from 11a being barely cryptic, this was nicely challenging and enjoyable.
I don’t understand “power” in 12d.
1d was my favourite.
Many thanks to the setter.
Heartfelt thanks to the 2Ks, who have been blogging for almost the whole time that I have been an active commenter. Your reviews have added greatly to everyone’s enjoyment of the blog, and will be much missed in the future. Good to know though that you will continue to comment.
I too wondered about 12d but decided it was merely a case of power and the second half of the soution being considered as synonyms. By the way I agree with you re 1d being Fav.
Very sorry indeed to hear that our reviewers are stepping back. Wednesdays won’t feel quite the same without you. 500 blogs is one helluva stint & a magnificent service to the site so many thanks.
Made a complete pig’s ear of the puzzle & finally revealed the 20d/27a checker with 2 to go out of annoyance/frustration so can’t even claim an unaided completion. Reading back thro’ no idea why I struggled with it – found the ****rated Robyn Toughie the easier of the 2 puzzles. Lots to like in the puzzle but if pressed 25a would be my pick.
Sorry forgot to that T
thank even
I will tackle the puzzle later, but I just wanted to drop in to say a massive thank you to The 2Kiwis for 10 years of service and 500 blogs. I am in awe of such dedication to duty, knowing full well how much time this will have involved. “Thank you” seems totally inadequate. We will all miss you. Wednesdays will not be the same again.
A huge thank you to the 2Kiwis for their 10 years of solving these puzzles for us. I will very much miss your descriptions of your morning walks etc, but will look forward to receiving your future comments. I am always in awe of the cleverness of our team of solvers, able to figure out these cryptics, compose the hints and supply with pictures, and have it all ready for us in a timely manner. Well done indeed.
The 3* rating is warranted today, perhaps even ****. For me, it was from the sublime (yesterday) to the ridiculously tricky today. Clearly I am completely off wavelength as so many above say they enjoyed this one. So be reassured any lurkers out there, you are not alone.
Thank you to the 2Kiwis for your decade (in time) and five centuries of contributions to the blog. Your reviews will be missed but I’m glad your presence will continue with us. During the depth of our long, cold winters, I do enjoy your accounts of your strolls on the beach.
Morning all.
It is so moving to get up this morning and read all the comments. ‘Not a dry eye in the house’ would be an appropriate response. Despite the commitment it has been a genuine pleasure to have been able to do this task and it is so rewarding to hear our efforts have been appreciated. Thank you, thank you everyone.
Carol and Colin.
Well you have had nearly an hour to use your handkerchiefs and wring them out so I don’t want to start you off again. I visit rarely these days but caught a hint of this momentous day and just wanted to thank you both for the help you have given me with your blog and evereyone else who has started puzzling with the DT. Glad to hear you will be visiting us here and I hope to find yyou here on my occasional appearances.
A busy day in the Beehive and I missed this news, You will indeed be missed and hope to hear from you from time to time
Many thanks for all the blogs
Beyond me I’m afraid, I enjoyed reading the report from the kiwis and will miss them
Many thanks to the Kiwis for the endless pleasure they have given over the years. I probably started doing the DT Crossword seriously in the pandemic so have probably used / seen c 250 ? .
I needed your help today . Never seen a full episode of the Simpsons so 25 was a no no for me and in the same corner, I’ve never really thought of Antarctica as a desert although I’ve seen many references to that affect and I struggled with 15 . I couldn’t see the cryptic side of 11a . Some excellent clues that I did get included 5d and 14a .
Many thanks again to all.
Thank you, 2Kiwis! You have been fantastic at explaining clues and teaching us about cryptic crosswords, and I appreciate that so much. I wouldn’t be a solver without Big Dave’s site, and you have been a large part of that. Congratulations on reaching this milestone, and enjoy your retirements.
(I haven’t started today’s puzzle yet, but given it’s by Twmbarlwm I will make sure to do it at some point; thank you in advance for the entertainment.)
Firstly, thanks to the 2 Kiwis for such dedication and commitment over the last 10 years.
I really enjoyed the latest effort from Twmbarlwm immensely. Special mention to 17A and 25D.
I’ve been busy all day sorting out the various internet connect devices at Eeyore Towers after a switch from Vodafone to EE. Such fun, not.
Thankyou 2k’s for all your hard work over the years. I’ve enjoyed hearing about your life on the other side of the world, especially the birds. So glad you’ll still be part of the blog. Enjoy your Summer.
Thank you, Kiwi’s. I shall miss your contributions to this blog, I have very much enjoyed your snippets of info about NZ weather and life, yours in particular. Thank you for your gentle way of hinting, leaving us to continue thinking. Bless you, enjoy your new Wednesdays, especially those in the sun.
You’ve extended your alias since your previous comment (in 2013!!!). Both versions will work from now on.
Congratulationa and thanks to the Kiwis. Tou will be nissed. Today’s guzzle was a bit of a slog for me but did get some satisfaction out of completing it. Thanks to the compiler for the mental gymnastics
Many thanks and congratulations to you both on a very fine milestone from me too….and a suitably fine puzzle and blog to go out on, if I may say so.
Oh dear. The Kiwis are taking flight, and we thought it could never happen. Please emerge from your burrow from time to time, to keep us in touch with your part of the world. ‘Thank you for being a friend’.
With a bit of luck and a following wind I may be able to steer myself to NZ after The Ashes in a year or so. It’s five years since Pipette and I last came – and I miss it.
Oh, the crossword. Am I getting used to Twmbarlwm, or was this easier than usual? Guessed the capital in 25a, but needed the explanation. I even googled Simpson & Son, but only unearthed funeral directors.
Now, Merusa, if you have had the patience to read this far, I would like to say how much I have missed you. Welcome back, hopefully you are in good health and humour.
I do like “Unearthed funeral directors”! 👍
I’m home, Pip, so that has to be good, better than three weeks in hospital. I need to sort out printing the crosswords, then I’ll be back. I start PT on Monday, give me a couple of days and I’ll be mobile again!
Yippee!
How I’ve looked forward to seeing you back on the blog, Merusa, your contributions have been greatly missed. Take good care of yourself, and the lovely Sadie of course, and ‘enjoy’ that PT!
Good news Merusa to hear that you’re home! I usually agree with your comments so look forward to hearing from you soon.
A typical Wednesday puzzle for me with parsing I can’t understand, some iffy clueing IMHO and one answer I just can’t fathom in the SE so strictly a DNF today.
2.5*/2.5*
Favourites 13a, 21a, 27a, 3d & 12d
Thanks to Twmbarlwm & 2K’s
Not on the wavelength today. Solved around a third of the clues before conceding defeat.
Thanks to all.
No wonder i didn’t get 25 across … the one I did not know.
Stupidest show ever put on TV as far as I am concerned.
Thanks both for your assistance in this and other puzzles over the past year (I started using this blog about 8 months ago when I began doing the daily cryptic and still need occasional help (today on 25a – most annoying!). A great crossword which I enjoyed.
I also want to thank the 2Kiwis for their help solving, and all the lovely pictures you “painted” for us of your beautiful country. I’m glad you’ll still be commenting with hews of the fauna and flora!
Good evening
Almost got to the point of hoyin’ in the sponge; despite several returns throughout the afternoon to today’s crozzie, there were three clues in the SE quadrant that just wouldn’t reveal themselves, so the hints were sorely needed for 25a, 27a, and the last to fall, 20d. This would be an appropriate time to say many, many thanks to the 2Ks for your service to this excellent site. Happy Retirement!
Thanks also, of course, to our compiler (Twmbarlwm?)
I didn’t know your names, Colin and Carol.
I am very happy that the 2 Cs are the 2 Ks.
Struggled in a few places with today’s offering thank goodness for the hints! That leads me on to say a big thank you to the 2K’s for your stalwart effort of 500 blogs. So enjoyed your comments about the wildlife and weather etc. Enjoy your retirement! Many thanks also to the setter.
Tricky puzzle with some excellent clues 😃 ***/**** Favourites 26a, 1 & 7d Thanks to Twmbarlwm and of course to Carol and Colin for all the years of pleasure they have given us from their distant home 🤗
PS How are we going to know when the Bar-tailed Godwits have set off on their journey North next Spring 🤔
Perfect day made all the happier by today’s crossword.Loved 18d but needed help with 25a.Not beating myself up about it.Had tickets for “Waiting for Godot”. Written just after WWll it puts the human condition into perspective.Thanks to all concerned.
Late on parade, for which apologies. A most enjoyable puzzle and perhaps at the easier end of Twm’s spectrum?
I also thought that the answer at 20d is normally followed by “note”, but apparently it is now in common usage without it. Further confirmation that I am getting old.
1a and 1d joint CoD for me.
Thank you Twm and thanks once again to our friends in New Zealand. We will miss you.
Thank you to all commenters and solvers.
Many thanks to 2Kiwis for the blog, and congratulations on reaching 500 before declaring. Quite some feat to have dissected and concisely explained more than 15,000 clues.
Thank you, Tumbledown. I’m gradually getting on your wavelength but you still throw quite a number of curveballs for me. Still, all part of life’s rich pattern.
Jeemz, you’re right about the spelling being Juliett in the official NATO alphabet, but the Telegraph puzzle style guide has it as Juliet, as does Chambers. I’m pretty sure it’s Juliet for J in other papers’ crosswords too. (See also Alfa / Alpha.)
Chambers has “Post-it® or Post-it note®”.
Ah! Should have checked BRB. Thanks
🤗🤗
Difficult but doable as I always find T’s puzzles, well perhaps not always doable. A lot of reverse engineering went on here. I didn’t have a problem with 25a, it was perfectly straightforward and I wrote it straight in. Favourite was 1a. Thanks to T and 2K’s. I understand your decision as I have just given up running my dog training class which I have been doing for nearly 50 years for no monetary reward and felt I’d done my bit. Good luck for the future.
Rather late from me. Just finished my last in 25a with help from a friend over for dinner – a cracking clue that was so obvious in hindsight 🙄 , and a great puzzle with the right amount of challenge. Thanks setter and thanks also to the 2ks for the blogging. Best wishes for the future.
Once again one quadrant (SW) held fast however the rest was mostly doable but for me not particularly enjoyably so. 25a meant nothing to me as all I know about those Simpsons is pictures I have seen of the characters but as for others above my thoughts turned immediately to the restaurant in The Strand. Great to hear you are home Merusa and able to enjoy Sadie’s company once again – do take care and stay well.
Great job, 2K’s.
Struggled with this one, but got there in the end.
3*/3* ….
liked 14A “Very tired girls went to play sport (3-2,9)”
Definitely worth the wait (see 41 above)! With so many fun clues, I thought it was going to be tricky to pick a favourite until I got to the fantastic 25a. Thank you Twmbarlwm.
And thank you to the Kiwis for one last time. I didn’t know the ‘frivolous’ in 5d.