DT 30789

57 comments on “DT 30789”

1. A very pleasant puzzle but for me, more of a Monday offering than a Thursday. All the trademark clues were there as to the author. Although I enjoyed the puzzle no single clue stood out for me. I wonder if solvers will object to the absence of a U.S. indicator in 6d.
   With regards to the printing saga, I logged a help desk request on the first day of experiencing the problem and I have now had a response from Telegraph Towers giving a personal contact i.d. if I encounter any further issues. I currently have no problems but if others on this blog do, then I am happy to pass on your comments. Given that a personal contact has been established this may be the most direct way forward if problems are encountered.

   From DT Towers.
   Thank you for contacting The Telegraph regarding printing puzzles, I’m sorry to hear that you are experiencing this issue, I can understand how frustrating this must be.

   We are aware of the issue that you have, and this was resolved around 8:30am this morning (04/12/24). I would like to ask you to log out of your subscription and then log back in, once you have done this, please try printing the puzzles once again, if the issue persists, please reply directly to this email.

   1. My apologies. Thanks to Shabbo and the setter. D’Oh.

   2. Still unable to print on Firefox/Linux. The entire grid is filled in with black. If I change the ink-saving setting the black squares turn light grey, but the *white* squares stay stubbornly black. Bizarre.

   3. At least your response from the DT was helpful. Still can’t print on IPad, and their advice was to adjust non existent Safari settings. Plus the usual removing all cookies, which never, ever fixes the problem, just creates more. I cannot believe they have come up with something Apple users worldwide cannot use to print.

      Thankfully we fired up an old laptop which uses Windows and it works on there. So clearly something is not working with the new application and Safari 😢.

      1. I have a somewhat ancient iMac, and I have exactly the same problem, DL! I tried doing screenshots of the grid, and the clues, and inserting them together into Word, which sort of works. But, on behalf of Mac users, “Ugh!”

2. Solid fare from Mr Consistency.

   Plenty of nice constructions on a friendly grid made for an enjoyable solve.

   The latter part of 25 across made me dredge up my pidgin Latin knowledge though I’ve never heard of the abbreviated version.

   7d is having a good run at the moment.

   My podium is 5d, 7d and 16d.

   Many thanks to Raymundo and Shabbo.

   2*/4*

   1. Oh, our Shabbo, we’ve come to our senses
      We’ve been out riding fences for so long now
      Not a hard one, but I enjoyed all your reasons
      For clues that were pleasin’-
      I’d worked out somehow.

      Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
      The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
      Not hard to tell this one’s from Ray
      Tom’s memory of his Latin shows –
      Ain’t It funny how it never goes
      Away.

      1. Brilliant!

      2. Cleverclogs. 😊

      3. Well done Mr. Pips!

      4. Tremendous. 👏👏

         I’ve missed you, Pip, you posh poet, you.

      5. How do you do it!?

         1. How do I do what I do what I do to songs?
            I wish I knew.
            If I knew how I do it
            I’d show it to you.

   2. For those of us who attended comprehensive schools where latin was not on the curriculum such clues are very difficult if not impossible. Maybe the DT crossword compilers should consider this if they want youngsters to take up this fantastic pastime?

      1. Hi Andrew

         I don’t think there’s any difference between an English word in a crossword that people haven’t heard of, of which there are hundreds, and the 20 or so Latin words or phrases that are used today, in some shape or form, that solvers don’t know.

         I went to a comprehensive run by priests. So, I was lucky enough to study this language that is very much alive.

3. A pleasant & pretty straightforward solve. Though nothing particularly stood out it was very enjoyable & the hidden ones at 15&17d were nicely disguised in the surface read. Yet again I struggled to twig the Quickie pun but unlike yesterday the penny did drop eventually – coincidentally I’d just booked tickets to see Isbell at The Barbican in February & this song often on the setlist
   Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo

4. A wonderful offering from Mr. T. leading to a satisfying solve. The engendering females at 11a raised a smile as did the ruined drink at 21a. The latest in word seems to be 5d at the moment. I seem to have come across it a few times recently. My COTD is the persistent pong at 3d.

   Thank you, Ray T for the fun. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

5. Good Thursday fun from the Master of Brevity – 2.5*/4.5*

   Candidates for favourite – 11a, 21a, 27a, 3d, and 23d – and the winner is 23d.

   Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

6. 1.5*/4.5*. Brief and very enjoyable. In other words, typically RayT. Many thanks to him and to Shabbo.

7. Found this one quite hard work but the hinter confirms my answers were correct.

   If I had realised how useful Latin would be in crossword solving (eg 25a), I might have paid a bit more attention in class all those years ago.

   Bonny sunny morning here in NE Scotland and just waiting for Lila the Lurcher to waken from her slumbers and want to drag me round the muddy fields.

   Thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for clarifying six parsings for me.

   1. Thank you for your kind words. As you can tell from my opening comments above, we have Scottish weather down here today.
      Whereabouts in NE Scotland are you?

      1. In Potterton, a village a few miles north of Aberdeen and a mile or so from the coast.

         The wind and rain were dreadful last night (surprised the Aberdeen v Celtic game went ahead) but it has calmed right down this morning but I can still hear the waves crashing on the beach though.

8. A fine example of Ray T’s work. For some reason my last one in was 20d despite having three checking letters. I had to do the alphabet thing to get there.

   Two weeks ago, we bought a few boxes of chocolates from M&S as ‘add on’ gifts for close family members. Wrapping them last night we (thank goodness) noticed they had ‘use by’ dates of 24.12.24.
   *insert sigh here* So we are off for an unscheduled visit to the Brooklands store at Weybridge today. We have agreed I can wait in the cafe while H undertakes the exchange and then ‘has a quick look round’. *insert another sigh here*

   Yes, I know. First World problems.

   Thanks to RayTee and Shabba-dabba-doo

9. The only trouble I encountered today was all my own fault. I invented a word for 3D and spelt 19A incorrectly, but otherwise, everything fell into place quite quickly.

   My favourite was 28A and I have to say that I didn’t realise they still existed!

   Thanks to MrT and Shabbo

10. Looks as though I’ve been treated to another Dream Team day – a perfect early Christmas present.
    I did have few tricky moments solving this one, occasions when the right word was frustratingly out of reach, but it all came good in the end. Medals handed out to 11a plus 20&23d with a nod to the real James Bond at 21a.

    Devotions as ever to Mr T and many thanks to Shabbo for the review.
    Now to see what Mr Smooth has in store on the other side!

11. A nice puzzle for a horrible wet and dreary day.
    Unusually for me I don’t have any stand out favourites but did like 11a and the surface of 16d.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

12. Great puzzle. Favourite 3d. 2.5*/4*. Brevity rules!

13. Mr T is as entertaining as always – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    Garlands from me for 11a, 23a, 27a and 3d.

14. Excellent puzzle, which suited me very nicely. The lurker at 17d was brilliant and my favourite. I had to check the parsing of 25a.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints

15. Thanks Shabbo and Mr Setter. I seemed to get on to the wavelength today and made quick progress. I’ve no idea why on earth I had underline in for 15d when the answer was right in front of me. Favourite clue was 26a for clever misdirection. On first pass I’d an image of Rowan Atkinson’s spy character in my head and stuck in agent until it didn’t work with the rest of the corner. **/****

16. I was expecting more of a struggle on a Thursday! So many of these nicely crafted clues just fell into place, I liked 11 and 27a and 9,20,22d. I suppose some fans might be nuts ?Anyway, good guzzle. Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo. We have had a nice sunny morning here in south Cambridge but it is now closing in and I think I shall be battening down the hatches soon. Battening? By the way, I started yesterday’s toughie in the bath last night and finished it this morning at breakfast without any hints. I glowed with the achievement!

17. I like RayT Thursday’s and this is his fortnightly visit. Another great puzzle that required a little head scratching. SE last area finished. As always succinct and to the point clueing.

    2*/4.5* for me

    Favourites 21a, 26a, 8d, 18d & 24d — with winner 18d

    Thanks to RayT for an enjoyable puzzle & Shabbo for hints

18. This all fell into place except for 20d, which leaves me with a DNF. Another word added to the vocabulary.
    Thanks to Ray and Shabbo
    3*/4*
    Are there any other outlaws or flies around at present?!

19. Of course RayT, and wotta treat! I thought much trickier than just ** but that’s par for me. I had ? on three, only 17a was wrong, what was I thinking? Of course it had to be. Fave was 4d, last night I finished the Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley and that was the last book. I really recommend the series, but they must be read in sequence. Honourable mention to 21a.
    Thank you RayT for the fun, and Shabbo for your help understanding some of my answers.

    1. Merusa, I finished reading the Seven Sisters series recently. Quite a marathon but enjoyable. Whilst reading Pa Salt I wished I had left post-it notes in the other books for cross-referencing!

       1. Yes, good idea, too late now!

          1. I too enjoyed those books but quite agree sometimes it was difficult to keep up!

20. Pure class from one of our favourite setters. I am sure all the praise the puzzle deserves have already been showered upon RT so I shall merely thank him and Shabbo for the entertainment.

21. A very pleasant and typical Ray T with some weird clues in 13a, 17a and 23a (not sure I agree with the definition here). Such a relief after yesterday’s puzzle.
    Thx for explaining the clues above.
    ***/****
    Thx to Ray T as well.

22. Brilliant – well worth sticking to it 👍. West presented no real problems but a bit more application was required in the East and I ended with a need for MrG to solve 28a and 20d for me in spite of having alternate crossers. TVM RayT and Shabbo.

23. The four letter latinism in 25a is hospital terminology for “immediately” if you have been watching your medical dramas on television.

    1. That’s where I remembered it!

24. Late in looking at today’s puzzle and, having twigged it was a Ray T offering thought twice about attempting it as more often than not he’s my nemesis. However I’m really glad I attempted it as the further I went in to it, the greater the enjoyment at the wit and elegance. Picking a podium is difficult, but I’ll go with 12a, 21a and 20d. Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo who’s hints for once on a Ray T Thursday I didn’t require.

25. What a treat from the master himself. Thankfully, we resurrected an old laptop late last night, and were able to print from Microsoft Windows. A delightful crossword, and glad this was not one of the days we were forced to miss. Thanks very much to RayT and to Shabbo.

    Still no luck with printing on iPad, and as our laptop is a Mac, that would not help either. Seems DT has not yet corrected for those “few” Apple users. We live in hope. But so glad we found at least a temporary solution.

26. RayT light methinks but very enjoyable nonetheless.
    Fav was 26a – really wanted the answer to be CASTLE but it’s too long!
    Thanks to him and Shabbo.

27. Evening all. My usual thanks go to Shabbo for the analysis and to everybody else who left a comment. As always, much appreciated.

    RayT

    1. Good evening, Mr T. Many thanks for popping in and for bringing us another great crossword.

    2. Thank you for another great guzzle, Sir T.

28. Good evening

    Well, a Thursday crozzie, and straight away it was evident that the Mighty Mr T was in charge of the grid. Thoroughly enjoyed the solve. The only solution for which the parsing eluded me was 3d. It all makes sense now!

    20d was the last to fall. I so very nearly hoyed the sponge in, but patience and my Lucky Green Pen won the day.

    COTD is 5d.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo.

29. A satisfying solve from Ray T today with only a few clues holding me up at the end. For some reason I didn’t really know 20d and wasn’t sure what a canon was , so spent a while in that as my last in. Many thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

30. An excellent crossword as usual from Rayt. I didn’t know the latin abbreviation or what it’s an abbreviation of but I put the answer in anyway. 21a reminds me of the time we were on holiday in Sorrento and we were all waiting for the bus at about 11:00 am to take us to the airport, I had a pocketful of change so I decided to spend it and came back with a couple of dry Martinis. There were a few raised eyebrows so I said “the exchange rate is better in dry Martinis”, suddenly there was an exodus to the bar, it appeared people could see the logic of my argument. 😁 Favourite was 8d. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

31. Enjoyed this solve despite a dnf due to 20d. Every term in this clue were new (obscure?) terms to me.

    Thanks to all.

    1. Me as well. Had no idea that word is a synonym for a long sermon. Otherwise an enjoyable solve.

       1. Yes, I would have thought written work!

32. Very good. Next best after Monday’s. My LOI was also 20d. I did know the word but that meaning was not immediately present. 25q was possible without a good knowledge of Latin. I did it at school but memories hazy. Thanks Mr T and Shabbo. Managed without the hints.

33. Simply could not fathom 20d despite having all the checkers. Thank you RayT and Shabbo

34. 3*/3* …
    liked 20D “Sunday’s first canon producing long sermon ? (6)” ,

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