DT 30961

48 comments on “DT 30961”

1. I found this a tad on the difficult side for some reason. I think my grey cells must be out of kilter because the clues were fair. After the first pass I had solved three only, which is unusual for me and the professor. I did think at one point it wasn’t by him. I did like the school principal and his punishment at 6d and that becomes my COTD.

   Thank you, Professor if it be you or to whomsoever if not. I think I’m going through one of those lean periods when solving becomes a struggle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

2. I agree with SC quite tricky. Huntsman’s rating bang on. I thought 26d was tricky. Not sure of the coat = cape in 2d. My favourite was 30a although 12a and 22d close second and third. Thanks Huntsman and the setter.

3. A fun puzzle, perfect for a Tuesday. A couple of games, and I did wonder how a female school principal would feel about 6d. Not sure how long that particular DSS payment will still be known by that term – surely not for anyone aged under about 50, possibly even older? A shame – going the same way as NUT for teachers, TA for old soldiers etc.

   Honours to 10a, 28a for the surface-read chuckle, and 12a. Many thanks to AP & Huntsman (from a wonderfully cool and comfortable Cornwall!) – good music selection as ever, and the Full Monty clip remains wonderful, even nearly 30 years later: great film & cast.

   1. Hi MG

      Re 6d, do you think it matters that the prof used the pronoun his as opposed to their?

      I would be surprised if anyone took offence as a crossword isn’t a platform for a setter to give their views on life matters. Yes, their does cover everyone but I don’t think it’s worth highlighting…..is it?

      If he had used hers, it wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest.

      Does a setter have to tread that carefully?

      1. On the one hand a clue like 6d bothers me not a jot, on the other hand yes, it does, if mildly. My reaction to this clue was more a wry smile than anything else, thinking of all the female headteachers there are. We had an instance very recently (last week or so, think it was back page rather than Toughie) where a clue’s reference was female rather than the usual male and it made for a pause during the solving process – a welcome reassessment of standard assumptions. “Their” would usually work just as well, and would I imagine be encountered in some papers (eg Grauniad) more than others (Torygraph)!

         It’s interesting that setters are now encouraged (so I understand) not to use “good man” for “st”, and other terms too have changed in crosswords over the years.

         1. Thanks for that.

            The world is going in the right direction, sometimes a little too quickly, which is a good thing. But, I don’t think it’s worth highlighting in a crossword. However, as it mildly bothers, you have done so which you are, of course, entitled to do.

            I wonder, if the setter had used the word her, would you have said anything?

            We will never know…

4. Typically Tuesdayish! Good fun from Anthony Plumb – 1.5*/4.5*

   Candidates for favourite – 14a, 21a, 25a, and 30a – and the winner is 21a, very clever.

   Thanks to Mr Pulmb and Huntsman.

5. A most enjoyable and entertaining puzzle.
   Nothing to find fault with, although I wondered about bottom half in 28, being an across clue.

   Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman. 2*/4.5*

6. Another solid crossy from the prof which flowed nicely from the off.

   I got 14a from the definition as picking an actor would have taken forever. Btw, there is no hard and fast rule about why some words end or and others er. There are a couple of theories but they don’t stand up. So, good luck to people learning this bonkers language of ours.

   My podium is 10a (great image), 30a and 26d.

   MT to the professor and Hoots!

   2*/4*

7. Wonderfully Tuesdayish and a pleasure to solve, with cleverly constructed clues and apposite surface reads. Favourite today was 10a, since that gave me the most trouble, due, I think, to taking notice of the misleading comma. Podium places for 30a and 8d, though many others were in contention. Thank you Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

8. A big shout out to all the young solvers perplexed by a social security payment that ended in 2005.

   Quite a tipsy-turbo (© Daisy) day yesterday.
   I went out with only one purpose – to pick up dollars from the bank ahead of our upcoming trip to the USA. I came back with a range of items, but not the dollars, which I totally forgot about.
   In ten minutes time I shall go out with the sole intention of picking up those dollars. I have written it down and the note is poking out of my wallet. I am hoping for success today.

   Tricky guzzle, but fun to solve.

   Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee.

   1. And Many Happy Returns to Daisy from me – (19 again – (anagram)

   2. Be glad your bank carries foreign currency. They don’t in the US. Nor do travel agencies. I remember when we used to pick up at Thomas Cook. We had to go to a currency exchange company recently to get euros for our trip to Europe.

9. Good fun, completed before I got on the train, (not something I can say of the “devilishly” difficult NYDK toughie – it is Tuesday isn’t it?)
   21 and 28a join 7d on my podium.
   Thanks to Huntsman for the 20d
   I am enjoying the new Van Morrison too, even though I read a review that was a bit damning with faint praise (A return to adequacy was the tagline) but I thought it much better than that, especially the theme to Ken Branagh’s Belfast

   I hope to meet NYDK at The George later to ask him if this is what to expect for Tuesday Toughies!

   1. It’s a cracking Toughie, SJB – lots of fun, reasonably accessible, infernally clever, and immensely satisfying to solve. I look forward to the imminent blog! One of Donny’s best ever, and that’s coming from someone who generally dislikes themed puzzles and connected clues.

10. A top-notch Tuesday puzzle that’s very entertaining – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
    Rosettes from me for 10a, 16a, 30a and 26d.

11. Fairly straightforward, but lacking in smiles for me. Perhaps I am just being grumpy.
    Anyway, the sun is now making an appearance, so things are looking up.
    Off to The George now for what I assume is largely a Times crossword gathering.
    Thank you setter and Huntsman.

    1. Say hello to people from me. If my poor old knees were up to the travel etc, I’d be there too

12. I found that trickier than any back pager puzzle in the past couple of weeks, at least in terms of establishing a foothold. Indeed, I hadn’t entered a single letter before reaching 30a. Matters improved once I got going, although the NE held out for a while longer than the rest. The clues were nevertheless entirely fair and solving them a pleasure throughout. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman.

13. I must have struck lucky because I found this to be typical Tuesday fun with nothing that caused any problems – more than can be said for the Toughie which looks as though it’s going to beat me.
    Have to award a rosette to 8d for its topicality with 30a taking another one for its smile factor.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review and music – I almost invariably can’t guess which clips you’ll use but was with you at the Job Centre today!

14. Like SteveC and some others I found this one trickier than usual for a Tuesday.
    I eventually finished it but was uncertain about some of the definitions ( particularly 2d).
    Thought 30a was very clever.

    Thanks to Huntsman and to the setter.

    Dull and overcast here today but I may make some gingerbread (the Scottish cakey version with raisins, cherries and ginger pieces in it…well my version I guess) which will cheer us up.

15. 1*/4*. A lot of fun as we have come to expect from a Tuesday back-pager with 21a my favourite of many ticked clues.

    Many thanks to AP (?) and to Hintsman.

16. Really enjoyed this today and found it at the less difficult end of the spectrum. If only I could have thought of the stick more quickly, that was LOI.

    @Huntsman’s World Series comment – be fair: Canada has a team in it too 🤣! It’s their foot variant that has no-one from outside the US in it!

    Anyone else throw a word beginning with “b” in 28a before double checking the fodder? Lots of favourites, too many to call out today.

    Many thanks to AP and Huntsman.

    @Terence: as a veteran of US trips – leave those greenbacks and use an ATM with your bank card (not a CC) when you’re there for cash, 9 times out of 10, you’ll get a better rate that way.

17. Only three in on first pass .. then I got into the SW corner and eventually it was 1a with 1d (bizarrely) last in.
    Cotd 21a.
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman ..who wouldn’t be playing golf in my neck of the woods as it’s chucking it doon!

18. 1.5*/ 3.5* A good test for Tuesday, many excellent clues, my favourites include 29a shares, 26a socks and 10a noted
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

19. It took me a while to get into this puzzle but I found it enjoyable once I’d got going.

    Top picks for me were 21a, 16a,26d and 30a.

    Thanks to Huntsman and the setter.

20. Well assuming this Tuesday puzzle is the normal setter, it seemed harder than most have been recently. Got held up at various spots across the grid with a fair bit of head scratching.

    2*/3* for me

    Favourites 5a, 10a, 16a, 30a & 21d — with co-winners 16a & 30a
    Lots of other smiles around the grid too.

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

21. I’m glad it’s not only me who found this somewhat tougher than usual. Took some while to get going and stared at a blank grid for a good while until a few dropped in to place. 6d made me smile so is my cotd. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

22. Thoroughly enjopyed today’s offering – right in my wheelhouse and completed with nary a hitch nor a hint. **/**** Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

    Stinkin’ hot and humid here in Myrtle Beach, as it will be for the next two or three months. I work outside at a local golf course a couple of days a week, but it ceases to be fun around this time of year. But at least we have air conditioning everywhere indoors!

    1. Which course?

       1. I work at Heritage in Pawley’s Island. It’s a really nice course and in great shape. I played there this morning and actually had a reasonable round, which is unusual for me because I am terrible!

23. A straightforward solve this morning which was just as well with the Art’s Soc. lecture. Do wish they had stuck to NADFAS . We all knew what it meant but now people think I go off to paint pictures.
    Favourites today were the across clues 5,9,21 and 30. Last in was 1 down as I am lucky enough not to have had to rely on social security payments. Please note the word lucky because so many people really have such difficult lives
    Find myself liking Mr. Plumb’s puzzles more snd more and of course Huntsman

24. I took an unusually long time to get into this one, now I can’t see why as it was all fairly clued. I ended up completing the south and then the north with the North west being last. I will have 30 a as my favourite.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.

25. Like several others above, I took longer than warranted to finish today. I can never remember anything to do with cricket, didn’t know that term relating to newspapers in 17d (but got it as a bung in) and wasn’t I aware that I was dead when I am just 23d. Otherwise enjoyed. Thanks to setter and to Huntsman.

26. Could not get my head round this unfortunately, but 30a cheered me up 😁

27. An enjoyable puzzle but I was slow to get going with it then suddenly everything was coming together very nicely. I can’t say I was impressed with the pun. It didn’t quite flow? Many thanks to the setter and Huntsman.

28. Yes, cruciverbal Tuesdays certainly are becoming more challenging – used to be smoothest ride however stuck to my guns with today’s and voilà. SE corner stickiest patch. Bunged in 1d without parsing. 28a was last in. Thank you AP and Hintsman.

29. Some really lovely surfaces here, starting with 1A as I was watching Ravi Jadeja bowling to Joe Root (needless to say, the deliveries were of the highest quality). 15D so true. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

30. Just right for a Tuesday unlike the toughie which is likely to be a dnf with barely the quarters completed. LOI was 14a. I finished this some time ago before nodding off in the chair, is that an age thing as it happens to me more frequently these days. Favourite was 30a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

31. I started this late – this evening and at first struggled to get a foothold for some reason thinking maybe I was too tired. Then finely got started and it all fell into place nicely. – steady and enjoyable . Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

32. Good evening

    I steamed away to begin with, but thought that perhaps I’d peaked a little bit early when I came to an abrupt halt when confronted by the SE quadrant.

    I got there in the end. Runner-up for COTD is the classic piece of misdirection in 26d; my last to fall, 28a, wins.

    Many thanks to the Prof and to Huntsman.

33. After the excitement of yesterday’s 91st birthday celebrations I didn’t look at the guzzle until in bed last night and just finished this morning. Many thanks to SJB for the good wishes – I wish I’d been able to go to the George ! Most amused to see 28a and would live to think it was a nod to me 😀 no one will read this now so I shall show you the proof of the coincidence when today’s post comes out! Lovely guzzle
    and hints.

    1. I read it too! Hope you had a lovely day 🌹

    2. I read it, DG. I hope you had a great day. ❤️

34. I’ve read it DG.

    Very happy birthday yesterday.

35. 3*/3* …
    liked 16A “Quips about revolutionary ‘s socks (7)”

36. It’s call the World Series because the original sponsor was the New York World magazine. Nothing to do with geography.

    1. A third change of alias – you were Anon and Steve J before – sent you into moderation

       What did you think of the crossword?

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