DT 30997

85 comments on “DT 30997”

1. A sound offering from the professor with just the right balance of clues – some easy and others needed some thought. I had the wrong first word for 1a and, although I didn’t enter it, it held up the northeast for a time. I didn’t realise 21d were algae. My COTD simply because it made me smile is bending over backwards at 12a.

   Thank you, professor in the library for a fun puzzle. Thank you, Hintsman for the hunts.

   I lost all my runner beans in the gales over the weekend. Mind you, that’s nothing at all compared to what some folk have had to deal with. I hope our friends up north are safe.

   1. Strategic error Steve – never wash your jeans & hang ‘em on the line in stormy weather.

      1. I would give a smiley face but all that would appear is ????

         1. CRS …

         2. Steve – you can always go ‘old school’ with

            1. 

   2. Evening Steve, trust you are well. Did you receive my book?

      1. I did, John and I am enjoying it very much. Makes one think about how much there is to fire investigation.

         1. Thanks Steve, please take your time – enjoy it at your leisure.

   3. I lost all my annuals recently – to the huge green iguanas which are invading south Florida. Last straw was when I came home one day to find one sitting in one of my large pots happily munching away. They are brazen, and not easily intimidated. Our gardens are periodically inspected by a licensed iguana catcher, but now I am careful to only plant species which they don’t like.

      1. And these iguanas are big, can grow to 5ft long and 20lbs…

2. This was perfect for a Tuesday with the prof in great form, registering a high score on the giggleometer.

   I have so many contenders for the spoils but I’ll go with 12a, 24a and 27a.

   MT to the aforementioned and Hoots!

   1*/5*

3. Straightforward fun at */*** with 5 easy anagrams apart from the French solution which caused a little hesitation. I thought 10 and 11 across well constructed. Thank you Huntsman and the setter.

4. All is well with the world when we have a Typically Tuesdayish offering from the Professor – 1.5*/4.5*

   Candidates for favourite – 17a, 24a, 28a, 7d, and 23d – and the winner is 17a.

   Thanks to Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

5. An approachable puze, which I very much enjoyed, a nice change after the brain workouts of the ‘celebratory’ puzzlesover the last week. I liked the 30a anagram, the 4d geographical anagram and the 21d lego clue. Like Steve, I didn’t realise the latter was a form of algae. Many rhanks to Mr Lumb and to Huntsman for the hints.

   1. Apparently, seaweed is known as a macroalgae, CC. Who knew?

6. This was spot on for a busy Tuesday and a joy to complete. From a long list of potential winners I went for 20d.

   Many thanks to AP and The Hintsman.

7. A cracking puzzle with laughs galore – thanks to our setter and Huntsman.
   I’ll go along with our blogger’s choice of clues and just add 2d to his selection.

8. Most enjoyable and lots of humour with 12a and 27a my favourites. Thanks very much to the setter and to Huntsman. I can now return to being mildly stressed about my lack of preparation for a) my son’s 21st tomorrow and b) our trip to Cropredy for the annual (Fairport) convention, which is a family tradition that I generally dread in prospect but enjoy once installed in a pub in the village.

   1. Hope both go well – have fun.

   2. Have a pint of Hooky for me…

9. A nice gentle puzzle which we have come to both expect and welcome on a Tuesday.
   I also didn’t know that 21d was a form of algae.

   Top picks for me were 19a, 11a, 12a and 2d.

   Thanks to Huntsman and Mr Plumb.

10. Very straightforward, * says it all

11. A lovely puzzle. Good to be back to normal.
    No knowledge of guitarists or lead singers required, so all is well at Shabbo Towers.
    My ticks are all for Across clues, namely 1, 11, 15 and 21.
    Thank you setter and Huntsman.

12. As ever a cracking Tuesday offering. Full of humour and smooth surfaces that conjure up some chuckle worthy images.

    Great stuff – thank you setter – and to huntsman for the hints which I shall now read

13. As gentle as they come, a diversion très amusant while making a last coffee of the morning. I’ll go for 2d, 27a & 20d for the honours, but many could join them.

    Many thanks to the Prof & to Huntsman

14. Hurray for a back-to-normal Tuesday delight after a prosaic, mind-bending cruciverbal week. Silly me failed to parse 10a bung-in and missed 27a which became Fav. Welcome back MrP and Hintsman.

    1. I immediately thought of you & your comment yesterday when opening this one & thought I know someone who’ll be pleased

       1. 

    2. Prosaic? Whether you enjoyed it or not, the past week has been anything but boring and routine.

       1. Chacun à son goût!

          1. I used to suffer from that in my big toe.

             1. Tee hee!

15. A typical Tuesday offering. Thankfully no need to 12a, my COTD. The little ‘uns at 26d and 29a were, I thought, exquisite miniatures and deserve a mention. Thanks to the setter and Huntsman

16. Where are the rock guitarists and the ‘Scottish’ vocalists? I was rather expecting Todd Rundgren and Ritchie Blackmore to be featured today, so I must confess to disappointment. Not even a tarsi or an olefin to trouble the committee. Such a let down.

    Grand guzzle. Delicious glues throughout..

    Still awake all night and slothful through the day. Take me back to California.

    Thanks to the setter and Andy On The First Tee.

    1. You don’t really want to be back there, surely? No BD, no List?

17. Normal service resumed .. an enjoyable Tuesday offering and solved relatively easily. I must admit though to not knowing the French city 4d … presumably les equivalent of Lichfield or Wells … need to brush up on my geography. I liked 11a. Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

18. I’ve not solved or even received this puzzle yet – depends on whether my goddaughter is on shift today. But I wonder how many of the younger readers/commenters on here know who the chap (famous/infamous in the 60s and 70s) in the photo at 6a is?

19. A bright and breezy Tuesday puzzle as we have come to expect from the Prof and a distinct relief after all the recent brain-mangling, not to mention the ongoing invasion of my little tribe from IOW!
    Votes here for 12,21&27a plus 20d.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Huntsman for the review – very much enjoyed the Johnny Nash clip.

    1. Evening Jane, trust you are well. Did you receive my book?

20. An enjoyable solve over lunch. Many ticks on my page, including the oldie, but goodie, at 2d. 12a and 21also raised a smile but cotd goes to 27a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

21. Once again for me, the Typical Tuesday puzzle was a little easier than Monday’s offering. A couple of interesting answers that parsing eludes me on, but no worries.

    1.5*/3.5*

    Favourites 15a, 17a, 22a, 1d, 9d & 21d — with winner 17a
    Smiles from 1a, 17a, 22a & 23d

    Thanks to AP & Huntsman

22. Very enjoyable way to spend a Tuesday lunch time
    Only struggled with 20d which seemed (to me)a strange synonym for dog
    My favourite was 27a – Tres chic

23. Manders – how did you get on yesterday? At least today, it is behind you. Nice guzzle, as others have said – back to normal. Oh how I miss my own home made 11a. I haven’t come across a single brand which comes anywhere close to Daisy’s special. Breakfasts are not the same. I don’t think can give a favourite today , maybe happy memories of 4d will do. Many thanks to Setter & Hintsman. Do you want a couple of old wooden clubs lurking in our garage? What do I do with them?

    1. Daisy I can’t hit the clubs of today particularly well despite all the benefits of modern technology supposedly making it a darn sight easier to whack the bloomin’ thing in the right direction so I dread to think what I’d be like going back to wooden headed clubs (or are you talking shafts).
       I’m playing Stoke Park for the first time tomorrow where they shot the attached.

       1. Small world! My wife to be (then) worked at Stoke Park when Plessey had offices there.

       2. I always thought that Fleming played at Royal St George’s Club near sandwich. Wasn’t there one scene in the books where Bond observed some F86s coasting out over the sea.

          1. I think he did yes

    2. It was today Daisy and I had to drive myself as David had such an awful night last night I thought he should stay at home. I found the procedure absolutely dreadful and thought I might have a panic attack and now have a blistering sore throat. Still the results were all OK and got back home safely. Anyway thanks for asking.

       1. Glad it went ok Manders and nothing to worry about now. Ice-cream is great for a sore throat (any excuse!).
          Hope David has a better night tonight.

24. That was such good fun, as well as relaxing after Saturday’s stress! Feel the bran s still in reasonable order. Oh Daisy, I do agree about the lack of home made 11 across. Making it was becoming a burning hazard. Thank you to our setter and Huntsman. P.s I really don’t like my new Avatar, I am not really aggressive!

    1. I had to stop because my new hob kept cutting out at a certain temperature and I could not get a rolling boil for the set. Taking the whole caboodle over to DD2’s kitchen was an absolute nightmare so I gave up. Well, I am 91.

25. Lovely guzzle to start the day and finished before I left for the hospital. Luckily I left early as I came across a detour that took me about 20 miles in the wrong direction so a 50 minute journey took 1.40! Thankfully the closed road was open for the return. 11a was my LOI as was barking up completely the wrong tree. I too have a delicious recipe for 11a and find it quite therapeutic to make. Thanks to setter and Huntsman

26. For once a doctor’s appointment at 2.30 kept me away from the garden after lunch which allowed me time to look at the crossword which I finished using only my brain and fingers. Enjoyed it but with nothing standing out except for the picture of that awful little man whom was MP for North Devon when we lived in Bideford. Several policeman I knew could not believe the verdict as they told me every thing had been triple checked before it was sent to the DPP and we can’t blame KS for that outrage.. Bideford has a new cash and carry called Normans and a bakery called Scott’s so inevitably a lot of graffiti appeared round the town. The one I think I can get away with on here is the question posed in large letters ; ‘Been up |Norman’s lately Jeremy?’

    If you haven’t seen it look for Peter Cook summing up at the trial in an old Amnesty gig. Well worth it if you haven’t seen it.

    Thanks to Mr P and Tally ho.

    1. Leeds Utd fans of the era found the following the height of wit;
       “Norman Hunter bites your legs, Norman Scott bites your pillow”.

       1. Jezza was the first Liberal that sprang to mind who always wore a hat. My A Level economics teacher stood as a Liberal candidate in Cov in ‘79 & he told me Thorpe was a brilliant mimic & fun to be with when out campaigning.
          I did remember Paddy promising Andrew Neil he’d eat his if the Beeb’s exit poll was correct – they lost 2 more seats than the poll reckoned they would so technically it wasn’t.

27. A welcome return to normality and great fun with some tricky clues thrown into a relatively benign mix.
    1*/5*
    11a fav for lovely misdirection
    Thanks to all

28. Thank you to the Setter and Huntsman for the hints. Much easier than the previous day puzzles. Breezed through it.
    Gary and Val

29. I enjoyed today’s puzzle. I do hope we’re back to normal. One I don’t understand is the answer to 3d and magazine? Thanks to the setter and for the hints.

    1. 3d Think of a store for ammunition

       1. Thanks

    2. a magazine can be another word for a warehouse or depot (from the French magasin).

       1. Thanks

30. Could not get my post to work at lunchtime so try again. Gentle and amusing. Seemed to find the across clues had the ticks. They were 12,19,31,24 and 27. Have been reading Tintin comic story books. If French had been taught like that in schools when I was young it would have been so much more fun.
    Thanks To Mr Plumb and Huntsman.

31. 1*/3.5* A very pleasant and straightforward solve. Favourites include 12a two body parts, 11a conserve and the nice misdirection in 20d
    Thanks to setter and Huntsman

32. Well, my head must be mush. I see everyone rates this quite gentle and I usually find the Prof so. Today though, I really struggled and outside of France I too didn’t see the 3d synonym. Need the hint to confirm the answer and even then felt unsure. Also needed the hints for 12a and to parse 19a properly. The answer would’ve been one of my first ones in but I couldn’t move the ‘mental comma’ to the east of ‘this’, whereupon the parsing is obvious. Just not to me, not today!

    Still many thanks to the Prof and to Hintsman for thew Hunts!

33. What a lovely crossword, straight forward and humorous */***** ???? Many favourites but 27a, 21d and 25d are on the podium ???? many thanks to AP and of course to the Huntsman ????

34. 11A my favourite in an all round entertaining puzzle. VMT Prof & Huntsman.

35. Brilliant. I was able to do this unaided (which makes it appropriately scored as a 1*) and thoroughly enjoyed 2d. Actually enjoyed the whole thing. Thank you Plum and Huntsman.

36. Good evening

    Excellent crozzie from the Prof, to whom many thanks. Thank you also to Huntsman.

37. Everything easy today. Graymattinha flew through the quickie, I flew through the Cryptic and the final crossing on Bridge of Lies was the easiest I’ve ever seen! I’m sure we’ll all come back down to earth tomorrow.

    4d, 13a and 27a favourites for me. Vive la France!

38. Pretty straightforward, it took a while to parse 10a but I did in the end, I even got the French one straight off. I always enjoy Tuesdays and today was no exception. LOI was 18d just because it was. Favourite was 17a. Thanks to AP and Huntsman.

39. Started late this afternoon and solved enjoyably; very reassuring. Lots of beautifully crafted clues, with 21a a narrow favourite for its construction and surface. As a relative newcomer, I still struggle a little with the “question mark” clues: I could not see the point of the question mark in either 3d or 24a. Conversely, I thought 22a should have had a question mark to reflect the fact that the answer is a sound a cow makes, rather than an animal.
    Thanks to Prof Plum and Huntsman. */****

    1. Hi JF

       I agree with you regarding the question marks in 3d and 24a.

       Maybe we’re missing something.

       As a cow lows, it could be called a lower. So, that one works for me.

       1. Thanks Tom, I now agree on “lower”, which I was thinking of as only a verb, not a noun.

          1. A pleasure, Mr Kennedy.

40. After the glorious Greek sunshine of last week back to Blighty and an unsettled day weather wise. Over 60s football this morning and then had to attack my lush, green and overgrown lawns, which looked like the parched grasslands of the African veld just a few weeks ago.
    A steady solve and just defeated by 9d, for which I needed the hints. My lack of horticultural/botanical knowledge letting me down again.
    Several clues brought a smile to my face, 27a, 25d and 26d, stood out for me.
    Thank you to the setter and to Huntsman for the hints.

41. Finished it off today but still hate the unnecessary capital in Barking – why????

    1. Hi Peter

       Barking needs to be capitalised to make the surface work.

       I still don’t understand why setters can capitalise a common noun but not the reverse (it was discussed recently)

       There must be a reason.

42. A gentle and swift solve which was very enjoyable and perfect for a Tuesday. I’m a bit behind as I was away at the weekend so some catching up to do. Thanks so much to the setter and Huntsman.

43. Had to do this in two halves today due to other commitments, but did find it a mostly friendly Tuesday puzzle. Did need a few hints to finish, but still enjoyable. LI was 27a as I was trying so hard to make something English fill the slot… Thanks to setter and Huntsman.

44. Very enjoyable. Nothing to frighten the horses, although for a while I found it hard to retune the radar from today’s (also very enjoyable and accessible) Toughie.

    I’m going with 28a for my top pick – I like the surface – closely followed by the nicely elegant 26d. Thanks to the Professor for the puzzle, and Huntsman for the blog (and plug for Chalicea!)

45. No time for the crossword yet today so just popped on to say hello and check I hadn’t missed anything earth shattering!

    1. The only thing you have missed, MTF is a great backpager from the professor and a wonderful Toughie from Chalicea. Enjoy!

46. 2*/4* …
    liked 25D “American gents loudly haughty (5)”

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