DT 31034

72 comments on “DT 31034”

1. This was about right for a Wednesday with a good mix of write-ins and ponderers. I’ve not heard of the South American resident before but I suspect it is often to be found in Cryptic Land. The long ones were gettable apart from 6d where I cannot fathom out the rock museum. I have always thought that 28a sounds more like a sweet than nuns.

   A Great puzzle with the student in 7d being my COTD and a shout out for the pun.

   Thank you, setter for a great Wednesday challenge, which was exactly one mug of Taylors long. Thank you, Gazza for the hints.

   Too much rain in The Marches today so I’m clearing out a walk-in wardrobe that tends to become the dumping ground of the house.

   1. Steve, I think you’ll find 6d much more solvable with ‘musician’ rather than ‘museum’ …

      Also, well done on being so speedy! I had my comment ready to paste in as soon as today’s hints appeared, but despite checking periodically, the site went straight from this page not existing to already having your comment on it, with nothing in between!

      1. No wonder I didn’t understand 6d! Should have gone to Specsavers!

         My magical powers allow me to post first but they don’t extend to The Mythical. 😊

         I think I’ve just set a challenge – get in before I do. 👍

         1. I think I might just have said this before, very gently, that it is mainly the gentlemen who get in early? Not that I am suggesting anything controversial of course.

2. Nicely at my level, except for 1a where I hadn’t heard of the defintion, the crossing vowels were no help in thinking of a word that fitted (and I didn’t manage to solve it from the wordplay alone), so I didn’t actually finish.

   Thank you to the setter. My favourite was possible 13a once Gazza had explained the ‘evil spirit’ bit (thank you). Of the ones I managed entirely unaided, plaudits to the 24a estate-car owner and 3d choice elixir.

3. Lots of small 4 and 5 letter clues in this grid made it ab yntriguing solve. I also enjoyed the longclues, especially rhe anagram at 6d and the lego clue at 7d(my first one in). Of the ahorter ues, the lurker at q119a and the geographical clue at 14d merit a mention thanks to the compiler for an enjoyable Wednesday romp and to Gazza for the hints.. i ws a bit surprised to find a word in the clue at 8a, which also appeared inthe solution?

   1. Look again at 8a: the second word of the solution has an extra letter in it compared to the word in the clue!

      1. Thank you Smylers, because of myeyesight problems, I frequently make mistakes, althoughe more often whebrypoming a comment than in reading a clue. Glad to clear rhat one up

4. 2*/4.5*. This was a thoroughly enjoyable midweek puzzle (complete with the requisite American indicator in 11a!)

   My top picks were 1a (my favourite), 13a, 24a, 6d, 10d & 22d.

   Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza.

5. I loved that – interesting grid too. 1a took almost as long as the rest of the puzzle, but at least I’ve learned something. 7d probably takes my top spot today, although the aforementioned 1a was good too, obscure (to me) definition aside. Thanks very much to the setter and to Gazza for the hints and cartoons.

6. Good morning. Some nice anagrams with nothing very difficult or testing apart from 1a or 22d, which were the last to be filled and parsed. COTD is harder to choose, but will settle on 28a. Thank you to the setter and Gazza for the review.

7. A very enjoyable solve from the midweek master, Hudson (?), with my LOI being the most excellent 1a.

   17a was a bung-in as I’ve never heard of the sticky stuff and the parsing of 13a took a bit of work.

   My podium is, of course, 1a, 6d and 10d (great fun).

   MT to the aforementioned and Gazza.

   3*/4*

8. Fell short, with 1a eluding me (also a complete failure to spell the nuns at 28a correctly, but I’m giving myself a pass on that one). I had heard the 1a term before, so I’ve no excuse for not getting it!

   I found the puzzle to have a curious mix of the quite easy and the quite tricky with very few in between. Not a complaint, just an observation. 2.5*/4*

9. Saw the grid and thought here we go again, can I manage it this time? Aim: start with the central 6, then the spokes running off that square clockwise, this time starting with 17a; then the 5-letter Ls clockwise, this time from 5d. Bah humbug, failed again: had to bypass 3d and come back to it later having done the Ls. Harrumph. Well, fingers crossed for next time we have this grid!

   Otherwise a reasonably gentle and very enjoyable solve for a mid-week. I felt 9d a little weak because of grad/graduate/gradually, but otherwise a cracking puzzle. Honours to 3d, 28a, 1a (by George it’s good to see that old chestnut back again!) and 8a.

   Many thanks to the setter and to Gazza – great cartoons

10. A quick grid fill but like yesterday one of the whys eluded me. The biro I saw in the last 3 letters of 17a had nowt to do with anything & that was as far as I got having never heard of the lithography ingredient. Pleased to remember George & the cute South American resident from previous puzzles. Thought the puzzle very entertaining & tick worthy – 1,27&28a plus 3,6,7&10d would be my picks from a fine assortment of clues.
    Thanks to the setter & to Gazza.

11. I enjoyed this with ticks all over the place. I approached it in a haphazard fashion mainly starting with the downs. LOI was 24a which I solved earlier but couldn’t parse so waited until I had the checkers and then it became clear.

    Liked the Quickie pun which I had to say out loud several times before it dawned on me.

    Top picks for me were 4d, 1a, 17a, 15d and 10d.

    Thanks to Gazza and the setter.

12. 1a my clear favourite this morning in what was an entertaining and friendly solve. Like my Shropshire neighbour, I don’t think I have heard of the South American resident but it had to be what it was.

    Many thanks to our midweek setter and Gazza.

    1. The furry South American animal is more often seen in crosswordland (and Countdown!) than in the field.
       A useful one to remember.

13. Good mid-week fun which could be the work of one of two or three setters – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 16a, 21a, 7d, 13d, and 25d – and the winner is 25d.

    Thanks to whomsoever and Gazza.

14. Went in nicely until I a. didn’t take over. Did not know the definition but it is filed away now for future reference. Suppose 18 is still a currency somewhere. A pleasant start to Wednesday and many thanks to Gazza and our setter who is yet to be identified

    1. Switzerland, I think.

       1. I didn’t know there was a setter called Switzerl … oh, I see what you mean. Yes, that sounds right, Steve.

       2. Talking of Switzerland, here’s a random fact for you…..

          It’s the longest one-word country that has no repeat letters.

          Sticking with that theme….

          Can anyone name one of the two 13 letter UK place names that have no repeat letters or even the one that has 14? I’ve only heard of one of the 13 letter dooberries.

          1. How about Zeal Monachorum, or does it have to be a single word?

             Edit: Nope, just read your requirement about no repeat letters. That rules out the Welsh jobbie as well.

             1. The one I know is in Devon, probably not far from you!

                1. Buckfastleigh ?

                   1. That’s the puppy.

                      Bricklehampton and Buslingthorpe are the other two.

    2. From the on-line World Population Review 22 countries and three territories still use a unit of currency directly denominated in francs. Of the 22 countries still using the franc, 20 are located in Africa. Who knew!

15. Some varied GK was required to fully appreciate this one, but there was nothing too obscure.
    The three standout clues for me were the Belfast boy at 1a, the demon brought to book in 13a and who’d have thought it, 10d.
    Thanks to our setter and Gazzer, top cartoons as always.

16. 1a, brilliant!

17. A reasonably gentle mid-weeker with just the parsing of 13a taking a bit of thought. Nice to see an old friend making an appearance at 1a and he gains a place on my podium along with Frank at 20a and the Quickie pun.

    Thanks to our setter and to Gazza for the review and cartoons.

    PS So sad to learn of the death of Robert Redford. As per the quote in today’s paper, he could pull a gun and look beautiful as he did it. RIP my film heartthrob.

    1. I’d be too embarrassed to admit how long it took both to realise what PRC was & then to twig the excellent pun. Very sad also to read about Redford’s passing. His contribution to independent film via Sundance was huge & Robbie Collin’s DT list of his top ten roles essential viewing. Recently rewatched his directorial debut, Ordinary People, & though it should never have beaten Raging Bull & Scorsese to the Oscars it’s a terrific film, well directed & with great performances by Sutherland, Moore, Hutton & Hirsch – highly recommended for any who haven’t seen it.

       1. Think The Sting was one of his most enjoyable ones.

       2. Three Days of the Condor for me.

18. Managed 1a because it appeared on this site when I first started doing cryptics and would find them impenetrable – slowly but surely they became easier for me and that is in a huge way down to this wonderful resource.

    So anyone out there who struggles – don’t give up hope – with this site and some perseverance (and squirreling away of things like 1a) you will get there. If I can – anyone can!!

    1. Totally agree with you, Magichatuk. My solve rate was abysmal until I joined BD.

    2. Well said, Magichatuk!

    3. Agree with you Magichatuk. Over 3 years I’ve gone to being pleased if I could get half a dozen clues to being disappointed when I am defeated (as I was today by 1a). Knowing all the animals that are heard only in crosswords (like agouti, ounce, pen, cob and the lowers etc) helps of course but I would have never got there without this blog. Thank you all the setters and bloggers

    4. So true! Many thanks to all – setters, hinters and all contributors.
       1a defeated me today, but very much enjoyed the crossword.

19. Tricky in parts but a whole lot of fun.
    I got 17a via the checking letters and made a mental note to parse it later. Needless to say, I forgot. Just as well, as I had never heard of the adhesive.
    I liked the estate car owner at 24a and the elixir at 3d, but my CoD has to go to the brilliant 1a.
    Thank you setter and Gazza.

    1. Gum Arabic was well known in the olden days before we had heard of UHU. (Other adhesives are available). Like Quink in bottles before Boris. Or even biros.

20. A very pleasant Wednesday puzzle which brought me bang up to date with the backlog of crosswords I’d built up due to holidays and life in general. Favourite was 27a, very topical I feel if one thinks of some supporters of today’s orange visitor to the UK.

21. An error in my answer to 3d, had me completely flummoxed for 1a until I realised and twisted my answer. Rtfq, as my old college lecturer used to say, and lo and behold a completed grid. Not as straightforward as some have found, but good fun on a damp and dreary Wednesday. My podium comprises 27a, 19d and 1a. Thanks to compiler and Gazza

22. Most enjoyable, quirky even. I liked the evil spirit denied freedom and the Roman God. And 10d. I think 20a was clever and is my favourite.i don’t think I ever considered the grid before I came to Big Daddy, but now I do and it is surprising the way it affects one’s solve. Many thanks to Messrs Setter and Gazza.

23. This was for me a very hard and convoluted puzzle regarding the clueing and the parsing. I can’t say it was any fun slogging through it, but maybe others have more positive comments and liked it better than I did.
    Bring on Thursday

    4*/2* for me … not my cuppa at all.

    However, my salvaged favourites were 1a, 8a, 24a, 27a, 4d & 10d — with winner 8a

    Thanks to setter & Gazza

    1. I totally agree with all your observations and Bozo’s commen. I found this no fun at all thanks to numerous IMHO doubtful clues/solutions. Yes, bring on tomorrow.

       1. So sorry. I should in any case have said thank you setter and Gazza.

24. Interesting, religiously themed (? – 2 goddesses, an archbishop’s residence, an order of nuns, and the adjective at 6d), puzzle that taught me a thing or two. The cluster from 4 to 7 down was the highlight for me. Thanks to the setter and Gazza

25. This rattled my brain. Too convoluted for me. Also, I didn’t know ‘recon’ was a name for US soldiers.
    Lots of good clues as well

    1. Recon (short for reconnaissance) is not a name for US soldiers but a task carried out by US soldiers.

       1. The faintly ludicrous but entertaining Heartbreak Ridge had Clint Eastwood as Gunny Highway, leading the “Recon” platoon on just those sort of things.

26. I enjoyed this very much, the anagrams were particularly good today. My last in was 1a and was a bit of a guess and then google confirmation as I had never heard of that definition. I had 7d as my favourite.

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

27. Silly spelling mistake on the order of nuns prevented this being a reference free completion. And in a respectable time. C’est la vie, there is always tomorrow. Otherwise an enjoyable solve and not too taxing on the grey matter. 1a fell quite easily and even though a supporter of the blue side of Manchester there was no question of his genius. It also helped that my previous profession helped, hence the moniker. Other favourites today were 12a and 28a, in spite of my error.
    Thank you to the setter and to Gazza for the hints.

28. For those unfamiliar with the technology in 1a:

    1. George with his post-coital ciggie is a great touch.

29. Thanks to the Setter and Gazza. We struggled in places but got there in the end. Never heard of 19a until now. Now know from Val the other meaning of George. COTD 7d because Val likes them and I hate them!

30. When the first clue is elusive the difficulty rating jumps up, and 1a did just that – thank you compiler and Gazza for the explanation

31. Needed too many hints to really enjoy this today, having never seen 19a before (or forgotten it), sadly unable to fathom the much liked 1a, and at first bunging in tongue for 17a – well it is close to gum 😊. Happily quickly realised what 15d was so out went tongue (not rudely). Think I need to change my multi vitamins! Thanks to setter and Gazza.

32. 1.5* / 3.5* A good midweeker with wit and misdirection. Favourites include 8a bishops house, 17a sticky language and the lurking rodent at 19a
    Also a special mention for the quickie pun
    Thanks to setter and Gazza

33. Lots of laughs in this great puzzle. I’ll go for 27A as my favourite, but it could have been any of a dozen. VMT Setter & Gazza.

34. I was going to say that this was one of the most elegant pieces of crossword compiling I had come across, until I got to my last one in, 1a. I have had quite a lot of experience of aviation, but calling an autopilot George is completely new to me. Did you all really know that? I loved 20a

35. A great solve and nicely pitched for a Wednesday. I feel irritated at myself for 1a, as I had thought the only reference to George I knew was something to do with planes….. , and I was very slow to recall what.I too had learnt the term from a previous crossword , so next time it should come to mind sooner . I also spelt the nuns incorrectly ! Thanks to the setter and Gazza.

36. Well I found this far more difficult than most and unaided it was a DNF. For 1a, even though I fly regularly in my X-Plane simulator and knew the George, it still didn’t come to me until I read the hint. The 12a divinity was new to me, I don’t recall seeing the 19a resident or the 26a goddess before although I’m probably wrong as it seems to be my day to be! In 13a, I got the answer but is the hint implying “Imm” is an evil spirit? Oh sugar: typing that has given me the correct ‘missing’ first three letters. 6d eluded me too, just didn’t spot it was an anagram.

    Gave ticks to the 21a fish and 7d breakfast.

    Not a great day for me but thanks anyway to the setter and Gazza for digging me out of the hole.

37. Never heard of “George” for 1a (a little obscure I think for me who is still a relative newcomer) and thought 3d was “notion” although I appreciated I couldn’t fully parse it. Apart from those two I managed the rest, which were all doable from the clues (although I had to check the spelling of 28a). COTD 7d for its construction and surface. Thanks to setter and Gazza. ***/**

38. I enjoyed this, but found a few far from straightforward. Parsing 13a took a good while, as did working out 3d. 1a was my last one in, but is a standout: lovely surface and great misdirection. I recall the “character” in Airplane! gets his own credit. Surely, you can’t be serious…? etc.
    Thanks to our Setter and to Gazza. 8a illustration is very good!

39. Needed the hint to parse 3d, just couldn’t see it, and hadn’t heard of the nuns but fairly clued, had to check it though. Fairly straightforward with a few head scratchers, not made any easier by the grid. Altogether a pleasant solve. I don’t often award the cotd to an anagram but I’m going to give it to 27a for the surface read. Thanks to the setter and Gazza.

40. 1a I thing George was the autopilot in the “Airplane” film

    1. Welcome to the blog, Russ.
       Yes – see the clip that Falcon posted at Comment #28 above.
       How did you like the puzzle?

       1. Sorry, did not see earlier post.
          Enjoyable puzzle

41. I didn’t know the 11A or 19A words and 22D had me glowing as I had the wrong idea entirely with my supposed answer. 9D was the other one I missed- on a good day I’d have got that one. I’ve no idea which corner of my mind the solution to 28A came from- perhaps divine intervention!

42. Late to the party. Excellent but stumped by 1a. I had a plane theme however as I was thinking of Belfast City Airport which has the alternative name of George Best. Finished of with 2 and 3d. Don’t know why. Despite the anagram the synonym in 6d took me ages. Thanks setter and hinter

43. 3*/4* ….
    liked 10D “Well I never get attracted to husband wearing shabby clothes (5,4)”

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