DT 30350

80 comments on “DT 30350”

1. Some real beauts. today and some mind manglers. Took a while for the parliament penny to drop 😊. LOI, 23, needed Google to discover such a noun existed. 3, 22 and 25 were all good fun. COTD for me was going to be 11 for the misdirection but had to be the ( in light of Steve Cowling comment yesterday) laugh out loud 17 and its appearance again in another guise. Is the answer going to become a verbal where’s Wally ha ha?
   Very enjoyable.

   1. 23a is also the name of a setter, one of whose Enigmatic Variations features on the main Big Dave site, Pat.

2. Quite hard work today? 22 d made me smile.
   Thanks to setter.

3. I certainly thought this was a *** and failed on the 9a GK which is new to me and I couldn’t guess or parse the second letter so thanks Senf for the hint. Some great clues though and my favourite was 22d closely followed by 27a. The well hidden lurkers in 21&25a were both great. Thanks to the setter and Senf

4. Another guzzle with superb misdirection from our Wednesday setter and ver enjoyable it was too, with enough straightforward clues to give the solver a way in. I’m afraid I might incur Kath’s displeasure by having a dead heat for COTD, with 27a and 10a, both guilefully misdirected . 28a was pretty good too. Thanks to the compiler and to Senf for the hints. Tou didn’t leave any out either!

5. Terrific entertainment this morning that had just the right balance of clues of varying difficulty, making It a very rewarding puzzle to solve. I liked 13a for the smile it induced, but my runaway favourite was 18a.

   My thanks to our setter and Senf.

6. 2*/4* for me today. This was great fun and not too taxing. I didn’t have a specific favourite but it was all good stuff.

   Many thanks to the setter and to super-sub Senf.

7. Tremendous puzzle, a real cracker while it lasted. I was fortunate to tune in to the setter’s wavelength from the off, so it all fell into place very swiftly with the exception of 23a, my LOI: eulogie would have received a red SP! from my English master and doesn’t parse, anyway, so thank you to the BRB & MrG.

   Ticks all over the shop, courtesy of some sublime clueing and wonderful surface reads, so Hon Mentions to 13a, 20a, 27a, 4d, 11d & 20d, with COTD to 10a.

   1* / 4*

   Many thanks to the setter and to Senf

8. A very enjoyable puzzle with a modern feel – thanks to the setter and Senf.
   Dorothy (15a) is very popular today as she also features in the Toughie.
   My podium picks were 21a, 19d and 22d.

9. I was on the setter’s wavelength today and liked this crossword. While I personally was on the right wavelength, I think that objectively Senf’s assessment of difficulty (***) will be right. Last one to go in 10a, but I did eventually get the feeling ‘rejected’ must mean ‘reversed’. Thanks for confirming Senf. I hadn’t heard of a 23a, but it could be pieced together, especially with checkers. I’m not sure about a favourite as there were a number of candidates, but I’ll go for 11d.

   1. I agree – nice misdirection. I had to get it right as Huntsman praised my crickety knowledge yesterday, I’ve proved I can be flexible!

      1. 😀

10. Well that was an interesting one. Two words that are new in 20d and 23a, three I couldn’t parse (25a, 27a and 24d), one really poor clue in 10a and three absolute belters in 16a, 9a and my fav 13a.
    As to the setter probably not Robyn, her crosswords are always better than.
    Thx to all
    ***/***

    1. While he uses what is commonly accepted as the female version of a first name, Robyn is James Brydon.

       https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/2023/02/08/telegraph-crossword-gets-new-regular-setter/

       1. You can’t be sure how anyone wants to be referred to these days🥴

       2. I wonder, does Robyn come from an anagram of 5/6 of James Brydon’s surname?

11. I really liked today’s guzzle but had to check 23a as I hadn’t come across it before. I too chuckled at 17d after yesterday’s comment on the different ways it has been clued.
    Favourite was 9a once the penny dropped on axes.
    Thanks to the setter and the hinter.

12. The brain fog continues, made heavy weather of another puzzle, that on reflection was reasonably straightforward once you’d worked out the parsing. Maybe I need to get tested for B12 deficiency that is the hot topic in the news at the moment.

    Maybe it was a hangover from battle with DT subscription department regarding the proposed increase to my subscription. Most unhelpful girl not interested in keeping my monthly cost as is & ended up cancelling, the loyalty debate continues that seems to be infecting more businesses at the moment. Just got my Mum to subscribe to current £34 for a year offer & got her to share her bonus subscription, saving over £300. Rant over!

    2.5*/3.5*

    Fav 3d LOI 10a.

    Thanks to setter and Senf.

    1. I got tested for B12 deficiency a few weeks ago. I get enough from my diet but can’t absorb it. I was so tired that I could barely move. I had 6 injections over 3 weeks and it changed my life! Just got back from the gym and walking to get the grandchildren from school. It’s hard to absorb it if you take Omeprozol apparently

       1. Oh golly, I’ve taken Omeprozol for years

          1. Me too! I kept fainting and falling, my GP put me on iron and I’ve been fine since.

13. Slow going for a while but the grid gradually open up to reveal some excellent and clever clues. My COTD candidates, 10a, 3 and 11d. Thanks to the setter and Senf for the extras🦇

    1. Your comment went into moderation as you used your name instead of the previously used alias – both will work from now on.

14. Not my day today, 23 was a new word for me, for 28 I was looking for a term for out to lunch ,although I twigged it was an anagram. And as for 10 ,my Latin is practically non existent except for vidi vici veni which definitely didn’t apply today. Thanks to all.

    1. I saw, I conquered and then I came. Interesting. All the right notes but not necessarily in the right order, as Les Dawson might say.

       1. 

          Schoolboy mode on and sniggering away at that, thank you!

       2. 🙂

       3. Surely that was Eric Morecambe explaining his piano playing to ‘Mr Preview’?

          1. And he was playing the right notes, just not the right bit.

          2. Yes, that’s right – I think Eric called Mr Preview, Andrew Preview at some point, while Ernie used André Previn.

       4. 😂 as I said my Latin is non existent, I should of checked on the one phrase I thought I knew🤷‍♂️. But I don’t appreciate the sniggering at the back, a bit immature.

15. Not even close to the wavelength today.

    I probably only got 15a as I lived there for a couple of years.

    May have another attempt later but only managed 2 clues so far.

    Thanks to all.

    1. My extended second sitting enabled me to finish unaided.

       Quite a work out for the few grey cells that I have left. Worth the effort though.

       23a a new word and several clues needed the hints to parse.

       Thanks to all.

16. Not a clean completion.
    Too much experimentation with
    Checking letters and dictionary,
    Especially for 23a. Elusive!
    Nice and juicy anagrams eg
    11 and 6d.
    Wednesday plus difficulty.
    Thanks to the setter and Senf.

17. A fine puzzle; not too difficult – about average for a Wedneaday – but good clues and an enjoyable solve. I’ll go for 19d as my favourite. 2.5*/3.5*.

18. For me, and I stress for me ⟨Senf™⟩, this was a fascinating and at times, perplexing, guzzle. I feel that a lot of time and musing went in to the compilation of many of the clues. Most enjoyable to unravel.

    The book containing THE LIST has grown dusty on the shelves in recent weeks, so I am ‘pleased’ to announce the panel has nominated two answers from today – 9a and 23a. As ever, if the panel believe that an estimated maximum of 1% of solvers ‘might’ know the answer then THE LIST awaits that clue. The panel would also like to remind all interested parties that the retort of, “But it’s in the BRB” is not considered a valid appeal against inclusion on THE LIST.
    23a sounds like it should be the definition of someone from the Green Party dancing whilst wearing inflexible, wooden soled footwear.

    Isn’t 20d a delicious word? It’s important to let it roll around yer gob and then say it out loud to really enjoy its full onomatopoeic resonance.

    Thanks to the setter and The Man From Manitoba.

    

    1. As a fan of splendid words, I still remember 9a and its friend phloem from O Level Biology. It appeared in DT 30317 on Saturday 3rd June, and on checking the comments, I find that some people knew it, others didn’t and Daisygirl actually suggested it should be included in your List

       1. Daisy is never wrong x

    2. I always thought it was splodge and a made up word at that.

       1. ‘Splodge’ is equally delicious to say out loud.

    3. I suspect 9a might achieve more than 1% as I have heard of it and I am probably the least knowledgeable person visiting this blog! But I’ve never heard of 23a.

19. Loved it.

    A very enjoyable midweeker that stretched me a tad. (we love long one-syllable words like stretched, scrunched and schlepped)

    I love the irony of the spelling of the Scottish drink in 7d having no E (for England) and Eire, come to think of it.

    Difficult to chose who gets the spoils but I’ll go with the excellently parsed 3d and 9a for getting a bonkers word in a Telegraph crossword. My COTD is 21a as it’s a truly outstanding lurker.

    Many thanks to the compiler and Stand-in Senf.

    2*/4*

20. Yet another Wednesday that seemed harder than normal to me. Lots of head scratching and the use of the helpful Mr. G to help me along. Some came easily, but lots did not. Several had parsing issues for me on top of it all.

    2.5*/3* for me.

    Favourites include 13a, 15a, 27a, 4d, 11d & 22d — with winner a tie between 11d & 22d … both great clues /answers.
    Never heard of 23a or 2d … needed the cheats for those.
    Technically and DNF.

    Thanks to setter and Senf

21. Huge variety of clues today and most enjoyable because all the required GK was, for once, within my ken!
    My top three were 16&18a plus 3d but I could equally have chosen several others.

    Thanks to our setter (NYDK?) and to Senf for stepping into the breach and solving an entire puzzle for a change

22. Having only a brief time to work on this before heading off to wait while our car is serviced, I think I’ll find something else to take with me to pass the time. Clearly not a friendly Robyn, and most likely the more difficult gentleman, I suspect this is above my pay grade. I’ve quickly looked at my usual ration of hints (pictures only), which verifies that opinion. Well done all who finish, particularly if unaided.

23. Loved this – the quirky and modern feel hints of NYDK to me also – but could be knocking on wrong door knob …
    Faves included 21a (love a good lurker), 27a and 24d
    Thanks to setter and Senf

24. A splendid puzzle completed quite quickly. I had to check I hadn’t made up the answer for 23a, but I love those words one can deduce from the cluing and then find one is correct. 10a was my top pic. (My ‘O’level Latin is often very useful.) Hon. mentions for 9a and 19d as well.

25. Top class puzzle. Slow start but as checkers appeared was able to speed up. Needed some e-help for those candidates for THE LIST!
    Biggest PDM was for 10a, biggest smile for 20d, biggest tick for 21a

    Many thanks to our setter and Senf for the needed hint for 23a
    ***/****

26. That was a lot of fun. W beat E to it. 9a and 23a now in my Thesaurus. 27a had to be but I had forgotten term for group of those birds. Like Madflower I too recalled SC’s comment yesterday re cluing for 17a. Had complicated things for myself as I bunged in scratch for 20d after having considered splodge but not the correct word. My 11d first thought was of course associated with setters’ favourite sport rather than scientific people.

    1. I had added my thanks to Mysteron and Senf but they don’t seem to appear so TVM both of you.

27. Not a lot of success today, only managed about half before going to the gym. The exercise didn’t improve my solving skills, so thankyou for the much needed hints Senf, I certainly needed them. A great word 20d as Terence said. I’m just watching his former Chelsea player showing his skills in Oslo for the Reds. Thankyou compiler for the challenge!

28. Very late with this as I’ve had a frightful morning. G went out to a U3A committee lunch at 12 and when he came back I was still on the phone to a certain large bank. 2 1/2 hours of the precious time that is left to me! I cannot get into my online banking account. The poor girl tried, again and again. I ran out of battery for one handset and she had to ring me back so I could pick up another. In the end she said she had been on the phone so long to one person ‘they’ would be asking questions and she had to go!! And the music they play is suicidal. Anyway, I am sure you are fascinated. I said yesterday that someone should compile a list ( not A List) of ways of clueing 17d. On the subject of The List I have to concur that 9a definitely deserves to be on it. Lots to like, Dorothy’s dog and Barbie’s boyfriend. Such fun. I’m worried about Senf’s gambling habit, he throws his money around so freely guessing setters. My strict Scottish grandmother would be horrified, we had to play cards with buttons. Many thanks to him and to our setter. I hope Stephen got on OK with his eye procedure.

    1. You were lucky to get buttons, DG, at our family Christmas get-togethers at my granny’s house we were given spent matches to use in our games of Newmarket!

       1. Daisy, I hate to say but I was shut out of my bank account for over a year. After hours of long winded phone calls, I wrote an old fashioned letter to my new branch (located a 50 mile round trip away) explaining that my only re course sseemed to be to swap my account to another bank. Several phone calls later with a bank employee, who obviously lives in Oxfordshire and I got into my online account.

          1. I did threaten to do that during our painful session! We may yet do it.

29. I thought this one was good fun and hard at the same time.
    Number one mistake was to try to make 1a into an anagram with one extra letter – wrong!
    Lucky for me I remembered 9a rather than CS’s friend phloem – what extraordinary a brain is – how does it choose to pick or reject something . . . .
    I think 11a is the sort of clue that someone sees immediately or not at all – wavelength.
    I didn’t know 23a.
    Lots of good clues including 18 and 28a and 3 and 7d.
    Thanks to today’s setter and to Senf.

    1. I remember some while ago you were unwell but hope you are feeling somewhat better now Kath. You seem to be back to normal blogwise

30. Nice to see a bottle from the town of my birth illustrating 7d.

    Had not heard of the same words as some other people but achievable from the clues. One or two answers required a bit of head scratching. COTD 21a.

    Thanks to setter and hinter.

    1. That and Dalwhinnie are my favourites!

31. Great puzzle – just the right level of difficulty for a mid-week back-pager IMHO. Thanks to the Mustard Man and the setter – my 10 bob is on Robyn on the basis that I was on wave length pretty quickly today (and that rarely happens for me with NYDK).

32. Found this tricky, learnt two new words 9a & 23a and didn’t understand 27a 🤔 but apart from that quite enjoyable 👍 ****/***
    Favourites 3, 14 & 17d Thanks to Senf for his explanations and of course to the Compiler 😬

33. This took ages and copious word searches to complete. I never did get 27a, silly really, the lower case parliament should have given me a clue and I knew that about owls. South didn’t present a lot of problems but, my word, north was a brain mangler. I didn’t help myself by having the wrong house in 3d, revisited after getting 12a. Thank goodness I wasn’t fooled by 11d and got it first go, having looked up the spelling, not my strong point. I liked 21a, my frequent visits to Wales have not been wasted, but my fave is 10a, who can forget the movie Dead Poet’s Society, still stands the test of time.
    Thanks to our setter and to our Sunday hinter, Senf, for his help, much needed today for parsing.

    1. Merusa, I was amused to see your lovely word ‘bloviating’ used in the DT this morning to describe your favourite politician. When you first used it I thought it was a special ‘Merusa Word’ but then I found out it was real! So descriptive.

       1. A real word and perfectly descriptive of the unmentionable politician.

34. Terrific challenge today including a Welsh lurker! Thank you setter and Senf

35. What a struggle and looking at the answers not quite sure why. First one in the water carrier number 9 (plus salts) Last one the bird call grrr.
    I like to think I know my birds.!!
    I finished but was never quite on the setters wavelength. Maybe the round of golf this morning played in monsoon conditions had washed away the front of my cerebral cortex.
    Thanks to all.

36. Late to comment as out today playing in a seniors pairs open at the rather wonderful Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands Golf Club. Predictably we finished amongst the also rans but a surprisingly large number managed to play more ineptly than we did so saving our blushes.
    Completed both puzzles very early doors & thought this one a belter. I had it pegged at the time as a Robyn guzzle & am increasingly feeling quietly confident as Donny hasn’t popped in to claim it. Ticks all over the shop – 9,13,18,21&28a plus 3,4,11,19&20d my top 5 of each – & the winner is 3d.
    Thanks to the setter (cue Donny probably) & to super sub Senf.
    Ps Just seen the latest news – well who’d ‘ave thunk it…..

37. 11d was straight in, but I struggled with the rest of the puzzle. It’s a long time since I needed the review so much. 27a was my favourite clue. Thank you setter and Senf.

38. Perfectly straightforward right up until the moment it wasn’t. Curiously it wasn’t 9a as I’d come across the word a couple of weeks ago in another crossword or 10a where I followed the instructions and came up with something that sounded plausible and Googled it, I’ve mentioned before my grasp of any language other than English is tenuous to say the least. Talking of English isn’t 7d an unindicated Americanism? 23a is a word I’ve never heard of, obviously I have now but I’m forgetting it as I write. Moan over. Favourite was 11d thanks to the setter and Senf.

39. That was a bit of alright. 9 a and phloem have not come back in my life since my high school science days. Nice to reacquaint with them. South east corner was a hold up , especially as 23 a was a stumbling block. Thanks to one and all.

40. Finally got there, quite a challenge for me. I did not know 23a. Overall good fun with lots of clever clues with misdirections everywhere. My favourite 21a because I remembered not to miss the lurker.

    Many thanks to Senf and the setter

41. 2/4. Late on parade today. A well structured puzzle with some excellent clues. My favourites were 13a&23a and 22d. Thanks to the setter and Senf.

42. Many thanks to one and all for dropping in, and especially to Senf, of course, for taking the bull by the horns and producing the excellent blog.
    I thought this was a bit harder than my norm for a back-pager, but I think *** difficulty is OK for Wednesday.
    Hope everyone has a great week – it’s my daughter’s 11th birthday today, so lots of excitement here!

    1. Thanks for popping in and thanks for the challenge. Definitely a ‘bit harder’ than most of your recent Wednesday back pagers.

       Thanks again.

    2. Ta for dropping in & for another great guzzle

    3. Have you been choosing a dog for her birthday? It might explain Sunday Toughie 76
       Really enjoying your guzzles

       1. Don’t give her ideas! She’s forever agitating for a pet, but for now it’s pooches in puzzles only! Glad you’re enjoying them.

43. Thanks Robyn

44. Good evening
    Yesterday I finished the crozzie and failed to post on BDCB. Today, I have succeeded in posting on BDCB but failed to complete the crozzie. And failed in spectacular fashion. Worst effort in yonks!
    Thanks to our compiler and to Senf. Better luck tomorrow!

45. 3*/4* …
    liked 7D “Vigorously mix unfinished drink (5)”

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