DT 30559

81 comments on “DT 30559”

1. I found today’s guzzle a bit strange. On the first pass I had solved only a few and this was followed by a long period during which nothing happened. After a couple of bung-ins it began to take shape. There were several where I simply could not see the parsing. How do 11a and 19a work? No doubt I am missing something but I could make no sense of them. Still, there were a few gems to lighten the mood. I thought 2d was very clever and my COTD goes to the concise 23a.

   My thanks to the setter for the challenge. Many thanks, Senf for the hints.

   Still wet in The Marches but the sun is trying to break through.

   1. 11a, class as in school class, then ‘er’ regularly from beer, meaning ‘first’…..I think.

      1. Thanks, TC. 👍 I also get 19a now as well. I had totally forgotten that word for a place to live.

   2. Hi Steve, 19a, thinks of digs as living quarters, as in flats, but singular (a bit of a 60s term)

   3. Reading the hints before commenting can be beneficial.

      1. But not so much fun……..

         1. 😊

   4. Glad I’m not the only one to find this a bit of an oddball. So many not quite right clues.
      **/**
      Not the greatest but not the worst either.
      Thx for the hints for some of the explanations.

      1. Add me to the oddball club. So it wasn’t just me.

   5. Definitely on the strange spectrum.

   6. I agree Steve but I think stroll in the woods is G + rove and in 23a S + pad/ digs ie as Student’s digs, but what do I know 😳

      1. More or less what I wrote in the hints?

      2. Hi, Jaylegs – I didn’t have a problem with 10a. It was 11a. 🤣

2. Absolutely chucking it down in Sandhurst today, but on the upside the big boat is almost ready to go, with only a couple more to get before the off, namely one humpty back camel, and a long necked goose, oh, and the two unicorns, but they always show up in good time.
   Anyway, to the puzzle, not really one for me today as I like ‘em a bit more wordy, but I’m probably in a minority with that opinion.
   Thought 19a was very good with clever use of ‘digs’
   All went in rather easily with the exception of my last one, 10a. Every time I offered up the right letters, all I could hear in my head was ‘groove’, strange how the mind works sometimes.

   1. Boats, camels and long necked geese – oh damn. You got me there. I’ve just fallen in. You are stocking an ark. Hahaha 😀

      1. He had me until I read your comment Daisy! Very clever Tipcat, good laugh.

      2. From the song Daisy, I think by the Irish Rovers. It was always on ‘Junior Choice’ when I was small.

         1. That one?

            1. I loved the Irish Rovers. I still have an LP record of theirs somewhere. I wonder if they’re still around?

            2. That’s the kiddie.

3. A curious 1.5*/*** this one: I needed Senf to fully comprehend 10a and 19a and 3d. Thanks Senf! Easy anagrams helped. My favourite was 27a with 22a a close second. Wasn’t quite sure about 20d with Still = silence rather than silent. Thanks to Senf and the setter.

   1. As ever I now see my misunderstanding. It was the imperative. Doh 😩

4. Like Steve I found today a bit hard to get going on, then suddenly it all fell into place, helped by getting the anagrams. There were several I could not parse including 19a, it’s so obvious now! I rather liked 1a once I worked out what was needed so that will be my favourite.
   I hope the weather is better where a huntsman is as we have had a miserable couple of days with almost non stop rain.

   Many thanks to the setter and to Senf for the hints,

5. I agree with Steve that this felt ‘strange’. At one point I thought it may not be Mr Plumb, but there were too many indicators telling me that it was. Apart from there being a couple of anagrams too many, for me, I really enjoyed it. 1a straight in
   ( probably because it was an anagram!) and no obscure knowledge required. Ticks all over my paper. 19a takes top spot for its clever misdirection, the answer being obvious but the reasoning harder. Others to mention are 15a, 21a, 4d and 22d. Thanks to Mr Plumb for the absolute pleasure and Senf for stepping into the breach.

6. Thanks to our setter for a workmanlike puzzle and thanks to Senf for the review.
   I concur with our reviewer’s opinion of 24d.
   The clues I liked best were 15a and 17d.

7. Another fairly gentle puzzle for a Tuesday morning, yet still scoring well on entertainment. I put in 1a straight away and that remained a favourite along with 4d. Most enjoyable.

   My thanks to AP and to Senf for coming off the bench.

8. Straightforward stuff from the professore that has something for everyone.

   My podium is 1a, 4d and 7d.

   Many thanks to AP and Hintsman.

   1*/3*

   1. Apologies…..thanks to Senf.

9. For me, and I stress for me (™ Senf), this was a very enjoyable guzzle. My last one in was 12a because the name of the blooming boat was fighting its way to the front of my brain, but there is such a lot of traffic in there, it took a while to break through.

   At Stamford Bridge last night to watch the Mighty Chelsea make hard work of beating a surprisingly rather pedesttrian Newcastle side, but as always, their supporters making a fine showing. Indeed, some of the male supporters possibly showing a little too much.

   Thanks to the setter and The Man From Manitoba (a splendid substitute for Hintsman)

   

   1. Golly Moses. I do hope Lady T was spared that sight ! I hope she averted her eyes.

   2. Please tell me that you photoshopped that pic! Surely not.

   3. There is a story that one Christmas on a visit to Lapland for disadvantaged children of Newcastle supporters their fathers wore only the thin polyester tops on their top half despite there being snow on the ground and freezing temperatures.

      A visit to Newcastle on a chilly December night will find the same and many women much the same as the chap in the picture. I am sure that photoshopping was not needed.

   4. Ugh, that would put me right off my dinner.

   5. I can assure all that there is no photoshopping in the style of the Princess Of Wales. When Newcastle scored last night, about half of the fellows in their stand took their tops off. A traditional pursuit with these fine folk, I understand.

10. Many thanks to Senf for subbing to cover Huntsman’s absence, I shouldn’t think that our Tuesday setter caused you too many headaches. Nice, light-hearted puzzle in which the pet baby owl was the highlight for me.

    Thanks to Mr Plumb, Senf and The Supremes.

11. Today I find it’s come to pass
    Some clues are rather rum to parse.
    I must say I am very glad
    To live in my own private pad.
    In earlier days one shared one’s digs
    With people who were worse than pigs.
    So thanks to Senf and Anthony Plumb
    From whom such words of wisdom come.

    1. Outstanding.

       Digs and pigs…….love it!

       Keep ’em coming, Pip, you posh poet, you.

    2. 👏👏👏

12. Interestingly I only learnt this meaning of pet in 1a about 30 years ago (from a lady golfer friend); I must have left the UK (50+ years ago) before it came into vogue.
    A!so totally failed to see the digs synonym in 19a, despite both words being very popular in Xwordland. Thanks Senf!I
    Took a while to see the Lurker in 24d, needed the checkers to spot it.
    As to faves, loved 23a, but joined by 1a as equal.
    Many thanks to Mr Plumb and to Senf for the help and the extra duty!

    1. The purists would say that 24d is not a lurker as the letters needed for the answer are not completely ‘surrounded’ as they are in the perfect example of a lurker in 2d.

       1. Hi Senf

          I didn’t realize that a lurker had to be surrounded.

          So, is there a term for an answer that has only one end covered….a semi-lurker or a rekrul flah?

       2. Lurker no longer strikes again!

          PS Forgot to like 15a too!

    2. I didn’t parse 24d as a lurker but rather as the first name plus the initial letter of the last name (indicated by somewhat) all reversed (upset).

13. Not looked at the puzzle or the review yet but now within 26 miles of Thorpeness. A horrendous journey in horrible weather (doubt they’ll be any aerodynamic testing of spherical objects this afternoon) having been delayed by 2 accidents (M25 then A120) involving fire engines & ambulances.
    Thanks to Senf for subbing – cheque is in the post

    1. If you are stuck indoors because of the weather, thoroughly recommend a visit to the Red House on the outskirts of Aldeburgh, home of Benjamin Britten. Do take the guided tour, more expensive but fascinating. Hope your weather clears up though and you can have a little outing on the boating lake in Thorpeness!

       1. Agree about Benjamin’s pad. Unfortunately I think the Thorpeness Meare ( boating lake) is closed, it’s still winter. It’s where I learnt to sail before graduating to the Aldeburgh Yacht Club. Unfortunately we sold our boat ( a lapwing) some 60 years ago, otherwise I’d lend it to you….

    2. I feel your pain re the weather. Recently had best friends over from England for two weeks, and we got just 3 days of sun. They were good sports about it, but I’m sure it was not what they were expecting, being as this is supposed to be our dry season.

14. Having had a couple of weeks of relative success with AP puzzles, today was back to normal service being resumed. To say I struggled would be an understatement. Certainly never heard if the term to have a pet, and without Senf’s sterling hints would have been in the dark on parsing a fair few others. In short I found this puzzle frustrating in my inability to wholly get to grips with it. On the bright side, 24d made me smile. Thanks to AP and particularly Senf.

15. Typical Tuesday puzzle for me this week.

    2*/3.5*

    Favourites 11a, 15a, 21a, 23a, 4d & 24d — with winner 23a
    Smiles with 1a, 4d, 20d & 24d

    Thanks to AP & Senf for blog/hints

16. 1.5*/3.5*. This was a pleasant puzzle with the exception of 24d, a not very hidden reverse lurker where the answer is at one end of the fodder rather than somewhere in the middle of it.

    My top picks were 15a, 19a. 23a& 4d.

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

17. Like some others I had a bit of a slow start with the across clues, but then the down clues went in very simply making the remainder of the puzzle a bit of a breeze.
    Good fun as always and I enjoyed the pet baby owl in 1a.
    Thanks to AP and to Senf

18. I’ve been very low for the last few days so this did help to brighten my day. Although on the other had it is pouring with rain here as well so we might start on a boat. Lots to admire and amuse – 1a, 15a, 19a and 23a although I dare say referring to docking is now verboten. The nice anagrams gave me a start, 6d gave me the most trouble. I think I am going for 15a as favourite. Many thanks to Messrs Plumb & Senf.

    1. I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t been firing on all cylinders, Splitzees.

       You are such fun that the sun should always be shining wherever you are.

       1. Not like you, Daisy, you’re always so “up”. Feel better soon, tomorrow is another day.

    2. As always, love to you, Daisy.

    3. I do hope you fell better soon and that if something has precipitated it that things improve soon.

    4. Rain, rain, go away,
       Come again some other day,
       Little Daisy wants to play,
       Come again some other day!

       Get well soon, DG!

       1. Look what you’ve done, Pip.

          We’ll all start to become poets if you keep posting these gems!

    5. Get well soon, DG.
       A couple of splits should see you right! 👍😊

19. Just to say 22d needs a new base in the hints answer

    1. So it did, now fixed.

20. Hard at first
    Then softened as
    I progressed to
    Completion.
    Loved 1a and
    Welcomed the anagram
    Practice throughout
    This puzzle.
    Thanks to AP and Senf.

21. I join the ‘slightly odd’ camp today, but I did finish without the hints, which doesn’t always happen. I solved 24d by assuming it was an anagram of Neil A. Didn’t spot it was a sort of reverse lurker!
    Thanks to Senf and to AP.

22. I did finish in the end, with copious ehelp for this very strange offering. After reading Senf’s unravelling, maybe not so strange, but it certainly felt odd while trying to solve it. I liked 1a, it’s not a phrase I’ve heard very often but I have come across it before. I think that’s my fave, but I also liked 15a and 23a.
    Thank you Mr. Plumb, and mucho gracias (I’m back to Espanol aide today) to Senf for explaining so much.

23. A reasonably OK crossword with some good clues and the anagram at 1a was superb. 19a didn’t need one to think of accommodation it was an R and W.

    Thanks to Senf and Mr Plumb.

24. When I saw Senf at the helm I first thought I had somehow lost a few days, before I read his comment…
    About half of this puzzle fell in ok but the other half definitely felt off kilter. Not overly difficult, just a bit odd or a stretch in places. COTD however goes to 23a, perfectly cryptic. Thanks to setter and Senf.

25. Not too challenging and an enjoyable solve.
    11a my LOI.
    I read 24a as an anagram (upset) of Neil and A (Armstrong somewhat), although I’m not convinced that “somewhat” can indicate the initial letter of a word.
    Perhaps our setter will drop in and clarify his intentions.
    Thanks to our setter and to Senf for stepping in for Huntsman, who may or may not be going round, of course.

26. I found this puzzle had some quite odd clues and parsing but managed in the end 🤔 ***/*** Favourites were 28a, 2d & 20d. Thanks to Mr Plumb and to Senf. The horrible wet morning has suddenly transformed into a bright sunny afternoon🏇

27. I really enjoyed this one, some very concise clues especially 11a. Hope you feel better soon Daisygirl and thank you Mr Plumb and Senf

28. Yet another day when I’ve run out of energy so comment on the crossword will be short.
    I often find Tuesdays tricky so I just feel like I’m the same as everyone else today.
    I liked 13 and 19a and 18 and 20d. By a long way my favourite was 1a.
    Thanks to the setter and to Senf.

29. Well I almost finished without needing the hints but did find it difficult to fully parse a few of the clues. Liked the misdirection of 1a which left me puzzling for a few minutes. 6d was a doh moment! Upon checking the hints I discovered my entry for 25d was wrong despite having 2 checking letters. I felt certain it had to have an r in the word. Many thanks to Mr Plumb and Senf. Especially for filling in whilst Huntsman pursues his sport hitting white spherical objects🤞the course isn’t closed due to rain.🤞

30. Well unlike some others I didn’t find this one odd. It might be because I’ve missed a few days having been in Manders’ neck of the woods. Having been assured by my bird-watching partner that the weather was going to be dry the whole time it was, in fact, miserable. We did have a couple of nice meals at the Three Swallows though so not all was lost.
    Favourite today was 23a.
    Thanks to Senf and the setter.

31. Somehow I’ve never heard the other meaning of pet before.

    Made hard work of some of the clues, but an enjoyable solve.

    Thanks to all.

32. Personally I found this harder than the toughie particularity in the South. Strange we should have the same word in both crosswords. Needed the hint to parse 19a. I had reservations about the same clues as others. Nothing really stood out for me but if pressed I’d go for 15a. Thanks to the setter and Senf.

33. For me too, not so easy, esp the SE corner, not helped by never having heard of the river…..anyway, got there in the end and thought it a fine, stimulating puzzle

34. A bit late in the day to comment, but surprised that no one has commented on Senf’s questioned hint for 14d. Surely the line is cricket crease and nought to do with clothing … and as a Scot … I hate cricket!

35. Not sure if it was 2 bottles of wine over dinner that made this one seem a wee bit tougher than normal. After a 5 hour journey for what should have been a 2hr + drive we did actually manage 16holes in the dry. An enjoyable guzzle – 1a a great starter & possibly not bettered.
    Thanks to AP & to Senf.

36. Can someone explain why “have a pet ” in yesterday’s puzzle means “throw a wobbly”?

    1. Welcome to the blog, Peter.
       A pet is a tantrum or huff.

       1. Thanks Gazza!

          1. 4*/4* ….
             Liked the pet baby owl in 1A.

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