DT 30580

133 comments on “DT 30580”

1. I thought this was an X-less pangram at first but, unless I have a wrong answer, I can’t find a “B”. Quite an enjoyable challenge and I did need Mr. G for a couple such as the element at 18d and the armed bloke at 26a. My problem with the latter was I could not get away from the idea that “armed” meant he had a gun. My COTD -for the simple reason I remembered the trench- is 5d.

   Thank you to the setter for a fun challenge. `thank you, Mr K for the hints and pusskits.

   I see Mr K has declared it an X-less pangram so I now have to find which one I got wrong! 😳

   1. Your B’s in the element Steve.

      1. So it is! Should have gone to Specsavers. 🤣

         1. But at least you knew the element Steve, sadly missing from my memory of science classes. But then I didn’t really pay attention in Science or Physics…

2. If this puzzle’s got parents, I’m betting they ain’t married.
   Took well over the time for a Friday offering, but a great sense of achievement on getting through it, last one in for me was the element, which I still haven’t a clue how its derived, so will see the hint for enlightenment.

   A whole basketful of great clues today, took a while for the toymaker in 6d to heave into view, a real kick yerself moment when you get it.

   Favourite one (out of many) for me today was 12a, brilliant!

   1. Love the first line, TC!

      Very funny.

   2. Actual LOL moment for your first line! 😂

3. Psyched up for a monster.
   But, lo and behold, completed
   In 1.5* time.
   Rarely seen such inventive
   And clever but very
   Doable clueing.
   Confirmation, once again,
   That any word can be
   An anagram indicator.
   Jostling for space on
   The podium.
   By a nose, 18d the COTD.
   Many thanks proXimal and Mr K.

4. It seems to be quite a while since we had a pro_imal so today’s was particularly enjoyable – 2.5*/4.5*

   Candidates for favourite – 11a, 25a, 17d, and 19d – and the winner is 25a especially as the girl is not the ‘usual’ D * * * A, even though the ‘usual’ one would not fit the checkers.

   Thanks to the X-man and Mr K.

5. 3d, really! is the setter a vet? I found the puzzle easily a *** but didn’t enjoy it. Maybe I’m just having a bad day…

   1. Great fun and perfectly pitched for a Friday IMO.
      Ticks for 1a, 10a, 13a, 20a, 24a, 6d, 17d and 21d.
      A couple of gripes, though.
      We see it all the time, but “for free” in 22a really grates. Surely it is “free” or “for nothing”? I blame the Americans…
      …and the rodent at 1d also belongs on the other side of the pond and should possibly have been indicated thus.
      That is just me being churlish and does not detract from what I thought it was a great puzzle.
      Thanks to ProXimal and Mr K.

      1. I parse 22a in the same way as swap *this* for *another*. That way, the ‘for’ is indicating the equivalence of wordplay and definition, and is not part of the definition. Then ‘free’ as in ‘set them free’ works perfectly well.

         1. I think Shabbo’s complaint is about the surface reading of the clue and how we Americans might say “for free” when you’d just say “free”. In the cryptic reading “for” is a link word.

            1. Spot on. Thanks!

            2. To be fair, “for free” meaning “free” is also a very common expression used in the UK.

               1. Agree. I remember saying we got it for free when we still lived in the homeland.

      2. S, 1d. Don’t forget it’s Friday when we’re supposed to get a toughish challenge. There can’t be many people in the UK, old enough and bright enough to tackle a Friday DT back-pager, who’ve never heard of the 1d solution and that it’s a rodent-type animal. And if you are one of the few people in the dark, what use would an Americanism indicator be? A bit of research would soon undoubtedly reveal that it’s (incidentally) a North/Central American animal. Indicatores should be used sparingly, only when absolutely necessary.

      3. Where is Grammarian when you need him? Strictly speaking, “free” is an adjective (or a verb) but never a noun. As such, it should not be preceded by a pronoun. However, it’s only a crossword …

         1. ‘Land of the free’

            Wotcha reck, RD? Are you going to give that noun to me?

            1. I wonder which country that utterly ungrammatical phrase hails from?

               P.S. Even Merriam-Webster doesn’t list “free” as a noun.

               1. Grrrrr….😖😖

6. 12a I would have thought OD for outstanding [overdrawn] – not OH

   1. Us bloggers are mere humans and the ‘OH’ in the ‘Detailed Explanation’ is probably just a ‘typo’ by today’s esteemed blogger, they do happen from time to time. The ‘OD’ appears correctly in the ‘Hidden Answer.’

      1. I may be wrong, but I thought the outstanding bit was OWED, being the second part of the homophone.

         1. That’s how I understood it.

         2. Yes, hint now fixed.

7. Fantastic!

   A hugely enjoyable challenge which was extremely satisfying to finish. The Home Counties held me up for a while but, once I got the port, it all fell into place.

   It’s all booting off at the base of the podium but I’ll go with 12a, 7d with the winner by a country mile being 18d for its construction.

   Many thanks to Proximal and Mr K

   4*/5*

8. Oh ‘tis a sad, sad day….I received an email this morning saying that the old puzzle site is to be closed on 1st May. It works so well and looks a whole heap more classy. Just in case anyone from Telegraph Towers is checking in….sorry folks but your new puzzle site is horrible!
   Apologies all, rant over. Can’t comment on the puzzle ‘cos I haven’t looked at it yet but thanks to the setter and Mr K.

   1. A very sad day indeed
      Does the email say anything about refunding subscriptions for people like me who were automatically renewed at the end of January and paid for a whole year

      1. No it doesn’t but it would be a bit mean of them if they didn’t refund you.
         Apparently most people have already switched to the new website/app. Be interesting to know if that is true?
         I actually like printing the crossword (and sudoku) and solving on paper. It’s one of the few things I prefer to do ‘the old fashioned’ way and printing the crossword from the new site doesn’t quite work, the font size is too small. The printed sudoku is dreadful, so maybe I’ll just give that up as a bad job.

         1. Totally agree. Printing from the new site is awful. Do they not realise how many of us have old eyes 🤣🤣. Telegraph puzzles need to sort out the new site before they close the old one.

         2. I’ve been using the new site for sometime and printing the puzzle from my computer. It’s a bit of a palaver, taking 6 clicks to get it to the printer. However I get a large text and grid numbers. The killer sudoku however only shows microscopic numbers. Useless for an old git like me.

            1. Hi, could you possibly give the order of your clicks which gives large text and grid numbers please. If I can get it to work for me it would be great. Thanks.

               1. Hi Madflower. This is what I do.
                  1 In the Xword click on More.
                  2 In the list select the largest A but the smaller AIs also OK.
                  3 Click Print
                  4 Click on the little square which appears above the little Xword.
                  5 Right click on new Xword
                  6 Click on Print.
                  This brings up the printer dialogue. Ensure that printer is set to Fit to the printable area.
                  This works for me. Hope it does for you.

                  1. Thank you Humph for taking the time to do that for me. It worked in that I get a reasonable size grid with large enough numbers to read. However, the print of the clues themselves is really too small.

      2. I have a digital subscription but can’t get the puzzles tab on my old iPad. I phoned the DT to complain – I also commented that people thought the new style was appalling, especially as the font size is pretty microscopic. The very pleasant lady gave me an email address to write to. I’m away this weekend but am happy to pass it on later for anyone who wishes to vent!

   2. Have we not had assurances in the past that the old puzzle site would continue?

      1. I believe that we have had assurances on the old site continuing.

         Wouldn’t we all get an e-mail if it is to be closed?

         1. That crossed my mind. I also would have thought there would be something on the old website about it closing so soon. But I haven’t managed to find anything.

         2. Not sure if this will work but a copy of the email….

            

            1. I’ve been solving the DT cryptic crossword for donkeys years and have never ever thought of the process as ‘playing’

               1. Apparently, if we only solve and don’t play then we cant earn fun achievements ( whatever they might be)

                  Nice puzzle today. Pleasing to get an unaided Friday solve albeit with a couple of bung ins.

            2. So where are all the people who are using the new site? Is it just that they haven’t worked out how to get back to the old one? How do we make our views known?

               1. I was a user of the old site and moved across to the new one a few months ago, with some trepidation. I don’t wish to be pedantic but i use the app not the website. i have an ipad and use safari.

                  It is different. It has some features the old site didn’t and vice versa but i find it works really well.

                  I can use the app on the phone too if i’m on a train and i recall it prints very clearly. I haven’t found any significant bugs and I have no complaints at all

                  please try the app. I’d be interested to hear your views

                  1. I may be being a Luddite here but how do you print from the app? Do you have to have a wifi enabled printer?

            3. So tired tonight as organised to take 25 to the Royal Opera House back stage tour and in the afternoon a guided walk of Covent Garden. Marvellous day but this evening it took me ages to do today’s puzzle with some bung ins. There was lots to like especially as I could put my feet up. Liked 24 a and 27 d . I down was not the first rodent to spring to mind . If that was all there was to complain about it rates as a very fine puzzle. Difficulty 3 .5 and enjoyment 4. Thanks to all.

   3. more info please about new puzzle site, hope puzzle will be the same. enjoyed today’s, not the usual Friday impossible puzzle Jacquie B

   4. Very disappointed that the old site is to close. I echo Moonraker’s assessment of both sites.

   5. Cannot read the clue numbers on the puzzle website which brings an unwanted new dimension .

      1. you can on the app. see above

   6. Very, very sad.
      Please DT editor change your decision.
      Thank you.

      1. Completely agree, hate the feel of the new site and my wife’s iPad won’t load it even after deleting and reinstalling the app – even if we can get it to load apparently we’d have to “share” the puzzles!
         In the unlikely event that the DT editor reads this or even cares, but, if it doesn’t change then my 45 years of patronage of The Telegraph will end when my subscription is due.

         1. All of the above confirms our continued purchase of the dead tree version even though it is environmentally unfriendly. It would certainly be cheaper to have the DT on line, but I am not sure that we could cope with it.

            1. Not an option here, I would have to drive 25 miles to get a dead tree version, each way. Really fed up with this decision.

            2. I recall someone on the blog explaining why the ‘dead tree’ version is ok environmentally. I think he might have been a compiler and he said he was qualified in the area. I’m not good enough with the search facility to find his comment unfortunately, but it was interesting.

   7. I’ve assumed that as I’m able to print out the puzzle and still read it that I must be on the old puzzles site. I haven’t received an email though.
      Can someone give me the address of the new puzzles site please so I can start trying to get to grips with it? I only ever print it out to complete, never do it online. Thanks in advance.

      1. ‘New’ web site is https://www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/index.html

         Or, if you read the newspaper on-line ‘Puzzles’ is one of the ‘tabs’ under the Masthead, or even a ‘Play Now Puzzles’ to the right of the Masthead.

         1. Thanks Senf. I wish now that I hadn’t looked at the new site as it is absolutely dreadful. I’ve tried printing to a PDF to see if I can make it larger but no joy.

         2. I agree with all the comments about the dreadful new site. Will be stopping my subscription and looking elsewhere.

   8. The new site is absolutely AWFUL for the printout that is too small and just poorly designed. I’m NOT happy about this information … what about it CL … ???? This is awful news

      1. Just got my email … just complete nonsense … need to be able adjust the font size more, as in BIGGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   9. If they do discontinue the old site, it’ll put an end to my DT solving days. I only have one eye and reading the present puzzles is difficult enough for me, any smaller and it would be impossible.

      1. I’ve just received the dreaded email

         1. I’m still awaiting the dreaded e-mail.

            Just looked at the “brilliant” new site for the first time in ages. To be fair, they have improved the printed versions. However. I never print, but always solve(?) the cryptic & Toughie using my iPad on-line.

            Oh! Dear! No improvement there. Very difficult to read the clue numbers in the grid, the ever-present keyboard is so large that very few clues are on the screen at any one time. A complete shambles compared with the old site!

         2. I am still awaiting the dreaded email.

            When it arrives I will be cancelling my subscription and demanding my money back from my January payment. I initially subscribed to the old site, not the “brilliant” new one.

   10. On, please tell me it isn’t so. Clearly no one at the DT listens to us or cares. I have written more than once to Mr Lancaster bemoaning the new site, in that it is worse than useless for those of us who still like to print and solve. I haven’t received any replies, and no advance notice of this closing. Well my subscription to both the paper and puzzles will probably close with it. They seem not to care that many of us are old timers, but just keep insisting we use the “brilliant” new site. I give up. Other newspaper provide nicely printable crosswords, why has the DT chosen to abandon us?

       1. I agree with all the above, I tried to use ‘feedback’ in the new puzzles site but it does not work and just brings you backs into the puzzles….is that deliberate do we think?
          Given that the cryptic and quick crossword have always been included with the paper version it seems unbelievably unfair to remove those two from the digital version given people pay a subscription for the online version, which I believe should match the paper version.
          I can almost forgive the newer puzzles being moved such as plusword and cross Atlantic, however the new puzzle site does not seem to allow a couple to do the puzzles as the reset puzzle option does not seem to work so only one of us can do a puzzle.
          These are the things I would have fed back if I could.

   11. FYI – anyone fed up about this might try writing to puzzleseditor@telegraph.co.uk, plus telegrapheditorial@telegraph.co.uk in the faint hope that we can reverse their planned closure of the old site.

   12. Yes, the new site is terrible. Mr Lancaster needs to shake a few heads.
       I’m afraid this is all part of the general fall in standards at the Telegraph. Every day there are typos, and on Monday the BBC One TV listing was missing.
       Also, how they have the cheek to charge £3 for the Sunday paper, is beyond me.
       After over 50 years of the Telegraph, I may change to the Times.

       1. Firefox does not seem to work at all on the new site , but was OK on the old one … I use the newspaper anyway so does not bother me … I emailed the Telegraph about this ages ago …apart from an acknowledgement no reply.

9. 2*/5*. Sheer delight on a Friday from the x-less pangram man.

   I did fail to parse my correct answer to 22a, having wrongly assumed that “without any restrictions” must be the definition.

   From a plethora of ticks, 18d was my favourite with 17d a close second.

   Many thanks to proXimal and to Mr K.

10. Thought this was an exceptionally fine compilation from the X-man, which made it easy to find worthy candidates for the podium.
    After much deliberation, my top three are 6,17&19d.

    Many thanks to proXimal and to Mr K for the review.

    1. Your favourite non-Irish setter is in the FT today

       1. Thanks, Sue.

11. Smashing puzzle. Easier than a standard Friday – which meant I could actually do it – while still requiring quite a bit of thought. I await Mustapha’s one-star rating with giddy anticipation

    SE corner was the trickiest, with 18d the last to yield. Favourite was 26a ***/****

    1. You never know, Karona, MG may give us a < rating as he knows I need my weekly fill of it.

       Come on, MG. Give it to me. Gimme, gimme, gimme….

12. A very enjoyable end of week puzzle – many thanks to Messrs X and K.
    My rosettes w.ere pinned on 16a, 22a, 17d and 19d

13. Great puzzle. Last in and fav 26a

14. I thought this was an absolute belter of a puzzle, one of the best Friday backpagers for some time, with great surfaces, a fine clue mix and misdirection aplenty. 17d was a brilliant reverse lurker and my favourite ahead of its neighbour, 18d.

    My thanks to proXimal and Mr K.

15. Found this a bit of a slog particularly in the SE. I don’t think of the 6d component as making the toys so took while to to plump for this. Had to seek help for 18d in spite of having all 4 crossers. 1d Fav. Thank you proXimal and MrK.

    1. Who else do you think makes all the toys in Santa’s workshop?

       1. Well of course but I had just associated them with the deliveries! 😀

16. Lovely puzzle today with 6d and 6a holding out the longest. Then 6d went to the top of the podium with 18d a close second.
    Thanks to tge setter and Mr K.

17. Excellent puzzle I thought – best of the week by some distance. Many answers needed to be teased out from the clues but all were fair and provided a number of “great, got it” moments. Podium places to 6d and 21 d with top spot awarded to 18d.
    Thank you Proximal, very enjoyable. Thanks too to the hard working Mr K. Your illustration to 17d deserves a special mention and gets my vote for chuckle of the day!

18. A rather tricky Friday puzzle this week for me with some clues that needed a lot of thought to suss out.
    All letters used except the usual one sometimes not used.

    2.5*/3.5*

    Favourites include 1a, 13a, 24a, 25a & 3d — with winner 24a

    Thanks to proXimal & Mr K.

19. A cracking Friday puzzle! Fine clues, a toughish challenge and an enjoyable tussle. Favourite: 17d – an excellent reverse lurker. 3.5*/4.5*.

20. I’m off up north to Walsall soon, so an early appearance from me to say thanks to Mr K for the review and to commenters for comments.

    1. Thanks for an excellent workout, Proximal. Hugely enjoyable.

       If Walsall is up north, you must be a very southern southerner.

       Happy travels!

       1. Huh. I regard Bristol as verging on being in the north, so Walsall is definitely up there, Tom!

          1. Fairy nuff, MG.

             Being brought up in Wimbledon and now living in Haywards Heath, I couldn’t agree more.

             I get dizzy when I drive past the Watford Gap.

             I’m guessing that you are south of the A30?

             1. I spent most of my life between sw19 and sw20, and pretty much all my beer drinking took place in Wimbledon Village.

                1. The Hand-in-Hand was my first home for 25 years.

                   What a battleship cruiser!

                   1. Hand in Hand, Crooked Billet, The Swan, The Rose & Crown, The Dog and Fox etc etc

                      1. Good times, Jezza baby.

             2. Anywhere north of Watford is most definitely up north. Apart from which, they all speak differently.

             3. Depends what part of the A30, Tom – I’m south of most of it, north of some of it!

                1. Gosh! You’re a very big person.

             4. I know Hayward’s Heath! I used to stay with a friend there in the late 50s when I was still in Jamaica.

                1. It isn’t too bad a part of the world. One big fat plus is that it’s on a splendid train line (London/Brighton).

                   V handy

             5. You are definitely going up north once you past the Watford Gap….

             6. Hear, hear however I married someone from “oop North” and he wasn’t amused when I mimicked the locals’ Black Country accents.

21. It took a little while to get into this but once I had a foothold (13a and 16a) it all began to flow. Nice lurkers and 17d was brilliant. Also starred 1,6,12a and 8,18d. I didn’t get round to yesterday’s guzzle as I went to a very interesting charity lunch at Madingley Hall – two excellent speakers one talking about Mary Quant with whom she had worked. I won a bottle of champagne in the raffle – anyone like to drop in and share it? I would happily open it for our wonderful Setter & CatHinter.

22. Only managed 1 clue. Definitely above my pay grade!

23. A tad trickier, I felt, unlike some other commentators. That said, slow and steady to completion and a very satisfying feeling when done as each clue was excellent. Desperately wanted 19d to be donkey, irrational but so be it, the answer was far better. Too many contenders for a podium, but cotd goes to the element in 18d that needed electronic confirmation. Thanks to ProXimal and Mr K.

24. Excellent stuff from ProXimal. I didn’t know the French cocktail in 24a so had to check it to complete the parsing. I spotted the ‘X’less pangram but only after completion. Another vote for 18d as cotd. It was only after writing out submission and crossing out all the letters of my answer and leaving 3 ‘S’es that I realised how clever it was. Thanks to ProXimal and Mr. K.

25. Super puzzle, and for me continuing a week of benign back page challenges, as I seemed to tune in from the first clue and the only delay was with 25a – kicking myself when it fell because it’s my sister-in-law’s name … A bit heavy on anagrams, but there were some crackers. Wanted the Welshman’s drink brand to be Brains to remind myself of times long-past sneaking under-age pints of the wonderful brew – I could parse I in Bran but no space or reason for the S, sadly. Highlights were 24a, 19d and the toymaker in 6d.

    ≤1.5* (just for Tom) / 4*

    Many thanks to ProXimal and to MrK

    1. Arrrr, that’s much better. Thank you, MG.

       Have you heard that Brains has fallen off a cliff? A friend who is on the board told me that it’s now worth under £10 mill having been, in its heyday, valued at more than £100 mill.

       1. Haven’t had a pint of Brains for quite a few decades, Tom – but I’m surprised it’s so out of favour, having previously been such a prominent beer in south Wales.

          1. Agreed.

             A pint of bitter is certainly not a popular drink with the yoof of today.

          2. Brains out of favour? Noooo! It sustained us ringers on The Hereford Ringing Course!

             1. Now I just HAVE to know that the Hereford Ringing Course is, Mr C?

       2. I loved this. My only disappointment was that it did not last long enough. I had set myself up for a real struggle, but this was right on my wavelength. Immensely enjoyable.

          1. You’ve shortened your usual alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.

26. Looked at first glance to be quite tricky but solved at a steady pace en route to Aldeburgh. Ditched the home made sandwiches for a delicious Noon Tarts for late lunch. Thanks to all for a great guzzle.

27. Excellent puzzle & best of the week so far in my view & it’s not often I’d say that when Silvanus has featured. Realising it was one of proXimal’s X-less pangrams would certainly helped with last in 18d had I realised a B hadn’t featured elsewhere but actually twigged it from the wordplay as it vaguely rang a bell (from Pointless probably). It did come in handy with the sleeveless jacket though. Ticks all over the shop but if pressed the lush with a cocktail was my favourite just ahead of the reverse lurker at 17d. Back home after a lovely week away & with a couple of Toughies to catch up on.
    Thanks to proXimal & to Mr K.
    Ps Just a thought. I know some of our senior bloggers have CL’s email. Surely he must be aware of the overwhelmingly negative view of the new site.

28. Thanks Proximal and Mr K for the hints. Both very enjoyable. Only you could find a picture of a plane with a picture of a cat on it

29. That was tough, took ages to get through it. Failed to spot 3d was an anagram (of sorts) until I got the first word. Needed to look up 18d because I had all of the crossing letters, knew roughly what it was but didn’t know the actual name. 17d raised a smile although I failed to spot the type of clue that it was so it took much longer to figure out than it should have!

30. I reely, reely, reely enjoyed this! Having said that, it was at the top end of my abilities and required an indecent amount of ehelp and Mr. K’s hints, I even had to reveal the answer to 18d. When I could work out the answers I thought they were all good fun. And, of course, CATS! Thank you so much Mr. K, particularly the 12a cat, but they were all good. It’s hard to pick a fave, 6d was giggle worthy, I like the cocktail, the river went straight in; altogether a fun start to the day.
    Thank you proXimal for the fun and Mr. K for helping me along. I can’t believe I’ve waxed lyrical on a Friday puzzle!

31. I know a lot of people think north of Watford Gap is north. I’ve always thought north of the Trent is only just getting on the right side of middle, still a long way to go, even from Yorkshire, to get to Northumberland. I remember in the 1970’s seeing a ‘mental map’ of our island which showed a very withered attempt at the outline of Scotland with a drawing of a caveman and comment saying ‘ox-carts north of here’.

    1. Love it! 😆

    2. Here be dragons. 😄

32. I approached this with some trepidation, it being Friday and all that usually means. But agreeably surprised that I was able to finish today, especially as I see it is a proXimal creation, something I usually cannot do. However that feeling of euphoria rapidly disappeared with I read the awful news from Moonraker regarding the May 1 closing of the old puzzles site. Well that tells me what little regard the DT has for long time solvers (myself since 1969) who prefer to print and solve. The new site just doesn’t work for that, too small and lots of wasted space. The Guardian and the Canadian Globe and Mail both provide free, truly printable crosswords. I have yet to receive notification, but if this is true, that will be the end of my relationship with the DT. Thanks to proXimal and Mr K. I’m going to miss you all.

    1. Great puzzle today. Good to know that the Guardian does a printable puzzle, might have to change to that if the Telegraph cryptic can no longer be printed ☹️

33. I definitely agree with all the adverse comments about the new, so called “improved” puzzle site. Far too small and fiddly to be fun! Also, my wife was horrified to find that the quickie had been started by me on my iPad when she opened it on hers so she couldn’t do it independently unless I left it alone. Presumably anyone using my friends and family share would encounter the same problem, and with any puzzle, not just the quickie. (We have just confirmed this is the case). Takes away the fun and the competitive element. Please, DT, think again.

34. Not keen on commercial clues such as 11a but others more than make up for this criticism thank you proXimal for a **** challenge and Mr K for explaining things!

35. Some of you may not be aware that Evian backwards is Naive.

    Both can mean pure and untouched.

    There endeth today’s lesson.

    In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti..

    Father Tom

36. All completed but for me very tricky and took a great deal of time and thought. However I am very satisfied to have got there. I needed the hints to parse a couple. Some really excellent clues.

    Many thanks to proXimal and to Mr K for the hints

    I have commented at #8 about the ‘new improved puzzles site’ and did wonder if anyone on here is in a position to feed back to the puzzle editorial team on behalf of the blog, particularly as the ‘feedback ‘ option is not functional!

37. Really enjoyed this challenge today.

    Initially I thought this was going to be a spectacular dnf. But it turned out to be well worth preservering and very pleased to have solved unaided.

    Thanks to all.

38. Emboldened as I am by the postive responses to my first ever comment I’m back to say I found 24a to be a particular problem for a northerner. Dunking and soaking are not synonyms up north. If they were our ginger nuts would not survive the journey from cup to mouth. Dunking is a rapid action involving a short interaction between liquid and object soaking is what you do with you smalls overnight. Otherwise I loved todays puzzle.

    1. You are more than most welcome to this blog with an outstanding analysis like that. 👏👏

       All you need to do now is crank up your alias to that level and we’re good to go.

39. 3*/3* …
    liked 6D “Second toymaker told off and restrained (4-11)”

40. I have lost access to the Big Dave site. Can anyone suggest what to do? It has been a great help and has suddenly disappeared.

    1. The site is back now which is how you were able to post this comment

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