DT 30836

82 comments on “DT 30836”

1. Enjoyed this one so **/****. Really liked the well hidden reverse lurker at 6d. 1a was my COTD and I do like that clever use of number. 1d was my last one in and I felt a right fool when the penny dropped. Thank you to our hinter and setter.

2. I see the “enhanced” printing options have been reintroduced today.

   I hope they work for window/Mac/IOS/Android etc users, but they still don’t work on Linux (grid prints entirely black, even the white bits). So no crossword for me today.

   I’ve complained to customer services and will post an update here if I get one.

   1. What percentage of users do you reckon use Linux to print the puzzle phisheep?

      1. Well, there’s 2 of us in these comments already. If about 50 different people comment today (it was 48 last Wednesday), that would be 4% of us. Which admittedly isn’t high, but it’s still going to be several thousand people of all Telegraph Crossword solvers.

   2. I use Linux, and it has printed perfectly for me, using Firefox.

      Lots of improvements today: as well as ink saving, after completing Sorted you can now browse back through all the questions, not just the final one; and setter names (on Toughie and Cross Atlantic Puzzles) are back in the ‘…’ menu again on narrower windows — no need to temporarily stretch the window out sideways to find out who wrote the puzzle.

      Thank you to all the techies and the Telegraph Puzzles team who made these improvements happen.

      

      1. Ooh, interesting. I’m using Firefox on Linux Mint and it’s not doing that. Maybe there is something in settings somewhere. Thank you.

         I may have to apologise to customer services.

         1. Good luck getting it sorted, Phisheep. I’m running Firefox 134.0.1 on Ubuntu 22.04, and since Linux Mint is derived from Ubuntu (or they are both derived from Debian?), I would expect it to be similar enough to work the same. Have you tried printing to PDF and seeing what that’s like?

            Given I suspect much of my previous paragraph is incomprehensible jargon to most commenters here, it might be best to move any further tech chat elsewhere. If you comment on Monday’s hints post, that’ll give me your email address and we can try to work out what’s going on.

   3. Oh dear, how aggravating. Thankfully the “printing options” didn’t appear today when printed using IOS, or I too would be pulling out my hair. I hope I don’t wake up to that problem tomorrow, and that your problem gets fixed. As to comment below, I am sure across the globe there are many, many users across many different platforms.

3. A very gentle yet enjoyable midweek 9d from whoever the setter may be.

   This is one of my favourite grids as there are no four letter jobbies and the checkers in the five letter ones are 1, 3 and 5.

   I do like the use of ‘flipping’ as it’s an excellent word and a very handy tool for setters. Nice to see ‘Senf the Brit’ getting a nod in 23a.

   Plenty to choose from but I’ll go with 8a for its construction, 24a and 19d.

   Many thanks to the compiler and Senf

   2*/5*

4. 23a is my favourite, with ‘second to free’. The poetry in 5d makes its third appearance of the week — and it’s only Wednesday! Like Nas, 1d was my last in. Overall it felt more straightforward than Wednesdays often are.

   Thank you to Senf and the setter.

   Later I’m going to try the Toughie from Weatherman, whom I met on Saturday completely unaware that he was also Amoeba of Rookie Corner fame!

   1. The Toughie is a lovely puzzle, Smylers (as I have said below) and well worth the effort.

   2. Thank you Smylers for naming the toughie setter; I always like to know who the setter is before I decide whether to have a look or not. Unfortunately I cannot increase my screen resolution enough on my monitor to see the name of the setter, so I am reliant on information such as yours before I make my decision whether to waste my ink or not. I will print it off now.

      1. Today’s your lucky day, Jezza! As of this morning’s changes, the Toughie setter’s name is available on the Puzzles site, even for those with small screens or narrower windows. Click on the ‘…’ menu in the top-right, and the setter is (pseudo)named at the bottom.

         

         1. It’s not my lucky day. I have the same screen as you, but my screen doesn’t show anything underneath compiler.
            As I said… it’s a screen resolution problem. If the compiler was positioned higher up, I would be able to see it.

            1. Oh, I see. My apologies. Until yesterday screens needed to be a certain width to see setters’ names, so I was thinking horizontal resolution rather than vertical.

5. 2*/4*. I enjoyed this and agree with Senf that it was entertaining and reasonably straightforward.

   Many thanks to the setter (whose name I am not prepared to try and guess) and to Senf.

6. Great to see the ink saver option is back, take that Bill and Dave!

   Chalk and cheese compared to yesterday’s puzzle, this had it all, general knowledge, anargams, lurkers, the lot, the only bit I wasn’t keen on was the first part of 18a, sandwich?, not in my world chum.

   The answer to 3d always makes me think of The Kursaal Flyers line, ‘She was sharing her spin-dry, with a guy in a tie-dye’ pure brilliance!

   My two favourites (from many) today were 20a, my last one in, and 9d, great fun all round, many thanks Mr Setter, a gem.

7. Good fun. No particular hold ups although wasn’t sure about the synonym for suggesting at 24a.
   2*/4*
   1a fav today
   Thanks to senf and setter

   1. Hi SL8

      The synonym works for me.

      Romford’s finest, Leslie Charles, sang that ‘Red Light *****s Danger

   2. With you on 24a – even with Tom’s explanation

8. It took me quite some time to work out why 1a was a number. Very good, as is 23a. Thanks to the setter for an enjoyable puzzle, which fell into place reasonably easily after a slow start, and to Senf for the blog.

9. I was also held up by 1d and had to check the hints to confirm I had it correct. I thought it was a bit weak if I’m honest which is why I was unsure I had it right. Sorry to be negative but it was my only gripe in an otherwise excellent puzzle.

   Thank you to the setter and to Senf for confirming 1d

   1. I am with you Matthew – I had all the letters and thought of Airsick but didn’t make any sense.

10. Thoroughly enjoyable mid week puzzle, not too taxing but sufficiently challenging to exercise the little grey cells. 1a went straight in and steady progress was made without notable hold-ups. My paper is littered with ticks and I’ll choose 18d as favourite because I took a while to parse it. Podium places for 18a, great misdirection, and, unusually for me, the anagram at 13d, because it’s such a lovely word! Thanks to our setter and Senf.

11. Fairly straightforward. I was only held up a little in the North East corner for some reason. Top clues are 12a, 15a and 3d. LOI was 1d. Thanks to the setter and for the hints. Also noticed that the ink saver option is back👍

12. A steady solve today for me . I’m glad the printer options are back too.

    Top picks for me were 23a, 9d and 21d.

    Thanks to Senf and the setter.

13. Good fun – thanks to our setter and Senf.
    My rosettes are pinned on 8a, 24a and 7d.

14. A gentle and undemanding start to the morning, quite a few hours ago now. Good surfaces, all GK very accessible.

    Many thanks to the setter and to Senf

    ** Today’s Toughie is approachable, fun, has some very clever clueing, and comes from one of our very own “Rookie Corner” Graduates. If you’re not a regular to the “inside puzzle pages” I urge you to give it a try! **

15. A fine and enjoyable puzzle today

    I don’t use the printing options – I use my tablet to complete all puzzles.
    However, there has been an update to the puzzles site yesterday that has removed all of my history. Upon completing the Toughie yesterday and both the Quickie and Cryptic today, I have received messages congratulating me on completion of my first puzzle in each category.

    I have reported the issue to Customer Services and they have told me that they will look into it.

    I was wondering if anyone else has had the same issue

    1. I got a banner congratulating me on completing my first Sorted puzzle, but not on anything else. Presumably it’s just the first since today’s technical changes; given that the same screen proclaiming this was my first Sorted also claims I’m on a streak of 43 consecutive solves, I don’t think it has actually lost history.

       If you go into the crossword archive (on the Puzzles site home page, go to the bottom where it says ‘More Puzzles’ and choose ‘Crosswords’) and scroll down to the calendar, hopefully it still shows which days’ puzzles you have completed? It does for me.

       1. Thanks for the reply, Smylers

          I have checked the archive and only the puzzles I have done since yesterday afternoon are ticked as completed.

          Everything before that is shown as not started and when I open the earlier puzzles from the archive grid they are shown as empty grids, even though I have completed every Cryptic , Prize Cryptic, Quickie and most Toughies ( except for some Fridays) for the past 4 years.

          1. Hi, I have the same problem with the history having gone. I’ve contacted them and they have said it is being looked into. Their suggestion of logging out and in again had no effect. I also said I was pleased that the printing options have been reintroduced. They replied to say that that was an error and they have removed them again!

    2. Hello JoSelecta,

       I had the same thing happen with my history. Having completed (or attempted) Cryptic and Quick Crossword puzzles for well over 18 months and the PlusWord, Moderate and Tough sudokus nearly every day – today I completed them all for the first time.

       I, too, have contacted support by contact form. I had an email back saying that they are very busy. I wonder why…

       1. Thanks for the reply, Miles
          I spoke to someone by text via the chat line last night.
          He confirmed that he could see the problem and would pass it on to their technical services.
          Hopefully it will be resolved soon

    3. Hi JS – I also complete on the tablet but don’t seem to be affected by the update. Having been forced onto the app when the puzzles went from the digital edition (& moaned like hell) I must say I’ve quite got used to it now. One minor irritation (though it matters not a jot as I certainly don’t share scores) is that your sequence is broken if the puzzle isn’t completed on the day. Hope that they resolve it for you

16. A lovely puzzle to match what could nearly be a spring day today. I thought the lurker in 6d was very well hidden and the anagrams were very good. 1d was last in and took a while to figure out.

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

    1. I really enjoyed this. A bit harder than Monday and Tuesday, thankfully, as these were perhaps a little too easy.

       Some lovely clues, especially the backwards lurker and 1a. The number always gets me!

17. A lot of pondering required but I eventually solved it in the opticians awaiting my eye test. I always forget that particular meaning of “number” and I was a dentist! The Gospel music at 7d was fun but my COTD is the dying off at 1d.

    Thank you, setter for the fun challenge. Thank you Senf for the hints and I hope you have an uneventful journey.

    When I came to pay for my new glasses, I was asked for only half the cost. When I queried it I was told the assistant who did my preliminary tests had noticed she had the same date of birth as I and gave my a 50% voucher because of it!

    1. Flying! – Should have gone to Specsavers.

18. Goodness knows how Senf is managing to keep up his schedule of bringing us hints and reviews in the midst of his whistle-stop visit back to the ‘old country’ but I do applaud his dedication to the blog.
    Today’s puzzle did have a slightly different feel to it so I’m guessing that it could well have been penned by one of our less familiar back-page setters so Hudson or Karla sounds like a reasonable call. 1d made me laugh and my top three were 21a plus 4&7d.

    Thanks to our setter – please do pop in to say ‘hello’ and also to Senf for the review – hope your journey today isn’t hampered by flood water.

    1. Not only flying round the south of England, guzzling and hinting but also picking up strange old ladies on station platforms! A man of many parts.

       1. I don’t recall seeing that particular talent listed in his CV – must ensure that it gets added!

19. A very approachable guzzle for a Wednesday and, since my husband is unwell and very sleepy, I have filled the time while I have been visiting him at the care home with the Quickie and Toughie. Both can be recommended. In the Xryptic, I liked the 1a number and the 7d saying. The geographical clue at 16d and the literary one at 13d were also fun. Thanks to Senf and the setther

    1. I’m sorry to hear your husband is unwell, it is awful to feel helpless. Take care of yourself as well.

       1. Thanks Daisy. His epilepsy hs made a reappearance, which might account for the sleepiness. The peripheral neuropathy is now atacking his fingers to, having rendered his legs totally numb. I try to stay there until midday most days to help him eat lunch. Some days he is lively and chatty. Today was a grumoy sday.

    2. Oh dear, I am sorry to hear that Chriscross. I can only echo Daisy’s comment.

    3. Very sorry to hear Chriscross – try to keep your chin up as they say though not easy I’m sure

    4. I am so sorry, Chriscross to hear your hubby is not well. A trying time for you so do take care of yourself. 🌹

20. 2*/3* for us.
    Nice gentle puzzle but with some neat clues.
    I’m with SL8 on 24a – even after Tom’s explanation.
    COD – 1a & 1d which seemed fox a few people.
    Thank you Senf and setter.

21. 18a brought The Hollies to mind:

    Ah that crossword I enjoyed it
    Wind and rain and shine
    And that thesaurus I employed it
    Synonyms made me whine.

22. Utterly lovely, with zingers all over the shop. 1a was a lovely way to start, 8a’s incredibly neat and 24a’s fun. Even 1d grew on me hugely. Many thanks to our setter and Senf.

23. I agree that this was sheer fun. I guessed an aster was going to appear in 9d but was not so sure about the piece. But otherwise so smart and very hard to chose a winner. I’m now wise to the word ‘number’ and have even become suspicious of Harry! I’ve still got time to turn to the toughie and it will make a change from tacking it in bed. I’ve just eaten, so I discover, M’nS roast beef dated sell by 31st Dec. Of course it’s OK said G. Hope to see you all tomorrow. Many thanks to messes Setter & Senf.

24. Not messes. You know what I mean.

25. Good afternoon

    I’m sat sitting in the back of my brother’s car on the M1, en route to God’s Country and a family funeral tomorrow. As exiled Morpeth gadgies, we will be looking forward to a couple of jars in The Joiners the neet!

    So to the crozzie: a good, enjoyable solve with just enough braincell stretching. I particularly liked 1a, and COTD has to go to the superb 6d. The parsing of 7d almost eluded me.

    Many thanks to our setter and to Senf.

26. Thought I was going to struggle to start with but everything soon fell into place. Really enjoyed todays puzzle, top clues 6d and 15a
    2* / 3*
    Thanks to setter + Senf
    Also liked quickie pun which reminded my of that so bad it was good comedy/ kids program

27. Looks like for us Safari users, the issue has been fixed on the printing where formatting was wrong and the saving of ink didn’t work properly. Only with ink saving it is hard to see the clue numbers, but that is easy fixed with a pencil.
    Nice Wednesday offering again this week. Couple of religious sounding clues, (but not necessarily so), so stay calm Brian.

    1.5*/3.5* for me

    Favourites 1a, 15a, 20a, 23a, 3d & 7d — with winner 1a even though a chestnut kinda clue.
    Smiles for 23a, 3d, 18d & 21d

    Thanks to setter & Senf

28. A steady and enjoyable solve from start to finish. Only one hiccup caused by an overenthusiastic answer to 21d. Note to self, Rtfq. My Cotd today is 16d, but there were many contenders. Thanks to compiler and Senf.

29. A slow start, followed by slow progress. Just couldn’t get on wavelength, and my only way was to work with the few checkers, ignore the clues, and hopefully arrive at the right answers. Sometimes worked, sometimes didn’t. Chasing the wrong definition doesn’t help. Nor do any cricket related clues. But very happy that I didn’t get the dreaded printing options as they made it impossible to print with IOS last time. Hoping it stays ok for tomorrow. Thanks to setter and “always goes the extra mile” Senf.

30. Food for Thought – a warm hub where easy recipes are demonstrated by anyone who cares to contribute. Rocked up there with most of the puzzle done. Off to aquarobics and finished what was a most pleasant puzzle after all the thrashing about in the water.
    Loved 3 d. Getting the answers was less of a problem than doing the parsing. Found that to be particularly so with this puzzle. Going out tonight for an RSPB talk on Eagles. All in all a pretty good day so thanks all round.

    1. Yesterday you talked about your local NADFAS/Arts Society. Golly, we don’t have meals like that! We have recently had to change our venue to a sixth form college and can no longer have a glass of wine before the lecture 😢 but it’s a great organisation, we get super lecture don’t we.

31. Thank you DT for restoring my faith in your grading system, after returning from a pleasant day out in Cambridge just dipping my toe in the water after spending a considerable time on the last two “easy” puzzles, voila job done 🍷 😎 **/**** Favourites 8a, 5d, 6d and 9d 🤗 Many thanks to the unknown Compiler and of course to Senf👍

    1. You had a fairly decent day for your visit didn’t you? 🙂

       1. We sure did 😃

32. Very enjoyable, especially 1d. Thanks to Senf and setter.

33. Very enjoyable but went into *** time because of 1a … keep forgetting that number can mean something else. Thank you compiler and Senf

34. Was on wavelength with 1a quite quickly which helped enormously. Had a few head-scratching moments where I got the answer but was slow to parse. Missed the backwards lurker in 6d. Many thanks to the setter and Senf. Do hope you manage to enjoy some sunny weather before you return home, Senf. You must be quite tired from all the travelling and yet still take the time to help us. You deserve a medal!

35. Twmbarlwm has claimed todays puzzle on X! Hopefully he will pop into see all the positive comments.

    1. Rather surprises me that it’s one of his but well done to him.

       1. I agree, Jane. I’m also surprised it is Tumbledown. Either he is toning down or I am “ getting on his wavelength” so to speak.
          Either way, it was an enjoyable solve.

          1. Agreed. I used to think I could spot his puzzles but last week I thought he was Silvanus & certainly didn’t think this one was one of his.

36. A gentle and enjoyable solve today , completed without too much head scratching. Thanks MG for todays toughie heads up. I sometimes pick random ones to have a go – sometimes I can finish them , sometimes I can’t so will give this one a stab. Thanks to setter and Senf .

37. As straightforward as they come for a Wednesday. My biggest hold up was, no not breaking my pencil, but my inability to spell 1a (I had all the right letters but not necessarily in the right order) making 2d a challenge to say the least. Favourite was 7d, for the difficulty in parsing as much as anything, and Senf.

38. After yesterday’s somewhat disappointing puzzle this one (a bit like the weather) was much more like it. A quick grid fill but with a couple of parsing head scratches at 17&18d. Last in was the Dada/Paul-esque 1d which grew on me. Ticks for 8,12&24a plus 7,13&18d. Very enjoyable.
    Thanks to the setter & to Senf – as Jane says I don’t know where you find the time.
    Ps Unless I’ve missed his comment we haven’t heard from Terence for a week, since his hat-trick of unaided finishes. Hope all ok & that he’s off enjoying sunnier climes.

39. A pleasant plod today – got held up on 1a as I’d forgotten the alternative definition of number. It was a real ‘doh’ moment. More exciting though, was that today I finished the toughie for the first time! A small compensation after we walked all the way down the hill for some delicious cake only to find the cafe closed!

40. A fine puzzle, completed easily but with ?s all over the place so thanks to Senf for the explanations! No particular favourite but 1a stands out for the surface reading.

41. Very enjoyable. Best for me so far this week. Thank you setter and Senf. Excuse my inferior brain, but I don’t get 1a 🫣. Could one of the superior brains (aka all of you) lend their wisdom in that on. Much obliged.

    1. Just got it!!! Doh!!

42. Thanks to Senf for the review, and to all commenters and solvers.

    1. And thank you, Mr T.

       Another excellent crossy hits the back of the net.

       Keep ’em coming!

43. Hi, I still don’t understand how 18D works from the clue, I see the B for bishop but can’t see the synonym of name or the abbreviated form of a good sort, can someone explain to me so it doesn’t annoy me for days 😀

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

       18d A reversal of NAME (call) and B(ishop) containing ST (saint, good sort) so B E (ST) MAN.

44. 3*/4* ….
    liked 21A “Pursue husband in court action (5)”

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