DT 30861

62 comments on “DT 30861”

1. A lovely guzzle from Ray T with a variety of clues making for an enjoyable solve. I haven’t heard of the word at 24a but it was gettable from the clue. I still had to use the BRB to confirm my answer was correct. I thought 23d had great misdirection because it made me go through “toot”, “tuneful”, “jazzy” etc. until the bread arrived. 5a with its “insensible from drink” took me far too long to solve and I groaned aloud when it came to me.

   My COTD is the rubbish lampblack at 6d.

   Thank you, Ray T for a fun challenge. Thank you, Shabbo for the hints.

   Beautiful sunny day in The Marches but I’m stuck indoors marking essays!

   1. Bah humbug Steve! Freezing 2C here and windy and raining!

      1. Oh, I didn’t say it was warm, Manders just that it’s sunny. Mind you, we are a little better than your area because we have 8C and the weather station says it is going to rain. It will no doubt do so just as Hudson and I have set off on our walk.

   2. What’s BRB?

      1. Chamber’s Dictionary. It’s big and red so is known as the Big Red Book – BRB. 😊

         1. Thanks, I don’t have one, I assume I can get one online

      2. BRB = Big red book (dictionary)

      3. Thanks, I don’t have one, I assume I can get one online

         1. You can indeed. I use my online version every day.

            1. £9.99 bargain

         2. The Chambers Dictionary and Thesaurus are my favourite apps too. Available on Android and Apple

   3. You see the word in US legal dramas when the attorney has a conflict of interests and asks to be *******
      But I think it’s used in the UK too.
      A nice RayT today **/***
      Thanks to all.

      1. Mostly see it in the US when a judge 24a himself, as he has an existing connection with those involved.

2. Excellent, best puzzle of the week for me, plenty of misdirection and alternative meanings.
   2* / 5*
   Thanks to setter + Shabbo
   Favourites 4a, 16d and 17d

3. I found Ray T in a fairly friendly mood today with a couple of exceptions which cause me to get some electronic help.
   I entered the wrong answer for 8D at first before I deciphered the clue correctly. Lots to like but I’ll plump for the nail in 13 for the podium.

   Off to Harvington Hall later to explore the plethora of priest holes.

   Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

4. This didn’t have as much sparkle as RayT’s usual masterpieces but was still a pleasant solve.

   I flew through it but got bogged down in Tyne & Wear.

   My podium is 15a, 27a and 1d.

   Many thanks to Raymundo and Shabbo.

   3*/3*

   1. I think you may have been in danger of bumping into Brian in that part of the kingdom.

      1. I would luuuuuv to meet Brian as I am fascinated to see what he’s like.

5. Very gentle and so enjoyable from the master of cruciverbal brevity (with sweetheart & queen both appearing, other tells IMV are the inclusion of an acrostic, a homophone, and a lurker) and no obscure ‘G’K required. What’s not to like? A Thursday that should have a certain regular commenter purring, giving Silvanus has set the Toughie today)!

   COTD 23a, with 20a and & 9a.

   Many thanks to RayT and Shabbo

   1. Definitely purring, Mustafa!

6. Other than a dictionary confirmation of 24a, the rest flowed very nicely.
   My last in were 1a,1d in that order; I was foolishly looking for a 2-letter queen!
   Thanks to RayT and to Shabbo.

   1. I initially “erred” with 1a as well.

      Enjoyable puzzle. Thanks to setter and hinter.

7. Lampblack! A new word to me but a delicious one. I can almost hear Richard Burton proclaiming it from a poem by Dylan Thomas.
   I shall use it at every opportunity. “You’ll need a torch out there. It’s a lampblack night.”

   Enjoyable guzzle. A little beyond me, so I needed Shabbo’s help (7d) to get me going again.

   Good grief! It isn’t raining.

   Thanks to Ray T and Shabba-dabba-doo

   1. You are right, El Tel. Lampblack is indeed a splendid word.

      The committee didn’t think long and hard about what to call this black stiff that’s found in an oil lamp. I guess they wanted to catch last orders at their local battle cruiser.

8. I found this a little harder than a regular Ray T Thursday puzzle, but it was all the more enjoyable for it. As always with his crosswords it is almost impossible to pluck a winner from the air, but I will go for 6d. Top entertainment all round.

   Thanks to Mr T and Shabbo.

9. My previous comment seems to have vanished so suffice to say lovely puzzle & Silvanus over in the other place excellent too. Plenty of ticks & grateful to 23d for prompting the playing of a few great oldies
   Thanks to Ray T & to Shabbo

   1. Terrific!

10. The sun is showing its face and I’ve got the pleasure of another Dream Team day in crosswordland so all’s well with the world – as long as I turn my back on the pile of ironing that’s trying to catch my attention!
    Couple of pauses for thought for me in this puzzle but nothing to bring me out in a cold sweat. Rosettes handed out to 4a which may well be a chestnut but always makes me laugh, plus 11,15&24a.

    Devotions, naturally, to Mr T and thanks to Shabbo for the review and cheery cartoon figures.

    1. Your domestic workload is clearly decreasing, Jane.

11. A fun puzzle with a lovely mix of clues, some of which needed checking as I met new words (lampblack) or meanings. The anagrams were trickier than some as the synonyms were not the first ones to spring to my mind. I liked the well disguised lurker at 17d.

    Many thanks to Ray T and to Shabbo for the hints.

12. Idudnt fund rhis guzzle as straightforward as Shabbo and most others but , after I had haltingly filled in a handful of clues in meach each corner, rhe rest of the puzzle fell into place quickly. I liked the anagram at 1d, rhe kego xlue at 16d and the well-misdirected 6d. Thanks ro Shabbbo for the hints and to Ray T (?) For a chewily enjoyable crossword.

13. Fairly gentle fare from Mr T today with his usual entertainment – thanks to him and Shabbo.
    My ticks went to 12a, 23a and 2d.

14. 2*/5*. What is there to say but typically RayT and typically excellent.

    My long list of top picks is: 4a, 12a, 15a, 23a, 24a, 26a, 5d & 25d.

    Many thanks to him and to Shabbo.

    And now for the Silvanus Toughie…

15. Just what I needed after a very busy day which included a very pleasant lunch with friends. A very entertaining and enjoyable challenge from Mr T – **/****

    Candidates for favourite – 4a, 24a, and 23d – and the winner is 24a.

    Thanks to Ray T and Shabbo.

16. It’s Thursday and Ray T. True to form, Mr T has proved to be my crossword nemesis. One day I might find one of his puzzles as straightforward as others have found today. Hey ho, I’ll keep practicing and taking the tablets. I needed Shabbo’s hints on a few to get me to a completed grid. Much to admire, between gritted teeth at times. 6d is my cotd. Thanks to Ray T and especially Shabbo for the needed hints.

17. I found this harder than most others seem to have done, but clever and enjoyable – I particularly liked 12a….

18. Lovely – RayT on top, top form. 15a, 23a and 28a were particularly splendid. Many thanks to him and Shabbo.

    1. Good afternoon, Alpingtons. Long time no personal speak.

       I’ve only just spotted your emoji.

       Talk me through it….

       1. Ha, it has been a while, yes. Don’t know what I’ve been doing with my time! Tis Karl Korab’s Marionette, as seen on an early cover of (arguably) the best British novel of all time..

          

          1. The best novel of all time? That is praise indeed.

             How can I not now read it.

             1. It is simply magnificent. If you don’t love it, you’re dead to me!

                1. Haven’t read it in years & was sure I had a copy but can’t lay my hands on it. Trust you never bothered with the 🎥 which was a complete mess despite Fowles adapting the screenplay

                   1. I have, sadly. Fowles also had a cameo in it as a fisherman and even that couldn’t save it. Woody Allen once said that if he had his life all over again, he’d do everything exactly the same … except for watching The Magus. Which, when you consider what he has done, is a bold claim indeed. To be fair, Fowles was very embarrassed by his screenplay. But I am looking forward to Mendes’ take. Hopefully he’ll do the “unfilmable” book justice with his mini-series.

                      1. I thought that was Peter Sellers who said that.
                         Hadn’t heard of the Mendes company production – just read that they’ve got Johan Renck possibly lined up to direct & he did a terrific job with Chernobyl

                         1. Yes, the early signs are very good indeed. But then the film, initially, looked set to be a winner. Screenplay by Fowles and starring Caine, Quinn and Bergen. But as you say, twas an absolute dogs dinner. Re the quote, maybe Sellers said it too. Sort of thing he would have said. But, double-checking, I just found this on t’internet..
                            “I’d do everything the same except watch The Magus” is a quote by Woody Allen about the 1968 film adaptation of John Fowles’ novel of the same name.

                   2. I remain obsessed with The Magus, 40 years since reading it for the first time – as my cycling top shows. Note the quote on the right sleeve!

                      

                2. Love it!

          2. Not the best British novel of all time nor his best novel in my opinion. Not appreciated in this country but hugely admired in the USA his best for me is Daniel Martin. As for the best British novel of all time the jury is still out but a very strong contender would be Middlemarch.

             1. You know, I’m pretty sure Fowles would have agreed with you re Middlemarch, though he was very fond of Great Expectations too. Daniel Martin is excellent, I agree. Fowles himself said he wrote DM as “Nicholas Urfe, grown up”. Trouble is, having never grown up myself, I never wanted Nicholas to either!

19. I really enjoyed this. 24a was a new word for me but well clued.

    Top picks for me were 6d, 28a, 4a and 15a.

    Thanks to Shabbo and Ray T.

    A sunny day in the Bristol area but there is now a large black cloud above so I imagine yet more rain is coming soon.

20. Another great fortnightly visit from RayT with this precisely defined and a well clued offering. I just seem to click with his puzzles. Lots of fun and as I say, great clueing, with his usual brevity. Nice to see the queen and sweetheart put in an appearance too.

    1*/5* for me

    Favourites 1a, 11a, 4d, 6d, 17d & 23d — with co-winners 6d & 23d

    Thanks to RayT for this great puzzle & Shabbo for hints/blog

21. 2*/4*
    Excellent as always on a Thursday. 16d my pick of the bunch.
    Thanks to all.

22. Yes, pretty gentle but definitely worth the time spent, not least for the excellent 23d. Thanks very much to the setter and to Shabbo for the hints.

23. Being rather ignorant regarding setters it was obvious to moi that this was a Ray T so I braced myself. Got half done and then had to go to KnitterNatter. Confusion reigned as I was using an American knitting pattern and like crossword addicts it was good to have hints on the meaning. Straight from there to a lecture on the Gut Microbiome. I help to run a healthy eating class with recipe demos so this was really important. Came home and rejoiced that for once got through a Ray T unaided. Perhaps this was a slightly kinder example. Favourites 20 an and 6 d.
    My grandmother would resort to lampblack to give herself fascinating eyes. Much rejoicing and thanks today.

24. Definitely got my contrary hat on this week, as the days I usually struggle have been doable and today, when I usually get along with RayT, I am staring too many empty boxes. We hear 24a a lot over here, so I was surprised it was not well known in the UK. But it is a perfect morning here, sun shining, birds singing, and enjoyed a lovely walk in 70F before breakfast, so not finishing the crossword is not going to affect that. Even better is that Peter has breakfast ready when I return 😊. Thanks for RayT and Shabbo.

25. This took me well into 3* time, with 12a being LOI – just couldn’t get it. This puzzle certainly was a challenge, but even so I greatly enjoyed it. 23d sent me in the wrong direction as I put in ‘pipes’ (as in bagpipes?!). However soon realised the two p’s were not compatible with 23 and 26 across. I loved the variety of clues and favourites included 9a, 20a and 17d. Thanks to RayT for the excellent mental workout and to Shabbo for the much needed hints.

26. A beautiful day in The Cotswolds, with a splendid crossword to tackle before arising from my nest this morning.
    Thank you Ray T and Shabbo.

27. Good evening

    Far be it from me to disagree with our esteemed blogger, and with many of you above, but today’s crozzie was definitely a fourser, not a twoser, no bloomin way!

    All right, I’m a bit rusty. I missed yesterday’s crozzie – and Tuesday’s, owing to being on removal-man duty for my daughter as she got settled into her new house, and I need to stretch my braincell daily. I really struggled to find a way in, and as the answers began to reveal themselves gradually, I still felt, up to the very last moment that the NE quadrant was going to beat me. I can’t believe it took me so long to tumble to 4a!

    Some terrific clueing from the Mighty Mr. T, as always. Time, tea, and my Lucky Green Pen eventually saw me through. I nominate 17d and 6d as joint COTD.

    Many thanks to the MMT and to Shabbo.

28. Oh dear! I’m afraid I didn’t have my Rayt head this evening, each time I got another one I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it earlier. After a lot of forehead slapping and just the NE left, I finished with indecent haste making me wonder what I’d been messing about at. I enjoyed this but I was frustrated at myself for making such hard work of it. 24a is quite common in the UK where someone 24a’s themselves from decision making or influence due to a vested interest or bias, something that has notably not happened a couple of times recently (think Chagos). Favourite was 28a. Thanks to Rayt and Shabbo.

29. Afternoon all! With apologies for my extreme tardiness, my thanks to Shabbo for the decryption and to all for your comments.

    RayT

    1. Better late then never, Mr T. Always good to hear from you!

30. 3*/4* …
    liked 24A “Grass protecting copper’s removed from case (7)”

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