Category: Skylark (EV)
EV 1655 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1655 (Hints)
Assertion by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Seeking comfort on behalf of solvers, I asked ChatGPT, “Do you think that a puzzle by a setter called Skylark is likely to be easier than one set by Pandiculator?”
EV 1642 (Solution)
EV1624 (Setter’s Blog)
EV1611 (Solution)
EV 1611 Hints
Enigmatic Variations 1611 (Hints)
Footsteps by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Hoping to make my task a little easier, I asked Bard “What is the theme of a crossword puzzle called Footsteps likely to be?” The response was:
To narrow down the possible themes, it would be helpful to see the crossword puzzle itself. However, based on the name of the puzzle, the theme is likely to be something related to movement, travel, or exploration. Here are some examples of theme answers for a crossword puzzle called “Footsteps”:
- Footprints in the sand
- One small step for man
- The road less travelled
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
- Follow the footsteps of giants
We shall find out later how helpful this proved to be.
EV 1593 (Solution)
EV 1593 Hints
Enigmatic Variations 1593 (Hints)
Apparently by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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When I provided hints for her last EV, Skylark was kind enough to explain the origin of her pseudonym, chosen because as a youngster she was entranced by Errol Garner’s rendition of the Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael song of that name. Since we will be searching for names in the completed grid, Mercer’s closing couplet may well be relevant: “So if you see them anywhere / Won’t you lead me there?”
EV 1569 (Solution)
EV 1569 Hints
Enigmatic Variations 1569 (Hints)
Coexistence by Skylark
Hints and tips by Phibs
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I’d like to tell you where the pseudonym Skylark comes from, but I can’t. Is she perhaps a diminutive songster, or someone who enjoys the occasional drop of a blithe spirit? Or could the fact that Chambers gives the verb ‘skylark’ as meaning ‘to trick’ be relevant? I’m hoping that our setter might come to my assistance…
…which she has very kindly done – see the first comment below. A much better reason for choosing the name than any of my suggestions!