Comments on: Guardian 23937/Pasquale - pretty tough for a weekday puzzle

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Pasquale — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 11:46:08 +0000

Thanks for all the feedback. It was mine in The Times yesterday as well. Both puzzles were deemed ‘tough’ but I reckon Nestor ( my new unknown Indy colleague) ‘out-toughed’ me. Easier stuff from me today in the FT and the Daily Telegraph.

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tilsit — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 03:45:18 +0000

Mea culpa for Indy - could not get on line to post!

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Peter Owen — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 23:22:50 +0000

2D: Is the reference to passengers getting off trains at Didcot station?

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Fletch — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:18:02 +0000

Maybe not, I just think of adjacent as being side by side and working better with an across clue.

No Indy blog today?

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michod — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:07:37 +0000

I don’t see any problem with ‘adjacent to’ in a down clue - a given square can be adjacent to four others, two vertically and two horizontally.

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Fletch — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:51:40 +0000

While we’re being picky, I wasn’t sure about the use of ‘adjacent to’ in a down clue (19d). But that could have more to do with the fact I know this setter to be very particular.

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ilancaron — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:42:14 +0000

speaking of TA+KINGS in 14D, what role do Joseph and Mary play there other than make the surface more sensible (as links to the Wise Men)? I mean wouldn’t the clue have been equally valid and vastly simpler as: “Grateful response to Wise Men for gifts?”

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BenIngton — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:42:50 +0000

Thanks Peter. Judging by the way the Ashes are going, my mind must obviously be subconsciously blocking out all thoughts of cricket…

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petebiddlecombe — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:58:36 +0000

19A: Maiden = M (cricket), amorous = warm.

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BenIngton — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:36:08 +0000

A real toughie - much pouring over atlas to get most of the names.

Still don’t understand 19 ac though answer was obviously ‘war’