Comments on: Financial Times 13,245 / Viking

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:48:43 +0000

And ‘creamed rice came for pudding’: well, goodness me, tut tut. I don’t know how they get away with it. I shall now try to write one that ISN’T rude for ‘casement’.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:38:46 +0000

The chances of someone being offended by that are in the range infinitesimal to extremely small, at the very most, I’d say, though it’s always amusing when unanticipated double entendres appear…

By: Viking

Viking — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:59:40 +0000

I think I had better put it on record that the surface reading alluded to in 8D was not what was intended, though I admit it now screams out at me. I was trying, rather lamely I fear, to describe someone accessing some part of deepest Africa through a missionary contact. So, apologies to any who might have been offended.

By: nmsindy

nmsindy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:09:48 +0000

Yes, Viking is a very distinguished name in the crossword world. Inter alia, Viking is the “second vetter” for the Listener series in the Times, ie in the world of ‘advanced puzzles’ as mentioned by Smiffy above. Viking is also the “webmaster” for the Listener website (www.listenercrossword.com)
Retirement from full time work in recent times, has, I understand, given Viking a little more time for setting, hence these excellent puzzles in the FT, also one recently in the Inquisitor series in the Independent.

By: smiffy

smiffy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:29:29 +0000

I believe that Viking is an even bigger cheese in the world of advanced puzzles than in the realms
of the FT.

I can’t let the incredibly prurient clue at 8D pass by completely without comment. A candidate for the annual “Naughty but Nice” awards.

By: walruss

walruss — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:16:38 +0000

I wonder who Viking is. A very good writer I think.

By: shuchi

shuchi — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:22:00 +0000

Thanks for the comments. 26a looks much better with your explanation, Gaufrid.

By: Gaufrid

Gaufrid — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:14:48 +0000

Hi shuchi

I read 26a as: FOL[k] (people almost) in END (close).
In 1d I think the definition is ‘land’ as in if you land someone with a problem you saddle them with it.

By: C.G. Rishikesh

C.G. Rishikesh — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:05:47 +0000

6d: ‘bible class’ is ‘religious instruction’ (RI).