We are relishing every puzzle we solve and blog in the Independent at the moment.
We always enjoy Phi’s puzzles and this was no exception. A couple of new words and a lack of general knowledge meant that we needed to check a few entries. The clues were clear though so we were pretty sure we had the correct answer.
What is not so clear is whether we have a theme today. We did wonder whether the various potential surnames (Watson, Lewis, Lyttleton, Idle, Bunter, Hastings, Goodwin, Havers (and Mercury?) might be linked in some way, but we couldn’t find anything in an admittedly fairly brief search. Any thoughts out there?
Thanks Phi – and thanks for your comment about the future of the Indy puzzle on 225.
FLAM (deceive) BEAU (lover)
WAS ON (performed) around (‘about’) T (time) – a reference to Emma Watson
MERRY (very happy) around (‘securing’) CU (copper)
BIG (generous) reversed (‘holding back’) + O (old) inside (‘boarding’) BUS (vehicle) – a new word for us
Hidden (‘some’) in simpLE WISdom – probably CS Lewis but could also be Susan Lewis
STALL (booth) around (‘blocked by’) ONE (single) W (week)
Hidden (‘some’) and reversed (‘backed’) in difficultY NO Pressure
BOW (front) STRING (line of horses)
A homophone (‘sounding’) of LITTLE (unimportant) and a reversal (‘revolutionary’) of NOT
First and last letters only (’empty’) of IsolateD LifE
EG (for one) REGIUS (of the monarchs) around (‘claiming’) O (Ohio)
An anagram (‘blended’) of O (oxygen) with HHO (H2O) followed by A
LIE (misinformation) BACK (returned)
MER (French for sea – ‘at Calais’) IE (that is) around (‘enthralling’) ME (the writer)
BlUNTER (with more candour) missing L (learner)
HAS (keeps) around (‘retaining’) STING (sharpness)
F (following) tUMBLE (trip) missing (‘after leaving’) T (Thailand)
ARROW (pointer) ROOT (to grub)
BLUE (unhappy) over SKY (broadcaster)
A (area) BY (at the side of) SS (ship)
T (temperature) after (‘supporting’ in a down clue) AMEN (last word) around B I (first letters or ‘peaks’ of British Isles)
A reversal (‘rising’) of AD (poster) OKS (endorses)
NO (never) SOLO (alone) GenerallY (first and last letters only -‘discontented’) – another new word for us
GOOD (significant) WIN (success) – not a composer we had heard of but he composed many memorable film themes including ‘633 Squadron’, ‘Where Eagles Dare’ and ‘Battle of Britain’
BUT (objection) over TOCK (‘resonant sound’)
An anagram (‘partying’) of MALES around (‘keeping’) OF (from) inside (‘occupying’) IN (popular)
GLEE (delight) over L (line) inside (‘adopted by’) CUB (youngster)
ENG (English) with RAVE (excellent review)
I N (note) IT (sex appeal) around (‘surrounding’) HER (that woman)
HAVE (to deceive) RS (Royal Society – ‘group of scientists’)
An anagram (‘flowing’) of IN HERe (missing last letter – ‘not entirely’)
AMOS (prophet) with the last letter moved to the front (‘cycling’) + A
I think it’s “sidekicks or characters” from TV detective series, e.g. Flambeau, ex Father Brown ?
Watson – Sherlock Holmes
Lewis – Inspector Morse
Lyttleton – ?
Idle – probably not thematic?
Bunter – Lord Peter Wimsey
Hastings – Hercule Poirot
Goodwin – Nero Wolfe
Havers – Inspector Lynley
Mercury – ?
Thanks to the two of you for sorting this out.
Can you both now sort out the Independent Crossword problem please?
Until I checked and found that possessors of the name spelled it LYTTELTON I also had LUGGAGE at 18d capturing the gloriously named Magersfontein Lugg from the Albert Campion stories of Margery Allingham.
Thanks Phi – always appreciate it when you drop in.
B&J firstly, apologies for me failing to compliment your excellent blog, as usual…..so giddy was I at having seen the theme, ( not as usual )!
Also, I found Phi’s puzzle excellent throughout, and a brain-stretcher which was at the same time, an enjoyable challenge.
Re the Indy problem: they have a brains trust of excellent minds, in us solvers, if they would only give us the facts and figures, and their reasons, there is a solution to be found.
Not to blow my trumpet, but as an accountant, I spent nigh on 50 years creating business profit models for companies. So, I was one of those hated bean-counters.
They seem have thrown the baby out without even testing the temperature of the bath water.
Hey-ho, but thumbs up to Phi and BJ
I found it quite tricky to get on Phi’s wavelength for this one with some answers like MERIMEE, LYTTLETON, GOODWIN and NOSOLOGY being nho whilst HAVERS, FLAMBEAU and GIBBOUS fall into the ‘I know them but meet them rarely’ school. An intriguing theme which I did not spot though several of the characters I most certainly recognise.
Thanks both
I was held up by misspelling LYTTELTON, so it’s good to know I am in good company. I liked BOWSTRING, and ARROWROOT.
I only know HAVER from the Proclaimers and I thought it meant to ramble drunkenly. Good to learn something!
I saw Watson and Lewis but I didn’t get any further with the theme.
I still never remember that not all actors are male actors so that only fell into place after I’d convinced myself that NOSOLOGY could be a real word.
Thanks both.
Is that theatre named for the beloved Humph, of ISIHAC (not to mention Ronnie Scott’s) fame?