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Thank you, Eirlys,.
We were just discussing the relative difficulties of the crosswords - I wasn't actually looking for a solution - or I would of course have posted on the General Forum.

OK Elle. Sorryo

Elle, the variation in the degree of difficulty in the Times Cryptic is what I like about it - I never know what I'm going to get. I don't like it too be too easy, but nor do I like being left with lots of blanks. I found today's puzzle slightly harder than yesterday's - the opposite of your experience. I disliked the Khaki clue - it's been used before and hasn't improved with age.

Hello, Elle!
Fine evening here!
I have been watching Arnold Palmer's memorial service.
Was very good. Bit tricky putting names to old familiar faces, though!
I never thought of Lucie at 3 down, but you are correct!
Khaki is awful, no more to be said!
I thought for ages that there was an error in 20.
"A little land's" = Andorran?
Not quite convinced it makes sense.
I think it does, just...but not sure.
I think 9 is a toughie.
And any time I see "mission" in a clue, I am always convinced that "Alamo" will be the solution!


Hello, Eirlys,
Thank you kindly for the "gate" explanation.
I have never heard of those "gates".
Always learning!

Hi, Rusty!
I think a lot of folk have a great respect for Arnold Palmer.
I am sure his memorial service was very moving?
I find it fascinating how different people react to different xword clues......
I still cannot comprehend 20 across - Andorran? why? - and am still struggling to solve 25d.
Yet, I thought 9a (so lvi ng) was straightforward and did it right away!
A great clue (to me)!
But then.......it would be very boring if we all thought and reacted the same!
(I see what you mean about "Alamo"!)
Going back to what you said earlier.....
University Challenge is "doctored" ? - having "dud" answers removed?
However can it be a fair competition between the competing teams under those conditions?
(Help! "Corruption" is everywhere!!)



Malone, I'm still getting used to this particular crossword as I do not have regular access to it.
I found yesterday's puzzle very hard, even though I eventually finished it - whereas today's I found easier - on the whole - but still had two to complete!
Does that make sense?

Hello, Elle,
Yes, Arnie was loved by most folk.
Annika Sorenstam gave a lovely speech, about her being a member of "Arnie's Army", as a schoolgirl in Sweden, and having a very premature baby in the Winnie Palmer hospital in Orlando.
Annika and family became great friends with Arnie and family.
They did a few commercials together, too.
"A liitle land's", meaning "belonging to a little land", = Andorran.
Is that any clearer?
25d! Now if memory serves me correctly, if you had read Chesapeake, you would get 25 more or less instantly.
There are a few pages devoted to the answer, and, (i am guessing here) I think it is where the term "copper-bottomed" originates...I think!
I think Uni Challenge is edited, it said, if the team or teams cannot answer the "starter" question. They cut that bit.

Elle, I've had similar solving experiences - it can take just two or three tricky clues to hold me up on something that seemed comparatively straightforward. I like a bit of a battle!

Hey, Rusty!
All I can think of for 25d is "borer", as I have the letters B?R?R, but I cannot see why?
It is too long to wait for an explanation until I get to read "Chesapeake"!
I give up - and you can explain it to me, please?
I wonder how I shall find tomorrow's crossword!
There was a question on Eggheads tonight .........
"What is a Macfarlane?"
coat; skirt; or jumper
The answer was "coat" .
I had never heard of it before.
Is this a special Scottish garment?
It would appear so from the name?

Hello, Elle,
Yes, it is "borer".
Borers are tiny sea creatures who burrow or bore into the wooden hulls of ships.
This obviously weakened the structure, and to prevent it, the hulls were covered in sheets of copper that the borers could not penetrate.
I think this could well be where the "copper-bottomed" comes from.
Only my guess, though.
It is well described in Chesapeake.
There is quite a bit about shipbuilding in it.
Wave is bore (as in the Severn bore, "r" for river. Borer.
I have never heard of a Macfarlane coat!
"Macfarlane's lantern" is the moon, though.

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for explaining "borer" to me.
All that was completely new to me.
I can see that I shall learn a lot from reading "Chesapeake"!
If the book is as good as "Centennial" I shall be well pleased.
MacFarlane's lantern is the moon?
So who was / is MacFarlane? (with or without coat!)