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Myla, glad I could help.

Yes, an absolute stinker! My Dad has chucked the paper down the table in disgust. He has been doing The Times crossword since he was 17 and is 91 next month, so time to be pretty sharp. He doesn't mind not being able to parse, but hates it when he doesn't understand the parse.

But recently there is some "clever clogs" trying to prove they are clever. Humph!

Rant over.

LadyHGG, I've always liked the fact that what can be an 'absolute stinker' to some , or most, people, can be relatively straightforward for other solvers. I've occasionally though a particular puzzle was a nightmare, other people have commented 'relatively straightforward this week'.

If someone's asked for a parse and someone on the Forum gives the parsing, I don't think that's really a case of anyone 'trying to prove they're a clever clogs'. I often don't parse my own solutions and my attempts on here are sometimes way off the mark - but I'm always relieved when someone, anyone, comes along with the correct version!

I have always found that Malone offers his or her advice with a level of modesty and understanding that would have shamed the Council of Trent.
Thanks Malone for assistance on a wide range of crosswords, across, down and occasionally diagonally.

Thanks, Gerba, that was very kind of you - and I'm just one of many people on here who try to give as much help as they get! (PS I'm a 'she'.)

I didn't know who ladyhgg was referring to with the 'trying to be a clever clogs' comment. I didn't think it was me as I know my shortcomings and don't always parse, attempt to parse!

Isn't Ladyhgg saying that it's the setter is trying to be a clever clogs? At least that's how I read it.

Brendan, I didn't read it like that - mainly because I want the setters to be clever clogs, we need them to prove they are clever... so that we can try to do battle with them! It seems odd to criticise them for doing their job properly! Also, the post followed a few of the rather less obvious parsings for recent clues, so I assumed it related to those. Mind you, it doesn't actually matter very much - I've seen many moans and rants over the years, and have even had a few myself!

I would have said that an inflammatory poster is known as a troll not a troller.