Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Thanks Numbskull, and I hope my messing up L to R when I should have said R to L didn't hold you up too much.

I know 15a has been discussed but it it in Chambers or is it an actual area? Also, I think I know what 'French are taken aback....' is and where it fits but the parsing evades me.

Odd one this, got the partnership, the quotation and the clash (haha), just struggling to complete the grid!

Hi Granama,

15a - Is in Chambers. The three letter "Jack" was a new word for me.

2 letters "French are" reversed/"taken aback" + 4 letter "intelligence" around a reversed/"turning" 2 letter "America" - definition is "gratifying".

Thanks Brendan, I'd thought of the usual 2 and 4 letter words for 'are' but not the 2 letter. Doh!

Ah...got 15a too and actually have seen that Jack in crosswords before (probably Azed). Double doh!. Just 2 to go!

....and done. Some reverse engineering needed having completed the end game before solving several clues. eg it was only after getting the clash that the second clue in the 8 was solved.

I did it the same way as you, Granama. The second, third, fourth and fifth clues were all unsolved till I had got the endgame.

As others have said, the puzzle was brilliant. The way Phi dealt with the quotation was very clever, and there was a neat link between the quotation and the title of the puzzle.

I think the preamble could have been more clearly worded. I was held up for a very long time trying to see how the 8s could be entered. The example given in the little sketch was not as helpful as it appeared at first. But thanks to Phi for yet another good one!

Another belter. I have a huge affinity to the theme. I attended the same primary school as one of the partners ( as well as another of the gang), and the same Grammar school as the other partner - albeit ten years later. I also have the same initials of my Grammar school predecessor (JWL). I had never really thought about it before, but with advancing years and the fame of the subjects I now find it a bit weird. Plus I love the later product of the partnership.

I have “sets” for 2a. Courses = seats? Please correct me if I’m mistaken. I know the def must be “lays” so if you dismiss the “a” from seats ...

Hi MPRS,

I think it's "courses" as in 'hunts' so "be(a)ts" as in rouse game with the definition as "lays" as in 'bets'.

Very enjoyable! Not many seem to like the theme - I do (my vintage!) Deconstructing the grid is straightforward, then it should be plain sailing with things readily jumping out of the grid. Nice one Phi.