Times Crossword

[fortis70]

The clue is “rustic doctors “very fine cat” (5) the answer is DIVAN but i am at a complete loss as to how this comes about, i fail to parse this at all, i know that v can mean fine in relation to diamonds but i cant see a connection. Would some kind soul possibly enlighten me? Thanks in anticipation and kind regards

[Eagledave]

Are you sure of the answer as HODGE means rustic and is also the name of Dr Johnson’s very fine cat

[Lie-in King]

Can you tell us what number puzzle this is from the Times & have you typed the clue *exactly* as it's printed (punctuation as well)?

[Lie-in King]

I saw that Eagledave, it was going to be my next question :-)

[fortis70]

The clue comes from the seventeeth book of times crosswords which of course has the answers in the back and it is definitely given as divan thanks for any help

[Lie-in King]

Hi fortis - I've tracked the book down & I'm sorry, but think you're misreading the grid. The clue is 18a & the answer shown is "Hodge".

15a Bed - girl and terrible fellow share the same one (5)

Divan - 'Di' & 'Ivan' share the same 'i' (one)

https://ibb.co/c1d3mSH - Puzzle
https://ibb.co/QFqQrXB - Answers

[fortis70]

Thank you lie in king and eagledave et al i have looked up the doctor and hodge but i still dont see the connection with divan. If it is any help, the book says that this puzzle. Number 43 in the book was solved within 30 minutes by 17% of the competitors at the 1991 bristol regional final of the times collins dictionaries championship unquote

[Lie-in King]

As my links show, you're mixing up 15a with 18a...

[elliemay1]

Can I ask if there if doctor's is written with an apostrophe ?

[Lie-in King]

elliemay - it is & shown in the 1st link above

[fortis70]

Hello lie in king and eagledave, you are quite right, i am so sorry to have given you all this trouble,i think that my eyesight must be playing tricks with me i can see now that i have misread the clues to the wrong positions, my absolutely abject apologies i am truly sorry to have given you such hassle apologies once more and thanks again

[elliemay1]

Thank you L-I K, that makes sense

[Lie-in King]

Fortis - you're welcome, no hassle at all & no apologies necessary :-)

[fortis70]

Thanks to you all and yes doctor’s is with an apostrophe i am very grateful to you all, i suppose i must be getting old, i have a friend who tells me that getting old is not for sissies, i guess he must be right thanks again to you all

[Canary42]

Don't apologise fortis70, it was good fun while it lasted.

You must do it again some time, it's been really entertaining watching Ab's top cruciverbalists fitting their answers in. LOL