Spectator 2589 - Doc

[Matakari]

Good day,
An answer to the following would be appreciated, thanks!
33d Support found in Eritrea, seldom (5): E?S?

Seeking confirmation for the following Unclued letters, thanks in advance!
5d BL?WER?
31d ?I?O?
30a AGG?R?

[Neveracrossword]

33 Alternate letters, a usual 'support'.
Yes to the others. And there's plenty of revealing info given for the theme, so it shouldn't be too tricky!

[klazomaniac]

Hi NAC, Did you mean to say Telescopic rather than 'Alternate' ?
Only commenting as I don't want Matakai to be looking for alternative letters in the pattern. :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry,Klazomaniac, yes I meant to put 'in the clue itself', but I was too busy mumbling to myself about the need for help with this one!

PS May I address you as 'Klazo'?

[klazomaniac]

No worries NAC :-)
Like I said, I wasn't trying to be pedantic.
And by all means you can call me Klazo (Most do) Just the same as NAC. It saves a lot of typing :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Klazo.

PS I know we can all stumble over straightforward clues at times, I should have been more laid-back and concentrated properly on answering the clue!

[klazomaniac]

I know that feeling only too well. I believe the setter has done His/Her job when after a battle we become confounded enough not to see the simple ones. I would have loved to have had a go at this as I found the download for it. Unfortunately I've run out of ink on the printer and cannot be bothered to draw the grid out. So I can't help with the unclued. And may I add that I am bewildered by the letter patterns in the unclued. If I had attempted the crossword, I might have had a bit more of an understanding with reference to what you said (plenty of revealing info given for the theme). So I wish you both good luck with the final solving. :-)

[klazomaniac]

And the penny has just dropped !
I now have the theme :-)

[novalis]

Klazomaniac, the letter patterns in the first and third unclued are nicknames. The second is a forename and needs to be paired with another of the unclued. The clued entry at 7 across is a massive hint to the theme.

[novalis]

Posts crossed there Klazomaniac.

[klazomaniac]

Thanks Novalis. As I have said. I'm trying to complete the crossword without the grid. lol
I must love punishing myself. lol

[Matakari]

Thanks,NACW and klazo! Not in alternate, but somewhere within "Eritrea,seldom" (ease?)...

[klazomaniac]

Easel (artists support)

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, yes - that point (not alternate letters) was addressed very quickly after my post. Did you miss the later mentions?!

[klazomaniac]

https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2008/08/digging-out-hidden-words.html

[Neveracrossword]

That was kind of you, Klazo. Matakari's had help with over 600 Spectator puzzles, I think we must have steered him towards every aid going!

[klazomaniac]

Some call it an 'Hidden clue' I'm used to the terminology of 'Telescopic' or Reverse Telescopic'.
Knowing the different indicators is a big advantage to help you solve a clue IMO. So I thought that it may help if I posted that to Matakari, That He/She would understand what I meant earlier in the thread.
'found in' being the indicator here for a telescopic clue.

[Matakari]

Thanks again, Klazo!

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, my 'in the clue itself' wasn't enough, wasn't clear enough, to get you there, Matakari...

[bobbinwales]

Hope your not stumped by the theme matakari.

[klazomaniac]

I t was clear enough NAC. but as discussed earlier, the brain can become bewildered after a hefty slog of some tricky clues. I believe that Matakari just couldn't see the wood for the tree's (so to speak)

Matakari, If and when you get time. This is a very worthwhile page to read through (very lengthy with all the extra links) But it explains different 'INDICATORS' A must know for anyone who attempts cryptic crosswords. Have a look at the green highligted segments for diffent types of indicators. Once installed in the old grey matter, These words start to jump out at you when solving clues. They direct you to what you should be looking for. Hope this helps :-)

Ps. This is not a crossword help forum. It is a guide on how to solve. (Which I'm not saying you need. But you may learn something new. I did when I came across it.)

https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2008/09/dictionary.html