Spectator 2593 By Lavatch

[Matakari]

Good evening, I’m stumped by the following for which
I would appreciate answers with parsing. Thanks in advance!

4d Makes Greek coin with size I changed (9) : ??R?????S
9d Flower’s white round iceberg’s edge (6) : ?AR???
10d Volume in case upon switching periods in house? (10): ?C?????C??
15d Ruling party admitting king’s crime (10) : N?????T???
17d She inherits Scot’s land areas in segments (10) : T?????R???
31d Insects in north-east oddly flying (7) : ?O?????

[ProfessorMaisie]

That shouldn't take long, I didn't need Google for the perimeter pair - but a couple of extra word pairs were tricky (for me, at least).

[Matakari]

Ok, I want to put this one to rest now! ProfessorMaisie, Klazo, could you give me the 14 letters so that I may get the solution? I may learn something from this after all!

[klazomaniac]

Have a look at what I've done to understand what I mean (They are all the perimeter letters)


Row 2 - T golaciniaeh S (T and S)

Row 5 - L iirisatedmo T (L and T)

Row 8 - A rethouselsm O (A and O)

Row 11 - N dlilabnerud I (N and I)

Column 4 - I lpbroytili A (I and A)

Column 10 - E asedgalkar N (E and N)

6d - L ismakeussrb N (L and N)


So the letters are to be anagrammed to make a Capital and Country of 7,7 letters are:

T S L T A O N I I A E N L N

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, thanks for the Very Logical Prize Puzzle. It was relatively straightforward, I think there have been trickier ones in the past.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, Klazo, I would not have seen this without your help! Did you have a look at the Very Logical Puzzle?

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, yes TVLPP was plain sailing, nothing like High Bar. Hope tomorrow's Spectator will be much less strenuous than this one!

[klazomaniac]

Thank goodness you got there. I was just about to book a 2 week vacation to the South of France equiped with a big stick and a bunch of crosswords. lol :-)


And no I haven't. But now I see NAC has given this the seal of approval, I might have a look later on.

Happy you got there Mate :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo, the 'seal of approval' was fairly muted - but I didn't want to say I'd have liked more of a challenge! I think puzzles are always slightly more interesting when they're new to the solver - I had to remind myself of that for you tackling the Private Eye one.

Matakari, I think you must have well and truly done the warming-up exercises for tackling the Spectator puzzle tomorrow.

[Matakari]

Thanks again, Klazo, I would welcome the bunch of crosswords, but no big stick necessary because I do not think we'll be seeing a stinker like High Bar in a hurry. And yes, NACW, I'm eagerly looking forward to the Spectator after the Hawk ordeal, and wouldn't mind another Doc offering. I just like his anagrams.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, it's only two weeks since we last had a Doc puzzle - chances are we'll have one of the other setters. Disappointing for some, perhaps ... and a relief for others?

[klazomaniac]

Thanks for that Matakari. If anything, it passed away the time. The homophone @ 20d just didn't work. And as for 18d, Well what can I say. lol. (unless I am missing something).

[klazomaniac]

With regards to 18d: It's a jerry Lewis song, written by African-American James A. Bland.

That's what you get when you attempt puzzles from across the pond.

[Matakari]

Well, let's see what the Spectator has to offer tomorrow!

[klazomaniac]

Well it certainly delivered ! My favourite so far. Cracking wordplay. I got sent on a wild goose chase with the title, But got there eventually.
Bravo La Jerezana.

[Matakari]

Good morning, quite happy with this week’s Spectator offering!
Happy to see that you have cracked this one pretty easily, Klazo!
A pleasant relief from the awesome high bar set by Hawk! I’ve got
a full grid except for the unclueds which I find a bit teasing, but
I’m giving it my best shot. I will check you if I’m stuck! Thanks!

[bobbinwales]

Klaz...did you mean Jerry LEE Lewis???

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, have you got the name given by the 'cryptic' title of the puzzle? If so, it's very easy to track down the quotation, from using just a word or two of the obvious looking unclued entries. I'm sure you're very keen to finish off this yourself - and that's doable, honest!

Klazo, glad to hear you enjoyed this one. My reception was ... far more lukewarm!

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, but I haven't got the name given by the cryptic title yet. I'm still playing around with it.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. What usually follows 'Nosey'?... The person is famous (and not just in the UK) for many witty sayings, quips, the odd poem.

[klazomaniac]

Good morning all.

Bobbin: Yes I did mean Jerry LEE Lewis.

Good stuuf Matakari. Keep at it, You'll get there.

NAC, I love a crossword that I can Parse it 100%. To me, that is the marque of a good setter that is fair in their efforts. Another oddball reason was that I went on a wild goose chase with the theme. My search led me to someone (Who I remember from my childhood) I read through 50+ poems (by the wrong person) But glad I did (I was laughing hysterically. So all good for me :-)