Listener 4091: Mind the Gap by Calmac

[AHearer]

[AHearer]

OK, that was a mistake, but it just about said it all. They must be giving us an easy week assuming we're all sports fans. I think this is the most straightforward Listener since I started doing them.

[turnerjmw]

Agreed, AHearer. Always nice to be able to catch the Friday evening post

[Zabadak]

I think your right: I've got a solution, but I'm finding it hard (in an "is that it?" sort of way) to believe it's THE solution. Easy clues (relatively - around Times cryptic standard) and very few odd words, and apart from not being able to spell 1 down initially, no problem in working out what I assume the entry method is. I think this is a début for Calmac, in which case thanks for not working us too hard while the World Cup's on!

[Zabadak]

...and before anyone points it out, I do know the difference between your and you're, but apparently my fingers don't!

[starwalker]

I agree that this was surprisingly straightforward with some very generous clues.
Not a debut Zabadak - his last was in 1997 which was before my time.

[daagg]

I agree this was surprisingly easy, although a pleasing finish. Time for the footie!

[dr b]

Not much of a challenge this week, but I'm too peeved at the referee for disallowing the USA's 3rd goal to care.

And, unless I'm missing something, 43a is not a language, but a people. The language they spoke is called something else. Unless of course the mighty Chambers says otherwise.

[Zabadak]

Thanks Starwalker: I did a search on the Club site but found only this one: didn't check the Listener site.

[daagg]

dr b, I fear Chambers disagrees with you.

[dr b]

In such cases I always believe myself, often for no good reason at all.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, such a gentle romp was really welcome. As for that language, that was our comment - it wasn't really one was it - but Chambers seems to accept that it was.

[thebuzz999]

Yes, an easy one I think..but 15d and 31d are not fully clear to me. In the former case, the wordplay for the 2nd & 3rd letters eludes me and in 31d the definition is unfamiliar...

[Zabadak]

thebuzz: on 15d check the letters out as an abbreviation: there's a nice bit of confirmation (and explanation for old) if you double up on the first letter. I'm not overly thrilled with the definition at 31d, as I always thought the stuff was made up with little steel rings, but Chambers allows a more general use too. The cryptic's unmistakeable.

[catstail]

Good to see that this is an easier one. Last week's defeated me (as most do, to be honest). I wont see the puzzle until tomorrow as I get the paper Times. Unfortunately subscribers to the Times do not get crossword club membership.

[AHearer]

Yes, Zabadak, I had the same reservation about mail and had to check that Chambers allowed the general use. I also had a moment of uncertainty, dr b and Ruthrobin, about the language/people issue. I decided, before checking in 'the book', that in most cases if a word described a people it also described their language: I'll now sit back and wait for the flood of counterexamples. Oh, all right, Roman and Latin.

[dr b]

Well, we Americans certainly speak American....

[turnerjmw]

Don't take offence, thebuzz999, but isn't it a bit ridiculous that you should be asking for help on wordplay on a puzzle which was published only four hours earlier, is not yet out in printed form, and has nearly a fortnight until the closing date? I'm gradually being driven to the viewpoint of those who would rather these threads were banned completely

[midazolam]

I am not sure what was worse, this crossword (wrt listener difficulty standards) or England's pathetic attempt at football

[cluelessJoe]

It's probably a nil-all draw midazolam.

[midazolam]

definitely a DRAWback!