Parse Please

[Bozzer]

Spectator 2603
Finished including “puzzle 26etc” but can’t parse
Stopped endless refusal getting spread about.
“Detained”

If the spread bit is dined what’s the endless refusal?

[Lie-in King]

Detained - 'denia(l; endless) ted (spread [hay])' (all about; back)

[klazomaniac]

Denia(l) + Ted (reversed)
Ted is a hay spread

Det ained

[Lie-in King]

https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=ted&title=21st

[Bozzer]

Thank you. I was dining on red herrings.

Ted! Really! How on earth would I have got to that?

[klazomaniac]

Must admit Bozzer, This was my Nemesis clue. I had finished the puzzle in good time. Took me longer to parse quite a few of the clues. This was my last to fathom out. Then the penny dropped with denial. So I looked up Ted and there it was. A good puzzle on the whole I thought with the exception of 2d.

[Bozzer]

Thanks. I have a nasty habit of locking onto (dined aka red herring in this case) what I assume is correct and not letting go. Must chill. Grateful for your help

[klazomaniac]

I know what you mean. I do it myself sometimes.
Glad we could be of help :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo... I'm curious, just wondering if you looked at, attempted, finished this week's EV (link given on AB on Sunday)? It involved Playfair codes, not something everyone likes!

[klazomaniac]

I didn't NAC. I've had a busy weekend. Managed to do the Mephisto on Sunday (which gave me a headache from all the dictionary activity and cross referencing). I haven't even had a look at the Listener yet.
I cancelled my subscription with the Times this morning. I do love my crosswords, But I really shouldn't be spending this much time on them. An hour here and there is fine. And popping into AB to help out is fun. I love the Speccie, So I have decided to keep it to one thematic crossword a week. They just take up too much of my time when I get engrossed in them. And it may be looking like I will be working away from home again soon. So even the Speccie might suffer. No printer and no PC for me when I work away :-(

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Klazo. It's always interesting to hear how crosswords, crosswording fits into other people's lives - and you seem to have settled on an approach that should work well for you.
It was interesting to hear that you love the Spectator puzzle. That was my favourite for a long time, then we had a couple of lean, poor years! Recent specimens have been a bit better at times. (Other solvers may have different views!)

[klazomaniac]

Thanks NAC. It was yourself that got me into the Speccie (my first ever thematic) I like the interaction on here between the Speccie mob. If the Listener had become my first thematic, I may have pursued that one instead (albeit a lot tougher). But there is a lack of interaction on that thread. Just folk saying how well it was constructed with a thanks to the setter at the end. I think we have a nice crowd of people in the weekly thread of the Speccie. It's become a bit like home :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks again, Klazo. The main Listener thread has never interested me much, but we've had additional threads recently.
Yes, the main Spectator thread is usually good fun and quite friendly and chatty - and the days of asking for, giving answers to virtually the whole puzzle seem to have gone now!

[Neveracrossword]

PS Klazo, I forgot to say... don't work too hard, too long when you're away. 10 minutes each night with a crossword might be a good way to wind down!

[klazomaniac]

I agree NAC. In the short time I have been involved in the Speccie, I have seen less and less help being asked for (which is great). The only reason I can think of is, Those who used to ask a lot have begun to understand how the crosswords and clues work (thanks to the thread itself). So it just goes to prove the the advise given on these threads do actually help people. For me, This is an Answer site! So hints can be given as well as answers. But I have learned to try and give hints now (whenever possible, as some can be hard to hint at) to assist where I can. If it wasn't for this kind of help, Some may give up on these types of crosswords fullstop. They're just trying to learn and understand the workings. Over time that assistance will subsibe as it will not be required. To me, That means success for everyone (including the site itself).

One of my pleasures when working away is finding a nice cafe for my breakfast and taking the express with me. (usually 15mins to complete which fits well with eating my tucker). So i'll always have a crossword, Just not always the one I want due to time restrictions.

And I hadn't heard of playfair before. Just looked it up. Glad I gave it a miss. I still couldn't comprehend it after reading wiki.

[klazomaniac]

Just had my first tutorial on a playfair cipher from Youtube. Very clearly explained and quite simple (but effective) once understood.
I Had never heard of such a cipher before. Yet another school day :-)

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo, I was delighted to learn that Playfair puzzles are probably not your thing. There wasn't a huge amount of coding in that EV, some Playfair puzzles are far more complex.
I was also delighted to hear that you are still fitting crosswords regularly into your day.
Most newcomers to the Spectator seem to pick things up really quickly - and go on to appreciate the puzzle. Yes, it doesn't matter if it takes years (and years) for the AB help to prove effective -so long as solvers get there in the end.
Roll on Thursday...

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo, I hadn't scrolled down far enough and hadn't noticed that you'd explored Playfairs a bit further. Yes, they are simple and effective - but I'd still not give them house-room/puzzle room!

[ProfessorMaisie]

klazo - I've just spotted your interesting chat with Neveracrossword (I'd been wondering how you'd got on with Listener). I think you're right about ditching the subscription - when I started doing the puzzle I only attempted the odd one, so it didn't take up much of my time (and there are certainly better things to do than crosswords... until you have more a bit more time on your hands}.
Hope you've enjoyed today's Spectator puzzle (I have).

[klazomaniac]

Morning Prof M. I didn't print it off in the end. The weekends festivities took over !
Without trying to raise the issue again. I have seen most of the answers now. And I assisted someone yesterday via private emails to finish the puzzle. Without knowing it was a Playfair puzzle. I would have had no idea what it would have been about.
It all comes down to time for me. My weekends are usually very busy. So a lengthy thematic won't fit my time slot or fuzzy brain. And playing catch up on a Tuesday just doesn't appeal, knowing that all others have already finished it.
So ill leave it for now. Might surprise myself one weekend and go out and purchase it.
As for the Speccie. I was disappointed personally. Was awake late last night and printed it off. Completed it in 1hr 30 mins and submitted it at 1:45 . So I woke this morning to no challenge (sob,sob)
It fell into place so quickly. I just didn't find it a challenge whatsoever.
I'm very sure that 14a was verbatim from a couple of weeks ago.
And as for my last entry 34d I am struggling to see the cryptic element (unless I'm missing something)

[klazomaniac]

Just had a look, And I was right.

May 11th
2604 (Snap) by DOC
14a Cox for Hereford, perhaps? (5)

Mar 23rd
2598 (By another Name) by DOC
38a Cox for Hereford, perhaps? (5)

7 Weeks ago!
Not very good is it :-(