Guardian cryptic

[homeresque]

There are two clues I think I've solved but I'd appreciate confirmation and explanations:

17d Poetical requirement to dice with death (4) ?D?C I've got odic - a hidden word that sounds right, and the only possibility according to Chambers, which also says it's nothing to do with poetry...

36d Typewriter to be found in excessively imaginary number (8) O?I?E?T? Olivetti? Why?

[genius55]

ODIC IS A lyric poem of some length

[kayakamina]

17d Odic pertaining to an ode

36d Over the top OTT to be LIVE number 1

O LIVE TT I

[homeresque]

Thanks, Genius. That meaning of odic didn't come up on my Chambers CD-ROM, but I now see that it is in the hard copy. Sorry to have troubled you.

[homeresque]

Thanks as ever, kayakamina.

[kayakamina]

Were you as disappointed as I with today's puzzle? I look forward to the bank holiday Araucaria's but once I'd sussed the theme I knocked it off in 45Minutes.

Cheers

[homeresque]

I'm not in your league, kayakamina! It took me at least twice as long as that. Though I did think some of the non-themed clues were easier than usual.

How did you latch on to the theme?

[kayakamina]

Homeresque First it was the 'Wonderful' list in the instructions and then the Wimbledon clue and 'Croquet' and off I went!

[homeresque]

Snap! It was the Wimbledon clue for me too.

[genius55]

it was the wimbledon clue for me too and i have only just finished and it has taken me at least three hours!

[dzug]

Doh. What a giveaway. Croquet. Of course.

Having got the theme, I've finished 90% of the rest of it in 15 minutes. 3 to go.

Actually the very first Araucaria I finished mumble years ago had a very similar theme.