Re: Independent freebie, Tue 29 Jan


"Peter Biddlecombe" <peterbiddlecombe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:275f5e28-0383-49fc-9a59-79cc00574dea@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Today's puzzle is by Mass, a setter I often find tough. I gave up on
this one with 6 answers left, though it turns out this was partly down
to an unfortunate red herring answer.

http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/crosswords/cryptic/

I found yesterday's frustrating. The top half succumbed fairly easily and I
had high hopes of finishing but ended up stuck on 4 or 5 in the bottom half.
The two remaining ballet clues which I just couldn't find answers to in
Google and the crossing letters they would have given might have helped with
the others. Fancy Free was one and I can't remember the down one. I found a
ballet site that listed the top 100 and that didn't have anything that
fitted.

Of course once I'd given up and revealed the answers I could find them in
Google but I think it's taking the P a bit to have not only an obscure theme
but also uncommon answers within that obscure theme. I suppose there are a
few people around who know a lot about ballet but for damn sure I'm not one
of them. I think there's enough challenge in cryptic crosswords without
resorting to things most of us have never heard of.

However, whinge aside, I'm enjoying these. I think they're stretching me a
deal further than the Herald ones and giving me more styles of setter's
clues to get accustomed to. I feel that perhaps I'm now actually coping with
"proper" crosswords which is very satisfying.
--
Dave Baker
Puma Race Engines


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