April 06 2011
Airy, Airy, Quite Contrary
In a word, aaaarrghh. Yesterday, solving Crossword #61 in my bid for a century, I stumbled. And it’s all to do with a Royal Astronomer from the 1800s. This bloke on the left in fact – George Biddel AIRY, whose principal claim to greatness is dragging the chain in cosmic research which allowed the damn French to discover Neptune, and not the Anglos.
Some claim. And some anguish. The clue was deceptively simple:
Astronomer’s word for ‘light’ (4)
I had the letter pattern of A _ R _ and put in AURA. Made as much sense as anything – the penumbral light of planets, and the southern aurora, and the NASA satellite, Aura. But in the wise words of Boniface, a star Dabbler on this site: “obscure double defs can be very tricky”. Indeed.
So a pox on the Airy household, and the Times compiler who deemed the historic allusion fair game. I feel like committing hari-kari over Airy, though one solver’s grief is another’s opportunity. That is, if you wish to join our Times Quest to reach 100 puzzles – even 75 would be nice – without direct help or reference books, then hop aboard the shuttle, as we launch today, since Times 8971 in The Oz poses as the first in a galactic series. Aargh.
Comments
RK — 06 April at 09:29AM
Just to make you feel worse, I had AIRY (but only because I wasn't clever enough to thinkk of aura).
DA — 06 April at 09:34AM
Today I'm wanting to put in AGRO, but I'll get over it.
The no-reference rule is crucial to this whole caper. It's Everest without the oxygen, old-school, as it should be. (Though a simpatico forum of sideways hints and snappy debriefs is a welcome bonus for any climber.)
RK — 06 April at 09:41AM
I hope I'm still allowed to count the 2 puzzles I've completed since the 'shaw' debacle of Saturday. Particularly since yesterday's was so hard fought.
DA — 06 April at 09:55AM
Assuming you nailed SHAW on your own steam, RK, then squirrel it. (Nails, steam, squirrels: the charm of a mixed meta4.)
RK — 06 April at 09:58AM
What I meant was, my 'shaw' was your 'airy' so I began my quest again on Monday, which means I'm now on 2. I'm sure I'll need the headstart.
DA — 06 April at 10:01AM
The Stawell Gift. Though today I'm feeling gall and stiffed.
— 06 April at 04:01PM
Tsk, but a washer in the works. Perhaps you could tally how many clues altogether you have solved vs gaffed as a percentage. (Even Bradman managed a 99.94 average.)
In today's SMH Quick I fumbled a thirteen letter word answer:
"Holier-than-thou" (13)
S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _ S
Considering setter DP had used 'Straightforward' in the cryptic above (With a humorous clue of "Frank, the heterosexual footballer") I thought that SELFRIGHTEOUS would fit divinely. How sanctimonious of me. Ground me to a halt for minutes on end trying to fit subsequent words around it. Killed some time in the hospital waiting room,though. My clavicle needed the exercise anyhow.
Sam — 07 April at 08:33AM
Looking at this, someone went to a great deal of effort to compose that photograph. Do you think they may have offered him a seat, yet he preferred to stand “were it ever so airy a tread”? Good luck with the next century.
TT — 10 April at 10:52AM
Was reading about Stella Rimington recently. She mentioned one of her spook would solve the Times crossword in his head during morning tea. Just saying. Carry on with your challenge.
DA — 10 April at 02:19PM
Cheers TT - I will strive on. Though still stuck on Saturday's puzzle. About 5 clues to get. I may need a pint of Guinness to play the endgame.
RK — 10 April at 04:19PM
If you're stuck on so many clues, what hope is there for me? I have about eight to go, and I think another is incorrect. Just as well we've had the extra day for this one.
DA — 10 April at 04:35PM
With tonight a family dinner, I'm feeling fairly thwarted on this bad boy. Even a pint of Vitamin G didn't help solve my last five:
24AC, 25AC, 26AC, 14DN, 22DN....
Unless I have a late epiphany I may lose my wicket cheaply. Makes me feel better about Mr Airy.
RK — 10 April at 04:41PM
Mostly the same as mine. I've definitely got 25AC. 24AC is one of my iffy ones (along with 13D). Haven't got 26AC, 14DN or 22DN (although I have an idea for that one, but I have one more letter for it than you). I'm also struggling with a couple in the NE corner.
DA — 10 April at 04:53PM
Your spurred me. Just cracked 25AC, and also have 22DN with a query.
The NE corner is a minefield, and still not sold on my 10AC. Without spoiling your quest, the def element in 7DN is trixy.
DA — 10 April at 04:58PM
OK - a bold claim, but I now have a complete grid. 26AC is my punt on a rare word. 14DN a huh. And 24AC is evasive but gettable. No iffiness for mine, but plenty elsewhere.
RK — 10 April at 05:00PM
I've decided solving cryptics is a lot about self belief. It's easy to convince yourself you'll never get an answer because it's probably a word you've never heard of. When you know someone else has solved it, it makes it seem gettable again.
I think I've got 10AC now, but annoyingly it gives me vowels for the others.
DA — 10 April at 05:04PM
"...it gives me vowels for the others."
Which alas means you haven't solved it.
RK — 10 April at 05:08PM
I was hoping you'd say that. I cast my line in and got a nibble. Thanks.
RK — 10 April at 09:00PM
Eureka!
Two to go