Times 23527

[eddiebun]

Is anyone else finding today's crossword tougher than usual? I had to Google for 11 across and 17 down.

[kayakamina]

The only one I took time over was 17d (as you did) otherwise I thought it straightforward compared with today's Independent ! K

[eddiebun]

I have little knowledge of Swift's life . I quickly got Wallets - reversed - lose thw W . But had to find

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Johnson

I got diplomat - but took a while to dissect the answer - for some reason !

[Aperio]

I also struggled with 17d, and came up with the answer via perch=bass rather than Don Giovanni. Perhaps we should have an index of difficulty for crosswords and their clues?

There is some skeptical feedback on the Times bulletin board about solving "race the clock" in 57/59 seconds.

Having finished the Guardian genius in record time I am really struggling with this month's Times club crossword.

Aperio

[eddiebun]

Hello aperio

I've finished The Times Crossword Club, but I've now binned my copy. But if you need any help, post what you've got and I'll try to remember or I'll print off another copy and look again.

[Aperio]

Hi Eddie

It is nice to know that this crossword is do-able!

One of my clues must be wrong as I can not find an answer for the long clue down on the right (trumpet like shape) in Chambers.

I won't ask for any answers as I normally enter the competition - that is if I finish it!

Many thanks, A.

[eddiebun]

Hi Aperio, I too always try to struggle through, I've only really sought help with the last few Guardian Genius's - ever since that one about the light at the end of the tunnel !

I think if you ask for too much help on any particular crossword it becomes a raffle not a test of skill.

I feel vindicated about my original post as many other solvers seem to feel the same -that this crossword was a bit harder than normal.

In all due respect to K, I would suggest that being able to complete any given crossword is different to knowing that THAT particular crossword THAT WEEK required more effort/googling/knowledge than was usually required.

[eddiebun]

As a PS to the above, I've just done the Sunday Mirror crossword, which is normally a pice of p*ss, apart from the usual so-called-easy crossword's trick of having a clue like

Tree ( 4) So you don't don't whether it's a word for tree or a type of tree.

But, today they have a clue

TV series starring Jerome Flynn as an animal expert ( 6 ) -

which is a total departure from the normal clues.

[Aperio]

A solution I thought was bullet proof, farad, turned out to be wrong. Once I had reversed these letters, I was able to solve the clue to trumpet-shaped.

I then "Onelooked" the remaining clues:
California eatery shot round posh old blusterer (9)
Eighth letter penned by ethnic Muslim, a tribal avenger (10).

I am not entirely sure how you the cryptic parts fit in.

Cacafuego is "cafe" around "u" and "o" for old, leaving "cag" to account for.

Kurdditcha is "kurd" plus "aitch", but I don't know where the extra "d" comes from or why the "a" in aitch has been dropped to the bottom.

Any ideas? Aperio

[eddiebun]

Hi Aperio - I can't vouch for the quality of my answers. I've just worked for 12 hours and come home and opened a bottle of wine. !

I'm thinking I had

Kurd-aitch-a which fits the clue.

and

Ca = california cafe= eatery with U = posh shot =go

[eddiebun]

And I finished The Independent crossword - no problem !

[Aperio]

Many thanks.

Hope you enjoyed your wine.

Aperio