Saturday Times Jumbo Cryptic 1176 Saturday November 7Th 2015

[sandranufc]

Last one 38a French impudence taking back Channel Islands (6) s?l?i?

[Lie-in King]

Gallic - 'gall' (impudence) + 'C(hannel) I(slands)' (back)

[sandranufc]

Thanks lie in King I had trouble shooters instead of troubleshooting for 4d doh

[stevenj]

I thought that I had managed to finish this one without help but, no, I am left with one answer that I can't quite "parse" (love that word, brings back memories of Latin lessons with my great teacher, Mr Shaw). It's 3d "Imagined 500 sheets left in ditch". I have "dreamlike" which seemed to fit. But then I realised that the letter D seems to be there twice in the clue: 500 and "***" (for ditch). And I have only one D in my answer. So I am wrong somewhere.

I realised this last night before I was shipped off for my bath and i was still thinking about it when i was being settled down. Not good.
Please help.
steven

[dannyk13]

Gallic

[scorpiojo]

*** - ditch
L
Ream - 500 sheets

[Oldred]

ream + l in ***

[scorpiojo]

D-i-k-e

[dannyk13]

ream (500 sheets) +l(eft) inside ***

[Lie-in King]

Hi Steven, hope all is well :-)

Dreamlike - 'ream' (500 sheets) + 'l(eft)' (in) 'd ik e' (spaced to avoid censor)

[Oldred]

ream + l in whats left in dreamlike

[dannyk13]

D I K E

[stevenj]

not quite sure why but the word *** has appeared as a series of asterisks.
steven

[dannyk13]

Impolite name for a lesbian hence edited out.

[Mamyalynne]

AB censor considers it unwise to write - crazy we know.

[stevenj]

Thank you all very much. So obvious when you explain. Instead of seeing "left" I was being self righteous and thinking "L does not stand for 500"! Doh again! I didn't realise that a ream was 500 sheets. I suppose it had to have a number attached to it but I just never thought of it as such. Another thing for me to learn!
Funny about the asterisks. I have just realised why they censored it. Not that i would ever dare use it to mean the other thing! But what an odd thing to censor. Smart move Lie-in King and Scorpiojo.
Thanks again!
steven

[lollyboy]

Gallic

[dannyk13]

Gallic