Spectator 2586

[saladdodger]

39a Wimps swap their first three bridge partners just the same (7)??SS?ES
sissies?

[bhg481]

wussies?

[saladdodger]

How would that parse bhg481?

[Neveracrossword]

I think it's Sissies (for thematic reasons, it begins S). It could be Ninnies, wimps, swap the first three Ns, for S, partners in bridge (north and south)

[bobbinwales]

could also be jessies

[bobbinwales]

OK- agree with SISSIES (change n to S in NINNIES )

[bhg481]

Bridge hands are North, East, South & West; I thought starting West might be appropriate and wussie is a wimp.

[bhg481]

I prefer bob's explanation for cissies.

[bobbinwales]

yes, i started with wussies so all you'd of changed was US to IS so that dont explain the 3 partners

[Neveracrossword]

Yes, I was glad Bobbinwales had the same thinking as me...

[bobbinwales]

thanks bhg but I nicked it from neveracrossword- I never thought of ninnies as the starter

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Bobbinwales - I was beginning to wonder if my reasoning wasn't right, so I was glad it worked for others.

[saladdodger]

Thank you Neveracrossword , bobbinwales and bhg481
Can't find a theme word to fit letters of 31d JA?D?YS...are they correct?

[saladdodger]

...and the 2nd letter of 26d could be a i or u ...all in chambers

[Neveracrossword]

SD, do you mean 27 D? The answer is in Chambers, you have one letter wrong...

[Neveracrossword]

SD, for thematic reasons 26 D can have only one second letter. (The puzzle is so new, I am trying not to give away too much of the thematic element...)

[saladdodger]

Ah yes i see that it can only be A now...thanks again

[saladdodger]

and "angled" for 33a did parse ok...corrected it now!

[johnpiper]

Good morning. Seemed relatively straightforward from Doc this week. I have one unclued light unresolved though which is 6 down. After the themed letters which i will leave blank so as not to spoil things i have
123?A?ID and am not too sure what the missing letters might be. I don't think that this is the two word unclued light which i think is 6 across
Any assistance gratefully received

[roslyn251254]

4th letter is J...it's in Chambers....

[sjjuk]

I can't find anything for 3d in my Chambers :-(