Spectator 1903

[greyfox]

Good morning Spectator buffs. 'Problem VII' by Dumpynose is this week's challenge:

http://www.spectator.co.uk/article_assets/arti cledir_6776/3388351/crossword.pdf

[Rapparee]

Thanks for the link, greyfox.

[Spaghetti]

Thanks for the link, greyfox. Something to do on the train...

[kayakamina]

Thanks for the link greyfox.

It was easier than I thought it would be when I read the preamble.

Unfortunately I can't get the tune of one of the clues out of my head!

[Christiana]

Thanks greyfox. Haven't started it yet, but know what you mean about tunes K.

[AHearer]

Thanks for the link, greyfox. I think one has to be quite selective in ones choice of reference book for the arithmetic to work out. I'm still trying to see the wordplay in 7D.

[kayakamina]

Re 7d Remove the T and you are left with plague.

[AHearer]

Oh yes, kayakamina, I see now. Thanks.

[robinruth]

Kayakamina and Ahearer - I am surprised, I thought I was removing on from a place to get plague - in the sense of annoy (but it did seem to be a very poor clue) Am I wrong here?

[robinruth]

Yes - thanks - now I have got there after the red herring of Taunton!

[mad max]

Many thanks for link

[robinruth]

We didn't think this was as polished as Dumpynose usually is - didn't like the 'woman etc. ' clue in 10d - obviously used as a desperate filler, or the obscure multiplication of obscure terms in the first part of the preamble - the internet gives a variety of values that would add up to a fairly different solution - OK, the last two parts of the calculation are 'nice' and I too am singing the song.

[mintyman99]

i now know too many units for my own good.

33A Why ton? I can see TO-N but where does chime come in?

and i can't see 26D either - HECATE?

thanks

[kettledrum]

I think 33a is Tom - a big bell, and a tom is a he(male) cat

[mintyman99]

thanks. looks right to me.

[crucifernz]

Your Antipodean friend again

Have nearly got there, but stumped or unsure of:

8D Unclued light - is the answer a Hebrew dry weight that is also the name of an ancient Greek poet?

29D the only girl's name I can find that fits is DOREEN, but this may be wrong and/as I can't see the wordplay

41A Unclued light related to 8D - have looked at the Biblical weights and measures but can't find anything that fits - I have ?TE?S (but the T may be wrong)

Any help would be much appreciated as I need to get Xwd into the mail to the UK pronto.

Many thanks in advance. I agree that the cluing was below par on this one, which made it tougher than usual!

[greyfox]

29 dn is correct. The wordplay has been given earlier somewhere.

You're also right re. 8 dn. A Simpsons character would agree too!

You have got 31 dn wrong. It's last letter is 'M'. Answer to 41 ac is one letter short of that for 8dn.

Hope you catch the postie!

[crucifernz]

Thanks greyfox. I had a feeling my 31D was wrong. Have it now!