Spectator 1981

[kayakamina]

Hi Everybody.

Here is a link to today's crossword ATOZ II set by Doc

http://thespectator.n...om/epaper/viewer.aspx

On the easy side and the title said it all.

Enjoy.

[zita-green]

Thanks for the lonk, K.

[zita-green]

Sorry, link. Don't know what a lonk is.

[mintyman99]

http://www.spectator....6258633/crossword.pdf

[oldenburg]

Thanks K. I've been away so two crosswords to divert me from earning a living for a little while - what joy!

[tenflags]

Thanks K & MM99

[Quizmonster]

Just for you, Zita, a lonk is a large Yorks/Lancs sheep!

[zita-green]

Thanks, Quizmonster. Now I'll know if it comes up in a xword puzzle.

[mad max]

Many thanks for link

[bearboy]

I have completed the grid but am unsure which extra 6 letter clue to highlight, as none of my four 6 letter clues seems to tally with the 8 unclued lights???

[kayakamina]

The last 6 letters of 39a !

[bearboy]

Thank you kayakamina - didn't realise that I had to use "part" of another clue and hence only lookesd at the 4 six letter clues

[Helveticus]

Thanks for the link, Mintyman. I have managed everything except for the unchecked letters in the unclued light at 20D. If I am right, the "distinctive feature" mentioned in the rubric means that *either* the first letter of 20D can be deduced unambiguously, *or* there could be 2 possibilities for the penultimate letter. However, all of these possibilities leave me with only five of the six letters of 20D and I cannot find a final letter which leads to any valid word which I can find. I have checked my answers to 22A, 25A, 28A and 34A and they all seem solid. Would some kind soul put me out of my misery?

Incidentally, did anyone else think that Doc was pushing it a bit with 24A?

[roslyn251254]

Does the "shaded" bit have to be a complete clue. There is a 6 letter word on the top line (end of 1 clue, beg of another) which obeys the "distictive feature".
helveticus - I have begins for 20d - perhaps I am on the wrong track!

[Helveticus]

Hi roslyn251254, I don't think the shaded part has to be a complete answer. If 20D is "begins" then the "distinctive feature" mentioned in the rubric is not what I thought it was. Time for another think...

[roslyn251254]

K - 2nd bit of 39a won't do since s comes before u ???

[djawhufc]

Hi

I thought it was a bit across the top line from a to s

DJA

[roslyn251254]

helveticus - I think you may have made the same assumption I did about a pair of consecutive alphabetical letters??? This works for 7 of the 8 but not for 20d. I think the clue is in the title, then it works for them all including the one to be shaded. Apologies if I'm completely off on a tangent!!!

[djawhufc]

I agree I assumed it was alphabetical

[Helveticus]

Got it (I think)! The "distinctive feature" is not what I originally thought, though 8 of the 9 words (including the shaded answer) have what I wrongly thought was the "distinctive feature". Ah, the relief!

[zita-green]

I have made the same mistake about consecutive alphabetical letters. Feeling a bit at sea after an afternoon spent in A & E. Watching paint dry is suddenly appealing.