Spectator 1792

[kettledrum]

33d. Girls darkish areas (5) - A - I A

[Argee2]

Tania?

[gen2]

Maria = dark areas on the moon

[kettledrum]

gen2...Thank you for that. I'm rather afraid you're right....I was hoping for some other answer that I hadn't thought of, as I don't awfully like girls ( plural - no apostrophes ).. Any comment?

[gen2]

I just assumed an apostrophe was missing, i.e Girl's darkish areas. If the clue was just
Girl darkish areas
then it wouldn't make sense as read although it would be clued correctly.

maria is the plural of mare - the so called 'seas' on the moon.

[gen2]

P.S.

kettledrum I hope I interpreted your comment correctly and you weren't just expressing your sexual preferences !

[kettledrum]

Oh dear! gen2, I didn't phrase that very well did I? Talk about pots calling kettles black! Here am I complaining about the inaccuracy of The Spectator's clues when I'm doing just as badly!
I agree with everything you say: it's just that I don't expect it from the Spectator. Thank you for sorting it out for me: now I can start on 1793!
Did you do 1791? I was listening to the cricket in the early hours this morning, and evidently there are lots of specimens of 10d (key phrase) visible from the commentary box.