Comments on The Irish Times Crosaire Blog ... unofficially!: Answers to Crosaire No: 13886 - 1 Jul 09

The abundance of typos hadn't escaped my notic...

2009-07-01T16:04:31.842-07:00

The abundance of typos hadn't escaped my notice either Moley....I wonder is that what happens if you confuse your glasses with your spectacles....or your spectacles with receptacles even.....filled with red/rosé/zinfandel/ Chateauneuf du Pape...or Remy Martin...or a Mohito...

...some very fluid dri...oops...thinking today I'd say....

Liz

p.s. Alpo and Remy Martin?...definitely time to paws for thought.....

Bill, You might not need an rx at your age...there...

2009-07-01T15:02:22.071-07:00

Bill,
You might not need an rx at your age...there are soooo many typos on today's blog I thunk evryone is derunk!!
Hic! Hic! Cheers!

Tommy, You see, you went too far! A had a couple ...

2009-07-01T14:19:04.225-07:00

Tommy,

You see, you went too far! A had a couple more glasses of wine AFTER doing the crossword last night. That's the trick, I think.

Of course, a lot slower here today as a result.

Hi Boys and Girls, Congrats Bill. Stay away from...

2009-07-01T14:00:55.148-07:00

Hi Boys and Girls,

Congrats Bill.

Stay away from the demon drink. I have had my son and his girlfriend arrive to visit. So after some rose with lunch, red wine with dinner and a mohito, if thats how you spell it thrown in, I will forgive myself for getting all the top and the left hand corner sorted, then stuck on three 24a 27a and 18 d.

Then remembered TESTER, great but couldn't finish. Hardly surprising when upon checking the blog I realised EXRTADITE was not what I had intended to fill in. Is it possible to have alcoholic dyslexia?

Regards Tommy

Moley, Where to get hold of some zinfandel? Wel...

2009-07-01T13:06:05.738-07:00

Moley,

Where to get hold of some zinfandel?

Well, I have to make it clear that despite my performance last night, it is the official policy of this blog to discourage the use artificial stimulants to enhance crossword solving performance.

That said, my favorite French reds are mainly made up of zinfandel grape: the various Chateauneuf de Pape wines. I don't think one needs a prescription ...

Hi (yet again!) No worries there Peter..not the fi...

2009-07-01T11:12:01.610-07:00

Hi (yet again!)
No worries there Peter..not the first time two of us blogged simultaneously with same nugget of information!
And Bustop..you'll get used to seeing 'demean'..same as 'serene', 'rather'
etc. etc.
So where can I get my hands on some zinfandel?
Cheers M

Liz, I'd do anything for some rain over here....

2009-07-01T11:10:16.729-07:00

Liz,

I'd do anything for some rain over here. I'm thinking of resorting to a rain dance, but the belly wobble puts off the neighbors.

Kicking myself over not remembering the canopy bed. I agree with you that M. Crosaire does introduce us to somenice new words from time-to-time, but I just can't seem to remember many of them!

Hi Bustop, Bad luck, missing two ... a tad frustr...

2009-07-01T11:06:27.588-07:00

Hi Bustop,

Bad luck, missing two ... a tad frustrating.

And thx for the anniversary congrats. 23 years the wife has put up with me ...

Peter, I jumped straight into bed with the "...

2009-07-01T11:03:56.335-07:00

Peter,

I jumped straight into bed with the "test bed" explanation without really thinking (like I was doing much thinking last night ...). Moley has sorted us out, and I put up a link to where I found out all about TESTER canopy beds months ago!

Hello "anonymous". Welcome back to Cros...

2009-07-01T11:01:54.029-07:00

Hello "anonymous".

Welcome back to Crosaire after 7-8 years. We are glad to have you along.

If you can give us a name, or a nickname, I'd be delighted to recognize your achievement on our Honour Roll. A slot up there is much coveted!

Congrats, and welcome.

Moley, You're right, the double DRAUGHT was v...

2009-07-01T10:56:13.410-07:00

Moley,

You're right, the double DRAUGHT was very a propos. Spooky ...

Re TESTER
Your explanation is right on the money, of course. I'll update the commentary. The embarrassing thing is that my red wine lubrication helped me out in terms of speed, but did nothing for my memory. TESTER as a canopy-bed was a Lookup of the Day back in February!

Ah me ...

Hi Eleanor, I'm glad you found it a zippy puz...

2009-07-01T10:50:09.151-07:00

Hi Eleanor,

I'm glad you found it a zippy puzzle as well. It wouldn't be good if I actually had found a correlation between the drink and crossword success, not good at all!

Congrats on bringing them home all present and correct.

Barry, I don't think I would be so quick if I...

2009-07-01T10:47:01.133-07:00

Barry,

I don't think I would be so quick if I was sitting in the pub with a pint in front of and using the newspaper. Whole different approach :o)

I went with CHECKERS first as well, but USHER sorted me out.

Sorry you croaked on this one, Barry. My money was on you to sweep the week again!

Hi there, formerly PORO Pete, You haven't liv...

2009-07-01T10:41:19.258-07:00

Hi there, formerly PORO Pete,

You haven't lived until you had Alpo soaked in Remy Martin ...

The second DRAUGHTS answer threw me as well, and broke an unwritten rule, I thought, but put it down to "charm".

I've a load of one-hit-wonders on my mp3 player, and resurrect them a lot. It's fun to see the antics of folks that disappear from the limelight so quickly. They should try sitting at home writing crossword blogs ... :o)

Hi everybody Merciful hour Bill....makes me feel ...

2009-07-01T09:05:47.361-07:00

Hi everybody

Merciful hour Bill....makes me feel dizzy just to imagine getting through an all present and correct Crosaire in 13m 5s....will never happen....add in 'two generous pours' (however much that is?!) to the mix and I'd be reeling....Crosaire would be but a distant memory! Personally I reckon it's the good company you've been keeping all these years Bill that helps yield such a speedy result...the effects of the zinfandel probably just an illusion...so congratulations to you both on your Crosaire success ....and on your anniversary!

All's been said about today's...was with Moley in the needlework dept. re. TESTER...feared Mr. C. may have been confusing the sisterhood's SAMPLERS with TESTERS...

So thank you Moley and Peter (formerly PORO!) for the research...
and beg your pardon M. Crosaire for thinking you mightn't know your four-poster bed canopies....that's my new 'word meaning' for the day!
....and Barry, agree that the blog does introduce us to new words and/or meanings regularly...now you, being a man of tender years, might never forget those little nuggets.....

Anyway, this week is looking sunnier in Crosaireland...bleaker in the real world this side of the Atlantic!...will I get another bonus if I send you some bottled rain Bill?

Cheers

Liz

Sorry Moley - I wasn't ignoring your scoop on ...

2009-07-01T08:42:30.239-07:00

Sorry Moley - I wasn't ignoring your scoop on the definition of TESTER. Our separate posts seem to have crossed in the e-post so I was unaware that you had scooped me.

Glad to hear you knew it already though (yeah, right !) !!

- P.

Hi Bill, Hi All, Comhghairdeachas Bill. I won'...

2009-07-01T08:31:29.886-07:00

Hi Bill, Hi All,
Comhghairdeachas Bill.
I won't need to check the spelling of checkers/Chequers in future. Unless Ksher is a word! No, I didn't think so.
35a (demean) was the other word that left me unfulfilled.

All the Best
Bustop

Hi Moley/Peter: Good spot on a'tester' be...

2009-07-01T04:54:13.061-07:00

Hi Moley/Peter:

Good spot on a'tester' being a canopy over a bed. I had hummed and hawed between tester and taster before taking a guess.

Crosaire is great for extending the vocabulary - I'm sure most of us get at least one new meaning/word every day. Personally today, I got INHERE and TESTER as well as learning to spell CHEQUERS! DOGGO was in not so long back, but was new to me then!

Bill, Happy Anniversary - I forgot to say that earlier.

Cheers,

Barry

Dang ! Just noticed that TESTER is the answer - n...

2009-07-01T04:34:36.143-07:00

Dang !

Just noticed that TESTER is the answer - not TASTER as I had put in. Not enough Zinfadel for breakfast clearly !

I couldn't make sense of the bed part of that clue and with T-STE- already filled in I didn't hesitate to lash in TASTER (person who might be trying). I should know better by now !

But here's an interesting thing : like you Bill a test-bed is something I have encountered in the IT business and it's a plausible explanation but, forgive me oh 13m ad 50s one, I felt it was a bit obscure even by Derek's standards.

Enter GOOGLE : I found a definition of TESTER that's new to me as follows :- "a flat canopy (especially one over a four-poster bed)".

Once again Derek has made me wiser (well less thick at least)!

- P.

Hi, Finally got one complete since returning to t...

2009-07-01T04:32:57.438-07:00

Hi,

Finally got one complete since returning to the Crosaire after a 7 or 8 year absence. I have to admit that I was not sure about where the answer "aches" came from but..I guessed right. Not quite 13' but its a start.

Hi Again..definition update..a tester is a canopy ...

2009-07-01T04:22:31.833-07:00

Hi Again..definition update..a tester is a canopy over a four-poster bed..I knew that..

Hi Bill.. Double Congrats on Anniversary and Crosa...

2009-07-01T04:14:57.148-07:00

Hi Bill..
Double Congrats on Anniversary and Crosaire Time!
Was dubious about the double draught but apparently it worked for you!!
Re Tester..I thought it might have something to do with embroidery..I know a tester is like a sampler but I thought maybe M Crozier might have thought it was a complete quilt!! He's still in the dark ages regarding women so maybe he's not too up to speed on needlework...
Cheers M

Hi Bill, Peter, Sounds like you had a great time ...

2009-07-01T01:45:20.238-07:00

Hi Bill, Peter,

Sounds like you had a great time last night Bill! Must try the alcohol. It can only help.

My quickest yet also, (by my standards) and bidders was also my last. I liked CHEQUERS, DRAUGHTS and DOGGO. I guessed INHERE from inherent.

I was very unsure about TESTER, but it was the only thing that would fit.

Best wishes to all

Eleanor

Hi All, Well I thought I was on for 3/3, but got ...

2009-07-01T01:42:54.266-07:00

Hi All,

Well I thought I was on for 3/3, but got one wrong today - had CHORUS instead of CROCUS - I wasn't really happy with it but couldn't think of anything else.

Bill, I don't know how you get those fast times - even without a draught, your average time seems to be around my best! Well done to you.

Was a bit thrown by CHEQUERS as I didn't know the spelling and was trying to fit CHECKERS in, which made me doubt USHERS for a while.

The SE corner was my last to finish. Was sure ACHES was correct, but just counldn't see the shore connection for ages.

Anyway, hope you all fared OK today.

Cheers,

Barry

Morning All ! Congrats Bill - that was quite a fe...

2009-07-01T00:47:27.689-07:00

Morning All !

Congrats Bill - that was quite a feat ! I was quick myself this morning but not that quick ! Zinfandel for breakfast isn't really an option (even in alcoolic Ireland) and Alpen doesn't seem to work as well !!

Worried about the second DRAUGHTS but it was the only answer. BIDDERS was inexplicably slow in coming but eventually it did. Hadn't heard of lying doggo but went for it anyway because it fit both clue and the letters and I guessed it was something to do with with DOGGEREL which is nonsense verse or something like that which mught be untrue and thus lying. Clearly wrong rationale but the right answer - not for the frst time !

Jeans On - now there's a memory-driving song if ever there was one. Always had it on my top 10 of one hit wonder pop songs.

Incidentally - I've decided to stop calling myself PORO because the other Peter seems to have moved on and I'm now laying claim to primary Peterness !

- Peter