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Special Instructions: My dad 1d died a couple of months ago: he'd been a big fan of the Herald cryptics (especially the Wee Stinker, which I've never been able to get my head around at all) and when he heard I'd been dipping my toe into setting he asked me to set him a crossword for his Christmas this year. Thankfully (??!!) he died before I'd put any serious effort into it (apologies: black humour helps) but some of the clues I'd been going to include are incorporated into this puzzle. RIP dad.

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9 comments

S
Sisyphus

Hi Orinoco, nice tribute to your dad- I’m sure he would have appreciated it, both as dad and impartial solver. My crossophile mum also just died, so I get the sentiment. Lots of well-turned clues in the mix, faves including 15a, 19a, 2d, 6d, 13d and 17d. Beaten by the Aussieness of 1a and a couple of quibbles because they’re a tribute too…

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4 replies
Last reply 7 hr agoView thread
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Podger

Thanks Orinoco. My interest in crosswords also derives mainly from my late father (though he was a Scotsman man) so I can very much relate to this. I'm sure your dad would have loved it. My favourites were 1a, 9a (it flummoxed me, but yes, it's fair...), 31a, 2d, 4d, 17d, 20d and 30d. The construct in 25a is also brilliant, but Sisyphus has already pointed out where alas it doesn't quite work. Overall a good challenge and v enjoyable.

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1 reply
Last reply 7 hr agoView thread
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Cogs

Hi Orinoco, I really enjoyed this grid and was very touched by it. I also relatively recently lost my father and happen to be working on a puzzle in tribute to him - it was a nice though sombre surprise to see the same concept so wonderfully executed. I found it a relatively smooth ride: I’m happy with your use of initially in 9A, but 25A troubled me for the reason mentioned by others. 29A, 5D and 30D were favourites!

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1 reply
Last reply 7 hr agoView thread