Crosswords.

[Nick Harvey]

Surely nine across is "strident", and whatever you've got the "o" in is wrong?

[Gluben]

Surely nine across is "strident", and whatever you've got the "o" in is wrong?

Yes, I agree. That seems the only plausible solution.

[Lorns]

There is a slight possibility that i may have 4D wrong.

It's the times 2 crossword. The one with Sudoku.. I won't even attempt that.

[chinajan]

It has to be 'strident'.

I prefer cryptic crosswords meself. Used to download The Guardian's, especially when compiled by Araucaria, but a couple of years ago they got wise and started charging about £25 per year.

So I stopped.

[Nick Harvey]

Used to download The Guardian's, especially when compiled by Araucaria.

Sounds as if you're like me and you get used to a particular complier and their thought processes.

There was a period of about a year, about ten years ago, when I used to finish the big Telegraph crossword every single day, simply in the time it took to write the answers in.

Then the compiler changed and I couldn't get into their brain, so I lost interest.

Doing "strident" tonight was, probably the first crossword clue I've done for the best part of the ten years.

[chinajan]

Used to download The Guardian's, especially when compiled by Araucaria.

Sounds as if you're like me and you get used to a particular complier and their thought processes.

Indeed. You do get to know how they think/put clues together.

You should try and get back into the cryptic crossword groove. The cerebral equivalent of Castrol GTX on an engine. Allegedly.

Here's one of my favourite clues [how sad does that sound?] from a long ago puzzle:

'Is the chemist's formula T over 99?' [5]

[Nick Harvey]

Haven't got an answer yet, but working on it.

Chemist's formula must be an Rx (doctor-speak for a prescription).

T is, I asume, T.

Over 99 is one hundred, or C.

So I've got RXTC so far, which doesn't seem to help me in the slightest.

Am I even close?

[Gluben]

Cents? Or Scent?

[Nick Harvey]

I wondered about "scent" for a while, as you (used to) buy perfume at a chemist's, but couldn't make it fit with the rest.

[Gluben]

I wondered about "scent" for a while, as you (used to) buy perfume at a chemist's, but couldn't make it fit with the rest.

Well over 99 pointed me to 100, which means "centum", so half of that, plus the T, gave "cent". Then add the "s" for either "scent" or "cents". I'm probably way off as well!

[Lorns]

That is exactly why i like take a breaks crosswords and the daily mirrors. I know how they think. I think the Times was a bit too much for me.
BBsee and Mr. Nick have lost me on their thought analysis.

That was the first time i've done an Xword in ages.

Thankyou everyone for all your help. I still haven't completed it. Sadly it is now lining the cat litter tray, so i haven't completed the Times crossword.