It was good to see a newbie’s cryptic within the puzzles summer time particular that got here along with your print version (16 July), with explanations of a number of the fundamental kinds of cryptic crossword clue. However an important conference went unexplained: the definition a part of the clue all the time comes both firstly or the top, or in some devious manner takes up the entire clue – it’s by no means squirrelled away within the center.
Jonathan Gibson
Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
I’m not certain whether or not I’m relieved or disillusioned to see the answer to final Saturday’s Fast crossword. Having obtained the primary letter T and third letter A for six down, “Despicable individual (casual) (4)”, I notice it’s revealed to be TOAD.
Charlie Leventon
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Your article says Tafarn Sinc (Zinc Tavern), “regardless of the title, is definitely constructed from sheets of corrugated iron” (A fantastic hill stroll to an excellent Pembrokeshire pub: Tafarn Sinc, 1 July). The explanation that the corrugated iron continues to be there after greater than 140 years is that it was galvanised, ie coated with zinc.
John French
London
Stuart Jeffries, looking for a treatment for his loud loud night breathing, may wish to attempt nostril respiratory by putting a small, vertical strip of surgical tape over his lips, as championed by James Nestor within the e book Breath. It could be quite a bit cheaper than all of the anti-snoring devices (Loud night breathing was ruining my marriage – right here’s how I lastly cured myself, 16 July).
Sarah Hughes
Chichester, West Sussex
Bryan Criminal ought to know that it’s by no means too late to fall in love (Letters, 20 July). “When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing’s out of season.”
Margaret Forrester (additionally 85)
Edinburgh
