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Jigjag

Jaimie Coppinger to the rescue! He likes the big games - pity no crowd there - time we got the vaccine so we can have a life again!

Hello, Jigjag,

That was a worrying moment for me, seeing asterisks in a post from you! Yes, the **** is a synonym for fit, become (you) etc. I thought the 'ess' ending would **** you more than me. Is it a word you have ever dropped into conversation? I had never even seen it before!

Orc/auk/awk is dire, shake/sheikh is ... just about tolerable in my mind (my accent). I growled at today's 'it' clue, distinctly un-appealing!

Malone

Suitress!! What a lovely word, though I have never heard of it either. Grunger will love it and add it to her collection of strange -ess words.

I see what you mean about asterisks. They seem to be used to denote unacceptable words, but I would never use them. Perhaps I should have used dashes.

Jigjag

Glad you liked the very unusual 'suitress'. It's a word I have never needed and I don't intend to use it any time soon. I hope Grunger passes by sometime and sees it.

The asterisks caused me only a second or two of consternation. I do the Private Eye crossword and help out with occasional queries on that - the posts here need the odd asterisk or two!

A non-cryptic clue I came across this morning: More immediately (6).
Is it possible to be more immediate? It seems like "more unique" to me.

Also I notice a number of answers to crosswords that must baffle anyone under 50 or even 60: such as Charlie Drake, Ernie (Wise), Sargent (conductor). Then again, even I'm too young to remember Model T Fords even though model = T still comes up in clues.

bradman turned up in today's guardian puzzle.

Tyke Malone and Jigjag

Thanks for thinking of me. I'm fine but have been very busy lately. I should be able to post more, now that we have been re-lockdowned.

Tyke

I liked your clue for "parties". A clue for that appeared in the Times earlier this week.

Malone

I love your "suitress". I will add it to my list of rare -ess words such as carpentress, executioneress et al. You're right that I am a suitable suitress.

Jigjag

I liked your Hallowe'en poem, and your idea of e'e, e'en when nothing is missing.

Grunger

Thanks. I was glad to hear you've been fine and very busy, and even gladder that you'll be posting more. Your -ess file must be pretty thick by now. If you ever want it pruned, I can give you contact details for an excellent sub-editress.

Jigjag

Grunger's post reminded me that I forgot to thank you for the good little poem.

Grunger

Pleased to hear from you - trust you`re prancing around the local park regularly - I`m a bit bored with taking the same route every day.

Grunger

Very pleased you are back and keeping busy with exercising, baking and....eating?

Malone

Yes I notice you help with the Private Eye crossword. You must find some of the clues rather distasteful, so it is very sporting of you to offer hints. Do you write anything for that publication? Some of your stuff here is good enough for it. I read it occasionally.