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edited December 2017 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Christmas Day on PB wouldn’t be Christmas without the St. John Christmas Crossword

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  • DecrepitJohnL
    DecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    Merry Christmas. Happy punting on politics in 2018.
  • old_labour
    old_labour Posts: 3,238
    Happy Christmas everyone.
  • rcs1000
    rcs1000 Posts: 60,717
    Donald Trump has (seriously) commissioned a poll about his first year in office.

    https://action.donaldjtrump.com/inaugural-year-approval-poll/

    Any PBers want to tell me if there any methodological issues that I should be aware of?
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Happy Christmas all.

    6A Iraq
    10A Isle
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    Is 1A Pittsburgh ?
  • Toms
    Toms Posts: 2,478
    rcs1000 said:

    Donald Trump has (seriously) commissioned a poll about his first year in office.

    https://action.donaldjtrump.com/inaugural-year-approval-poll/

    Any PBers want to tell me if there any methodological issues that I should be aware of?

    unbloodybelievable. To call it tendentious would be an understatement.
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    24a Tate ?

    Tate and Lyle makes sugar, David Davis nleft Tate and Lyle, sugar rots your teeth. TATE is an art gallery.

    1a Pittsburgh; Pitt sold his rotten borough, old Sarum, burgh is more or less borough. Pitt comes first
  • edmundintokyo
    edmundintokyo Posts: 17,735
    edited December 2017
    rcs1000 said:

    Donald Trump has (seriously) commissioned a poll about his first year in office.

    https://action.donaldjtrump.com/inaugural-year-approval-poll/

    Any PBers want to tell me if there any methodological issues that I should be aware of?

    Looks completely legit as far as I can tell.

    How would you rate President Trump’s first year in office (2017)?
    Great
    Good
    Okay
    Other

    How would you rate President Obama’s first year in office (2009)?
    Great
    Good
    Okay
    Poor
    Other
  • Nigelb
    Nigelb Posts: 79,356
    rcs1000 said:

    Donald Trump has (seriously) commissioned a poll about his first year in office.

    https://action.donaldjtrump.com/inaugural-year-approval-poll/

    Any PBers want to tell me if there any methodological issues that I should be aware of?

    That's clearly a great poll; just the best poll...

    Anyway, you should be grateful to him for making it possible say Merry Christmas once again:
    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/12/trump-praises-himself-in-call-to-troops-we-say-christmas-again-very-proudly.html
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    Is 1 Down
    Pick ?
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    Is 1 Down Cade as in Jack Cade the rebel. Church = CE plus Ad = present day.
  • felix
    felix Posts: 15,180
    Feliz navidad y año nuevo from sunny Almería!
  • Pulpstar
    Pulpstar Posts: 79,813
    SandraMc said:

    Is 1 Down Cade as in Jack Cade the rebel. Church = CE plus Ad = present day.

    1 across can't be Pittsburgh then !
  • Alanbrooke
    Alanbrooke Posts: 25,926
    Merry Christmas to all PBers
  • Verulamius
    Verulamius Posts: 1,555
    Merry Christmas.

    I am no good at cryptic crosswords, but can just marvel at the explained answers.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    Is 7 down reserve? Re-serve as in Minister again?

    And Merry Christmas everyone.
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    10 across ISLE. Hopefully can do the easy ones
  • Mortimer
    Mortimer Posts: 14,229
    26 across, Dean?
  • SquareRoot
    SquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    Mery Xmas everyone
  • felix
    felix Posts: 15,180
    1 down must be Dean - rebel with a cause?
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    edited December 2017
    Morning all and merry Xmas.

    Correct answers so far are

    6 ac. IRAQ. Intelligence is IQ. Soldiers is RA = Royal Artillery. I (RA) Q.

    10 ac. ISLE. Bute is an isle here not a Prime Minister. His lead after had is cut = ISLE.

    1 down. CADE. Present day = AD, Anno Domini. Church = CE, Church of England. AD CE welcomes = C (AD) E.

    7 down. RESERVE. Double definition. To hold back is to reserve and to minister again is to re-serve.

  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    26 ac. DEAN. Double definition. Principal of a college, for instance, is a dean. Then it’s Howard, “I had a scream”.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    For 364 days a year we have cross words, and then for the PB Christmas truce we have a crossword.

    I'm better at Sudoku, so I'll leave it to the experts.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandyRentool said:

    For 364 days a year we have cross words, and then for the PB Christmas truce we have a crossword.

    I'm better at Sudoku, so I'll leave it to the experts.

    I once described Political Betting social events here. When you face your enemy it’s not so easy to be rude. We meet up in No Man’s Land and suspend hostilities for one day. The talk is often about football.
  • philiph
    philiph Posts: 4,705
    Happy Christmas to all.
  • TheScreamingEagles
    TheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,806
    Merry Christmas everyone.

    Thanks once again to St John for another great crossword.

    Let us not forget the most important message about Christmas Day.

    A man came from the stars to save humanity and to teach us a better way.

    He died to save humanity and was reborn.

    He will do the same again today, so don't forget to watch Peter Capaldi's final stint as The Doctor on BBC1 at 5.30pm in the Doctor Who Christmas special.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    14 Across Redact Left wing = red legislation = act. Together = redact or black out.
  • stodge
    stodge Posts: 14,907
    Morning all :)

    I'll leave the crossword to others apart from thanking all those involved for tying other people up in cerebral knots today.

    Merry Christmas to all on PB, whether regular contributor, occasional participant and especially the lurkers - come out of the lurking chamber and join the debate but remember Stodge's Golden Rule on PB - your first post will always be your best so make it a great one.

    Thanks also to OGH, TSE and others for keeping this site going and a special thanks to all those who contribute guest threads for our perusal. For those who've never put up a guest thread - why not try it ?

    Have a wonderful day and whether your company is your family, someone else's family, last night's takeaway, a fine single malt or the mad people in the flat above going at it like rabbits, be well and at peace.
  • Freggles
    Freggles Posts: 3,487
    I'm rubbish at these - Merry Christmas all.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    14 Across Redact Left wing = red legislation = act. Together = redact or black out.

    Yes.
  • Torby_Fennel
    Torby_Fennel Posts: 438
    Verulamius said:

    Merry Christmas.

    I am no good at cryptic crosswords, but can just marvel at the explained answers.

    Likewise. My brain isn't wired that way. Even when I see the answers to a cryptic crossword I struggle to link them back to the clues! :)

    Merry Christmas to everyone. :)
  • dixiedean
    dixiedean Posts: 30,316
    17 across national anagram.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    edited December 2017
    dixiedean said:

    17 across national anagram.

    Yes. Built is the anagram indicator. The letters of “on a Latin” are “built” into NATIONAL. Which as an adjective means state. It’s also a horse race of course. I fancy TIGER ROLL for next year’s race, if he turns up.
  • RobD
    RobD Posts: 60,608
    Thanks stjohn :)
  • AndyJS
    AndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Merry Christmas everyone, and thanks to St John for the crossword.
  • Beverley_C
    Beverley_C Posts: 6,256
    edited December 2017
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    Thanks once again to St John for another great crossword.

    Let us not forget the most important message about Christmas Day.

    A man came from the stars to save humanity and to teach us a better way.

    He died to save humanity and was reborn.

    He will do the same again today, so don't forget to watch Peter Capaldi's final stint as The Doctor on BBC1 at 5.30pm in the Doctor Who Christmas special.

    :+1:

    Merry Xmas everyone

    (I don't do crosswords. Good luck to those who do)
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,076
    Merry Christmas everybody!

    I'm more of a "quick" crossword man than a cryptic crossword man :)
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    18 Down Theresa? There's a?
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    13 Down Frank Field?? Frank = open Field = department
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    18 Down Theresa? There's a?

    Yes to THERESA. In that case = There, as in “for instance”. If you have “it” you have sex appeal, which in crossword land can be abbreviated to SA. There + sa = THERESA.

    I’m popping out for some festive cheer. I can monitor progress but probably not post.

    Back later when hopefully the annual joke from our Putney resident will have resurfaced.

  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    13 Down Frank Field?? Frank = open Field = department

    Yes.

  • OldKingCole
    OldKingCole Posts: 35,274
    Having a short break from being a merry old Grandpa, so all the best to all PB- ers.
  • Rebourne_Fluffy
    Rebourne_Fluffy Posts: 225
    Whom is Auntie-Hortence today? Could we get that 'gender-fluid' to update the puzzle [image] such that lesser-mortals may participate?

    Hugs, Kent. :)
  • SouthamObserver
    SouthamObserver Posts: 40,054
    I love Christmas traditions and I am pleased to say that this year just like all previous ones I have no idea about any of the answers to these impenetrable - to my feeble mind - clues.

    Wishing all of you the very best for the day!!
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    8 down Queen Anne's. Queen Anne's War. Plus Ascot's Queen Anne's Stakes with takes off.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    8 down Queen Anne's. Queen Anne's War. Plus Ascot's Queen Anne's Stakes with takes off.

    Yes. Thanks for keeping it moving along.

  • peter_from_putney
    peter_from_putney Posts: 6,956
    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    18 Down Theresa? There's a?

    Yes to THERESA. In that case = There, as in “for instance”. If you have “it” you have sex appeal, which in crossword land can be abbreviated to SA. There + sa = THERESA.

    I’m popping out for some festive cheer. I can monitor progress but probably not post.

    Back later when hopefully the annual joke from our Putney resident will have resurfaced.

    Not wishing to diappoint, here especially for you stjohn, is tne annual Christmas Day airing of what is undoubtedly the finest joke ever recited on PB.com:

    "A Brummie goes for a job interview wearing a polyester shirt, bright
    flares and big boots.The interviewer says "All you need now is a kipper
    tie."The Brummie replies, "That would be love-lay, two sugars, ploise."

    Haha, haha, haha, It's the way I tell 'em you know!



  • dixiedean
    dixiedean Posts: 30,316
    9 across Dickensian? Former MP Dickens plus Ian (Gilmour).
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    dixiedean said:

    9 across Dickensian? Former MP Dickens plus Ian (Gilmour).

    Yes. Geoffrey Dickens.

  • dixiedean
    dixiedean Posts: 30,316
    Which would then make 5 Down Tea Party.
    Still is yet. gin is a kind of trap for birds. Reversed before a.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    dixiedean said:

    Which would then make 5 Down Tea Party.
    Still is yet. gin is a kind of trap for birds. Reversed before a.

    Yes.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    TV highlight of the day just about to start - Tim Farron Lecture on BBC Parliament!
  • dixiedean
    dixiedean Posts: 30,316
    SandyRentool said:

    TV highlight of the day just about to start - Tim Farron Lecture on BBC Parliament!

    Not "Nativity 3 Dude Where's my Donkey?". Sounds better.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    8 down Queen Anne's. Queen Anne's War. Plus Ascot's Queen Anne's Stakes with takes off.

    Yes. Thanks for keeping it moving along.

    stjohn said:

    SandraMc said:

    8 down Queen Anne's. Queen Anne's War. Plus Ascot's Queen Anne's Stakes with takes off.

    Yes. Thanks for keeping it moving along.

    This one was for Peter The Punter.

    In all previous years 1 across has referenced a PBer. But not this year. There is one answer which pays tribute to a notable PBer but it’s not 1 across.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    I've given up on Farron. He should have been a preacher rather than a politician.
  • Sunil_Prasannan
    Sunil_Prasannan Posts: 55,076
    Hope everyone enjoyed their Brexit Sprouts :lol:
  • stodge
    stodge Posts: 14,907
    Afternoon all :)

    As usual, I am in charge of the Christmas repast so while keeping one eye on the roast beef, potatoes and parsnips in the oven I've had a quick look at tomorrow's King George.

    I can't believe WHISPER is 7/1 - a knocking each way bet for this observer if all eight stand. MIGHT BE is very short at 11/8, it'll surely happen too fast for BRISTOL DE MAI while FOX NORTON is unproven at the trip and THISTLECRACK ran a stinker at Newbury.

    I'd fancy TEA FOR TWO but he's turned up to the wrong race - he should be in the Welsh National on Thursday.

    Now, where's the horseradish ?
  • rkrkrk
    rkrkrk Posts: 8,746
    27 Across: Murderhole?
    Dr + Home Rule?
  • DavidL
    DavidL Posts: 55,867
    SandyRentool said:

    I've given up on Farron. He should have been a preacher rather than a politician.

    I got Adults in the room by your picture namesake from my daughter for Christmas. Really looking forward to it.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    rkrkrk said:

    27 Across: Murderhole?
    Dr + Home Rule?

    No not murderhole.

  • rkrkrk
    rkrkrk Posts: 8,746
    stjohn said:

    rkrkrk said:

    27 Across: Murderhole?
    Dr + Home Rule?

    No not murderhole.

    I’m rubbish at these.
  • SandraMc
    SandraMc Posts: 763
    2 down Richard? H for Henry in Ricard - a pastis, I believe.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    rkrkrk said:

    stjohn said:

    rkrkrk said:

    27 Across: Murderhole?
    Dr + Home Rule?

    No not murderhole.

    I’m rubbish at these.
    Thanks for trying!

  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    SandraMc said:

    2 down Richard? H for Henry in Ricard - a pastis, I believe.

    Yes.
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    DavidL said:

    SandyRentool said:

    I've given up on Farron. He should have been a preacher rather than a politician.

    I got Adults in the room by your picture namesake from my daughter for Christmas. Really looking forward to it.
    I look forward to reading your review. Sounds like your daughter may be trying to convert you into a lefty!
  • Andypet
    Andypet Posts: 36
    24A Eden
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    edited December 2017
    Andypet said:

    24A Eden

    Yes.

    Edentate is toothless. Without Tate = Eden.

  • Andypet
    Andypet Posts: 36
    22A Frederick North
  • Andypet
    Andypet Posts: 36
    21D UK-Wide
  • rkrkrk
    rkrkrk Posts: 8,746
    15A : Question?
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    22 with a bit of internet assistance...

    Frederick North

    Forth (Scottish village) red (socialist) Eric (blair) kn (half knew)
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    26A (Howard) Dean
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    Yes to Frederick North as described. Also UK wide. Tusk with the odd letters omitted is UK and an extra is a wide.
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    rkrkrk said:

    15A : Question?

    No. Not question.

  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    edited December 2017
    alex. said:

    26A (Howard) Dean

    Yeahh!

  • DecrepitJohnL
    DecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    If Father Christmas gave you a book token, then to help you choose, iplayer has eight episodes of BBC Parliament's Book Talk, including the Christmas special:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09k97sq/booktalk-christmas-special
  • rkrkrk
    rkrkrk Posts: 8,746
    23 Down - Name?
  • MaxPB
    MaxPB Posts: 40,327
    My duck went down very well for the second year running.

    Merry Christmas to all PBers! Here's to a hopefully less combative and divisive 2018.
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    edited December 2017
    1A Corbynista! :)
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    alex. said:

    1A Corbynista! :)

    Yes! Rotten is the anagram indicator for nista. Corby is the borough which comes first.

  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    rkrkrk said:

    23 Down - Name?

    No. That’s the esteemed the PBer.

  • Ishmael_Z
    Ishmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    3 yvette cooper?
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    stjohn said:

    rkrkrk said:

    23 Down - Name?

    No. That’s the esteemed the PBer.

    Ooh - is it Mike?
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    Ishmael_Z said:

    3 yvette cooper?

    Very good. Another anagram

  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    23D Fear
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    Only thing to fear is fear itself
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    2D Richard
  • AlastairMeeks
    AlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    14A redact
  • Ishmael_Z
    Ishmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    11D abolitionist
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    Can’t believe I can’t even do 1d when we’ve got 2 of the letters
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    Sorry to drag things back to politics, but:

    'Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been formally barred from competing in next year's presidential election.'

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42479909
  • SandyRentool
    SandyRentool Posts: 23,156
    AlastairMeeks said:

    14A redact

    I can actually understand that one!
  • Ishmael_Z
    Ishmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    12 Martin van Buren
  • rkrkrk
    rkrkrk Posts: 8,746
    25A - assimilate?
  • nielh
    nielh Posts: 1,307
    Merry christmas.

    No idea re the crossword. I've never been any good at them, this is no exception.
  • Ishmael_Z
    Ishmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    20D outback
  • alex.
    alex. Posts: 4,658
    edited December 2017
    Ishmael_Z said:

    12 Martin van Buren

    Seems you need to know your obscure US history for this one!

  • Andrew
    Andrew Posts: 2,900
    edited December 2017
    SandyRentool said:

    Sorry to drag things back to politics, but:

    'Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been formally barred from competing in next year's presidential election.'


    You could probably file that under least surprising political news of the year.

    I wonder what Putin plans for when his 6 year term runs out in 2024. Formally he can't stand again, so repeat the job-swap stunt with Medvedev? Or screw that, abandon the pretence and declare himself Eternal Leader for life?
  • Ishmael_Z
    Ishmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    27a undertaker
  • stjohn
    stjohn Posts: 1,910
    3D. Yes. Yvette Cooper. Anagram of “type to cover” around E for European.
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