Crossword Obsession

It's not even the Cryptic Crossword, which I can only even bear to look at out of eyes shaded by fingers, just peeking round the edges of my hands at ludicrously difficult clues. No, my growing obsession is the Guardian Quick Crossword - three straight days getting the whole thing done, and then suddenly, wham, today, stuck on about eight different clues, and having to force myself not to telephone the 'solutions hotline' because it's all a problem of diminishing satisfactions...works like this: you get the maximum satisfaction from just working out the clues by yourself; you get the second most satisfaction by looking up the ones you can't get on the internet...but actually descending to phoning the hotline? I think it'll just be diminishing returns from here on in; on the other hand it's twenty-three hours until tomorrow's paper comes...how do I get through today when 13 across is "hot air" and it's _U_K_M??????

Comments

[joan]

Is it bunkum? Isn't it funny how sometimes you can just spot an answer, while other times you just stare and stare. Best wishes,

Joan

[Dina rabinovitch]

oh joan - brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!!!

[Brian Abbott]

Damn and blast, I was just going to tell you it was bunkum but Joan was quicker off the mark!

Looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday.

Brian

[Caroline]

No, I hadn't heard of that cream, and will give it a go if things go that way. Fingernails are okay as long as I keep them extremely short, and toenails holding their own so far, just separating into interesting strata (sorry to non-affected readers here). Thank you for the tips.
Have you come across the American website Her2Support.org, Dina? A lot of women on there are on Tykerb etc, and there's a lot of interesting stuff on it, people's experiences, how they are managing any side effects, etc. Also capecitabine (sp?), and other drugs not in common use/licensed here. Some are patients at John Hopkins/Sloane Kettering as you mention in your book. I have found it a great source of support, information, and HUMOUR (or humor).
Best wishes

[Dina rabinovitch]

Yes - her2support.org website great. also, forgot to mention the "gel inner soles" - also silipos, and others do them - you put them in your open-toes sandals, or shoes or whatever, and they are really cooling for bottom of feet.

[grannyp]

A crossword dictionary plus a Roget are INDISPENSABLE. XX

[anna walker]

its bunkum