Whether it is because of the recent reports of Farage's cooked dealings and undeclared donations, or the farce he has created in the Clacton byelection (where, as many have said, he is fighting a bin, and seems worried), or whether Andy Burmham has managed to connect in a real way during his first few days as PM, it does seem that the latest opinion polls show Reform's support going into reverse. And Labour's increasing.
And so to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, to see Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy.
We were quite keen to see this. It is an early Shaffer, a farcical comedy with a clever conceit.
When the light is on in the flat where all the action takes place, the auditorium is plunged into darkness. But when the lights in the flat fail, the stage is lit, and the audience can see the characters difficulties, fumbling in the dark.
It could have been very good. But, sadly, the production proceeded at a continuous loud bellow. There were no moments of quiet, or calm to accentuate the comedy. Instead, it was just loud and raucous through pretty much the whole 80-90 minutes.
Disappointing.
Although admittedly, the Guardian liked it.
So, yesterday's Prize crossword in the Grauniad by Kite had a timely theme.
Tricky, as we missed it!
But fun.
So, today's Cryptic Crossword in the Guardian was number 30,000.
For which the paper prepared a real challenge.
Note: There are many spoilers below!
...
....
Crossword No 30,000 was by Arachne (aka the Spider Woman). Having solved it, the answers at top and bottom point the solver to the perimeter of the Quick Crossword.
...
Which is a Nina, presenting a cryptic clue.
...
Solving which points you to today's Editorial (The Guardian View). Which is a lovely piece, worth reading, about the Guardian Cryptic Crosswords in particular, with lots of links (eg to an old interview with Arachne).
But that isn't all...
...
One of the answers to Cryptic 30,000 is "Acrostic". And the first letters of each paragraph of the Editorial form an Acrostic.
Which reads:
...
LAST THIRTY FIVE PRIMES.
...
And then (this from a post by "Askival" to the estimable Fifteensquared Website):
If you look at the bottom row of the cryptics whose numbers are the 35 primes before 30,000 (going all the way back to 2/1/2025!) you get:
29581 WELL DONE
29587 BRAVO
29599 HERE
29611 IN CONCLUSION
29629 IS OUR F
29633 INAL CH
29641 ALLENG
29663 E ARE YOU
29669 KEEPING UP GREAT
29671 THERE WI
29683 LL BE A WON
29717 DERF
29723 UL PRIZ
29741 E BUT FIR
29753 ST YOU M
29759 UST ENT
29761 ER A RAC
29789 E NOT A N
29803 ACTUAL ATHLETIC
29819 RACE OF C
29833 OURSE TH
29837 AT WOULD
29851 BE WEIRD
29863 NOT THAT
29867 IT’S A CER
29873 EBRAL RA
29879 CE IN THE
29881 FORM OF A
29917 CROSSWORD PUZZLE
29921 IT’S A GEN
29927 IUS PUBL
29947 ISHED AT
29959 NOON BST
29983 TOMORROW
29989 GODSPEED
So this has been planned for well over a year, and continues with a GENIUS puzzle tomorrow.
They are notoriously hard...
As Space Junkies, we have obviously been glued to our screens and radios for the latest information about the Artemis II trip around the moon.
And we enjoyed yesterday's Guardian Prize crossword on a similar theme.
We do worry, however, about the advertising.
First a jar of Nutella flies weightlessly across the capsule on camera - to the joy, doubtless, of the Nutella advertising department.
And then there was this advert for Tunnock's Teacakes:
Political commentary has been full of budget speculation for the last few weeks. Many people seem to have pointed out that Brexit has made everything worse.
Today is budget day, and doubtless there will be a reaction, whatever is announced. That will take a while.
But what will people talk about then?
Back in 2013, there was a Guardian cryptic crossword set by Biggles. Who was so called because he was actually a team of four setters, all called John (including John Halpern - Paul - and John Graham - the late and much missed Araucaria).
At one point that year, Biggles set a crossword whose solutions were a 50th wedding anniversary celebration gift to Timothy West and Prunella Scales. Both of them were keen cruciverbalists, and I remember it being a tough solve.
A few days later I was on one of the long escalators leading up from the tube at Euston station, when I realised that Tim and Pru were behind me. I had to turn and congratulate them, and say how much I enjoyed 'their' crossword.
I think they were quite pleased. But I do remember afterwards thinking they might have been more chuffed if I'd praised them for their theatrical achievements!
Anyway, John Graham passed several years ago, and Tim West more recently. And now Pru has gone as well.
RIP Prunella Scales.
So it appears that the South African restaurant on Nunhead Lane, Kudu, has closed. We found out about it from the Guardian, because - it seems - they are closing their eateries in Peckham to be able to launch a swanky new place in Marylebone. Grace Dent has reviewed the latter.
We were never that attracted to Kudu, to be fair, despite the fact that they seemed to have a good reputation amongst foodies. It seemed very meat- and - barbecue- oriented, and for a long time the non-meat options weren't enticing. That did change before the end, but it is too late now...
So, farewell Kudu.
To be totally honest, we felt the loss of the wonderful Babette's from the same physical building far more. That was a joyous, quirky and eclectic French bar/restaurant, with a rich and enjoyable range of food and drinks, presided over by the eponymous Ms B. And they did very good work to support the local community over the pandemic lockdown.
We were very, very sad when they closed down.
However, it is probably worth remembering that the site - at 57 Nunhead Lane - has taken on many other guises over the years.
And as we asked before, what next?
Roughly fifty years ago, give or take, I solved my first ever Guardian cryptic crossword clue. It was an Araucaria, of course. We were in the library at school.
The clue was "Begin description of dining room (8)".
This week's Prize crossword by Matilda included "Start talking about the restaurant I went to last night? (8)".
They do, of course, have the same answer.
We at the Trees have been busy, and as a result have been rather remiss about posting anything regarding the General Election.
Five years ago (alright, late 2019) we had a long letter about the GE that year published in the Guardian.
No such literary masterpiece this time, but we do have A View.
Wherever you are, in your local constituency, we urge you to VOTE for the candidate who is most likely to defeat the local Tory candidate. There are a lot of independent Web sites that can provide that information (eg the one Carol Vorderman is supporting).
In 99% of cases, that won't be Reform. Who are, if anything, worse.
But it might be Labour, Lib Dem, Green, SNP, Plaid, etc.
Whatever it takes to ensure we keep this corrupt cabal of grifting chancers away from Government.
Hopefully, for a very, very long time.
It's worth it.
https://www.theguardian.com/.../kokum-london-dulwich-se22...
