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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Christmas Day on PB wouldn’t be Christmas without the StJohn C

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited December 2018 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Christmas Day on PB wouldn’t be Christmas without the StJohn Christmas Crossword (est 2007)

One of the great traditions on PB has been the StJohn Christmas Crossword. The has been published on most Christmas days on the site since 2007. Its creator, StJohn, is one of quite a group of PBers who have been coming here almost since the site’s foundation in 2004. This is his 2018 offering. Enjoy.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • What's the point of insomnia if you can't do crosswords?
  • 13 across Lefty?
  • JenSJenS Posts: 91
    Happy Christmas one and all.
  • 5D Ideal
    7D Brexiting
    19D Rhondda

    Mercy Christmas everyone.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,881
    7A - bud?
  • MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    7A Bud
  • Speaking of Bud, is 19 across 'regal' (lager backwards)?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777

    13 across Lefty?

    No. Not lefty.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777

    5D Ideal
    7D Brexiting
    19D Rhondda

    Mercy Christmas everyone.

    Yes to all three.

    Ideal. One = I. Possible Brexit outcome = Deal. I + Deal = Ideal, the best.

    Brexiting. About = Re. Ten = X. It's chilly = Biting. Re X, Biting outside = B (Re X) iting. Brexiting = Leaving.

    Rhondda. Right = R. Honourable = Hon. David Davies heads = DD. R + Hon + DD + a = Rhondda. Rhondda = constituency.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    rkrkrk said:

    7A - bud?

    Yes. Chancellor's responsibility = Budget. Half of Budget = Bud. Bud = growth.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777

    Speaking of Bud, is 19 across 'regal' (lager backwards)?

    Yes. Lager seen from the East is Regal. Regal = Majestic.
  • Christmas.
  • EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956

    Christmas.

    Merry
  • VerulamiusVerulamius Posts: 1,429
    Essexit said:

    Christmas.

    Merry
    Essexit said:

    Christmas.

    Merry
    Christmas
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517
    Merry Christmas everyone!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited December 2018
    Happy Christmas everyone. from Boston MA.
  • Good morning, my fellow Mithras devotees.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,742
    edited December 2018

    Good morning, my fellow Mithras devotees.

    Merry Christmas Mr Dancer.

    This one's for you:

    https://historyforatheists.com/2016/12/the-great-myths-2-christmas-mithras-and-paganism/
  • SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    Merry Xmas to everyone except for Gordon Brown.
  • Our local 24x7 McDonalds is closed on Christmas Day for the first time I can remember. #Brexit
  • 12A lefties
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 3,911
    A very merry Christmas to all PBers.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    greylag said:

    12A lefties

    Yes. English = E. Newspaper = FT (Financial Times). Stories = Lies. E FT breaking Lies =
    L(E FT)IES. Lefties = sinister people (left handed).

  • Welcome to PB, and Christmas, Mr. Lag.

    Mr. Doethur, interesting, but I thought the main aspect of coincidence was the resurrection rather than Christmas itself.

    I once designed a Mithratic temple secret area on a MUD (now defunct, alas) and did a spot of research into it then. One of the seven or so ranks was Perses[sp], meaning Persian, which fits with the Indo-Iranian background.
  • And from Trump to a 7 year old - undermining belief in Santa

    https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1077375011600678912
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    Merry Christmas one and all, may all PBers have a great day!
  • MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,921
    Merry Christmas everyone!
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941
    Merry Christmas!
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Saw this a few days ago. Thought it looked very good (subject to usual trailer risk)
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,571
    Happy Christmas - religious or secular - to all !

    With any luck, the crossword will be complete before I finish food prep.
  • Good news from Iran (and perhaps for Hunt backers)
    Abbas Edalat: British professor returns to UK after detention in Iran
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46679054
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,674
    Merry Christmas to everyone, hope everyone has a great day
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    Morning all. Probably my most expensive Christmas ever, along with billions of others...
  • RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    edited December 2018
    Well done stjohn and happy Christmas! I'll try it in my own time during the day.

    After letting Mike's film clip 'Brexit the Movie' run on I came across this Ted Talks by Alexander Betts and it's well worth the 15 minutes. An excellent summary of the why and how of the brexit vote.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcwuBo4PvE0
  • And from Trump to a 7 year old - undermining belief in Santa

    twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1077375011600678912

    A seasonal exchange overheard a couple of years back.

    Grandmother to grandchildren: "Don't just dump your bikes in the garden. Your mum and dad had to work hard and save up to buy them for you."

    Young boy: "Oh no, it's all right. We got them from Father Christmas."
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    I'm not much good at cryptic crosswords but delighted the tradition is still running.
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    Happy Christmas to all...

    ...and is 8d Denis Healey? Can’t quite see why “on vacation” would devote the first and last of “effortlessly”
  • glwglw Posts: 9,535
    Merry Christmas to everyone.

    I don't know what Donald Trump is doing today, but I hope he goes to church and listens very carefully for once.
  • Good morning and Merry Christmas to you all, including Remainers, Monarchists, Socialists, TSE and Mike!
  • I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(
  • RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    Pulpstar said:

    Morning all. Probably my most expensive Christmas ever, along with billions of others...

    You've not been betting on what time santa arrives have you?
  • Dr. Prasannan, you don't have to play :p
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,765
    ydoethur said:

    Good morning, my fellow Mithras devotees.

    Merry Christmas Mr Dancer.

    This one's for you:

    https://historyforatheists.com/2016/12/the-great-myths-2-christmas-mithras-and-paganism/
    That's a great website, with some excellent scholarship about the Roman Empire. As good as Kathryn Warner's Edward II BLOG.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Polruan said:

    Happy Christmas to all...

    ...and is 8d Denis Healey? Can’t quite see why “on vacation” would devote the first and last of “effortlessly”

    Yes. "Generating" indicates anagram of "headlines" = Denis Heal. On vacation = on emptying of its contents. So e(ffortlessl)y on vacation = Ey. Denis Heal + ey = Denis Healey = politician.
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    stjohn said:

    Polruan said:

    Happy Christmas to all...

    ...and is 8d Denis Healey? Can’t quite see why “on vacation” would devote the first and last of “effortlessly”

    Yes. "Generating" indicates anagram of "headlines" = Denis Heal. On vacation = on emptying of its contents. So e(ffortlessl)y on vacation = Ey. Denis Heal + ey = Denis Healey = politician.
    Very neat, thank you. I was there on the anagram but not seen the use of ‘vacation’ before. We have a very nice Christmas Day with no extended family = first chance to do the crossword for years.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,062
    Happy winterval! to all PBers' God bless us all, everyone, especially the Athiests :)

  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,742
    malcolmg said:

    Merry Christmas to everyone, hope everyone has a great day

    Morning Malcolm

    May the turnips of Scotland be roasted to your perfect satisfaction.

    Oh, and I hope the vegetables come out OK as well :smiley:
  • I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Yes. Don't play.
  • Speaking of educational websites, I read bits and pieces when I get the time on this one: http://europeanmiddleages.info/crusades/2nd/

    It's a good concise summary of some medieval history.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979

    I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Yes. Don't play.
    :)
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941

    I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Yes. Don't play.
    But then Sunil will never learn :p
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    Definitely did our part for the British economy this year, total Xmas bill as high as it's ever been. :/
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,263
    Happy Christmas all. Will just sit back and admire your collective ingenuity - I struggle to do even simple crosswords.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,717
    Happy Christmas to all. And Nadilg Llawen to ydoerhur and Big G.

    Read a very informative article on Celtic-Roman relationships in the 100’s BCE in my grandson’s History magazine yesterday. Meanwhile the rest of the family were wasomething which appeared to be about castrating lamas. The animals, not the Tibetans.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,393

    I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Just pretend that the crossword grid is a rail map and yellow pen the routes once someone gives the right answer.

    Merry Christmas one and all.
  • I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Yes. Don't play.
    Even the Guardian has an "easy" crossword.
  • sladeslade Posts: 1,921
    Merry Christmas everyone.
  • Happy Christmas to all. And Nadilg Llawen to ydoerhur and Big G.

    Read a very informative article on Celtic-Roman relationships in the 100’s BCE in my grandson’s History magazine yesterday. Meanwhile the rest of the family were wasomething which appeared to be about castrating lamas. The animals, not the Tibetans.

    Diolch yn fawr OKC and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family
  • malcolmg said:

    Merry Christmas to everyone, hope everyone has a great day

    Merry Christmas, Malc. Go easy on the Deep-fried Unionist :lol:
  • I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Just pretend that the crossword grid is a rail map and yellow pen the routes once someone gives the right answer.

    Merry Christmas one and all.
    Merry Christmas, Sandy. Point of order - I normally use black or blue pen :)
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,393

    I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Just pretend that the crossword grid is a rail map and yellow pen the routes once someone gives the right answer.

    Merry Christmas one and all.
    Merry Christmas, Sandy. Point of order - I normally use black or blue pen :)
    Sacrilege!
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,393
    Ever been trolled with a Christmas present? My wife has bought me 'A Little History of Yorkshire'.

    Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire beer, Yorkshire pudding, Yorkshire everything. And now I can read about bloody Yorkshire!
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,717

    I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Just pretend that the crossword grid is a rail map and yellow pen the routes once someone gives the right answer.

    Merry Christmas one and all.
    Merry Christmas, Sandy. Point of order - I normally use black or blue pen :)
    At one time in my working life I HAD to use a green pen!
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941

    Ever been trolled with a Christmas present? My wife has bought me 'A Little History of Yorkshire'.

    Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire beer, Yorkshire pudding, Yorkshire everything. And now I can read about bloody Yorkshire!

    An extravagant gift set from your wife. :o
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517

    Ever been trolled with a Christmas present? My wife has bought me 'A Little History of Yorkshire'.

    Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire beer, Yorkshire pudding, Yorkshire everything. And now I can read about bloody Yorkshire!

    I bought my wife "How to be a good wife". I think her eye twitched as she opened it ... ;)
  • Happy Christmas all. Will just sit back and admire your collective ingenuity - I struggle to do even simple crosswords.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyS1cXrsgIg

    If a ship has 26 sheep and 10 goats on board, how old is the ship's captain?

    Researchers found that children faced with problems like these tend to manipulate the numbers till they come up with feasible answers. You can see from StJohn's explanations in this thread that cryptic crosswords can be solved the same way. First find a word that fits the grid, then see if it bears any relationship with the clue.

    Any suggestions that politicians use facts in much the same way are unworthy of pb. #Brexit.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    edited December 2018
    17 Ellington - brilliant clue

    Merry Xmas all
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Ishmael_Z said:

    17 Ellington - brilliant clue

    Merry Xmas all

    Yes. Wife = W. Prime Minister = Wellington. W left Wellington = Ellington. Duke Ellington.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited December 2018
    Merry Christmas everybody, I thought Pb regulars would be interested in this crucial information...

    https://stephenfollows.com/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie/

    Spoiler....

    Like it or not, the association between Die Hard and Christmas is fast increasing and in years to come its Christmassyness will be beyond question.

    Future generations will read in wonder that Die Hard was ever thought not to be a Christmas movie and articles such as the one you’re reading now will be seen as nothing but a massive waste of everyone’s time. Imagine that!
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,742
    edited December 2018

    Merry Christmas everybody, I thought Pb regulars would be interested in this crucial information...

    https://stephenfollows.com/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie/

    Spoiler....

    Like it or not, the association between Die Hard and Christmas is fast increasing and in years to come its Christmassyness will be beyond question.

    Future generations will read in wonder that Die Hard was ever thought not to be a Christmas movie and articles such as the one you’re reading now will be seen as nothing but a massive waste of everyone’s time. Imagine that!

    In future years, people will also ask why there is no Episode VIII in the Star Wars canon of 513 movies.

    They will also be bewildered by the unexplained disappearance of Luke, Leia and Snoke from the series.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    22 trotsky
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Ishmael_Z said:

    22 trotsky

    Yes. Wrong = Tort (legal). Tort turned = Trot. Broadcaster = Sky. Trot + Sky = Trotsky = Revolutionary.
  • For just about as long as stjohn has been generously providing us with his Christmas crossword, I've been having you in stitches every year with the wonderfully crafted Kipper Tie Joke ... surely one of the funniest ever heard.
    After 12 long years, I've decided to retire it and to offer you in its place, the equally hilarious comedic masterpiece set out below:

    A man joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence: he's allowed to say two words every seven years.
    After the first seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he says. They nod and send him away.
    Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, "Bad food." They nod and send him away.
    Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, "I quit."
    They nod and say: "Understood, you've been doing nothing but complain ever since you got here!"


    Way, way better than you're likely to find in your Christmas cracker, you'd have to admit.

  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777

    For just about as long as stjohn has been generously providing us with his Christmas crossword, I've been having you in stitches every year with the wonderfully crafted Kipper Tie Joke ... surely one of the funniest ever heard.
    After 12 long years, I've decided to retire it and to offer you in its place, the equally hilarious comedic masterpiece set out below:

    A man joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence: he's allowed to say two words every seven years.
    After the first seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he says. They nod and send him away.
    Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, "Bad food." They nod and send him away.
    Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throats and says, "I quit."
    They nod and say: "Understood, you've been doing nothing but complain ever since you got here!"


    Way, way better than you're likely to find in your Christmas cracker, you'd have to admit.

    Very good Peter!

    Merry Xmas.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    1D owl?
  • I'm shite at cryptic crosswords - isn't there an "easy" option? :(

    Yes. Don't play.
    Even the Guardian has an "easy" crossword.
    The Guardian easy crossword is a so called Quick crossword. My wife and I manage it over lunch with the help of a Crossword solver machine. :(
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Barnesian said:

    1D owl?

    No. Not owl.
  • Donny43Donny43 Posts: 634
    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    1D owl?

    No. Not owl.
    Hen?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Donny43 said:

    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    1D owl?

    No. Not owl.
    Hen?
    Not Hen.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    1D owl?

    No. Not owl.
    Parliament of owls? Oh well
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    Happy Christmas all. All crosswords are beyond me.

    As far as word things go I always liked word association football.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    23D scoff?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Barnesian said:

    23D scoff?

    Not scoff.
  • I could sit here from now until next Christmas and not solve a single one of these clues... It's funny how some of us have the kind of brain that can understand these things and others of us don't.

    Merry Christmas everyone!
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,958

    Ever been trolled with a Christmas present? My wife has bought me 'A Little History of Yorkshire'.

    Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire beer, Yorkshire pudding, Yorkshire everything. And now I can read about bloody Yorkshire!

    I bought my wife a unicorn.....
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 49,958
    Incredibly mild out. Millions of dogs on the beach. And Christmas dolphins leaping just offshore.

    Dog now shattered from his exertions of trashing wrapping paper into confetti and sniffing millions of bottoms. Job done.

    Now - let the gorging commence......
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    I'm popping out for some festive cheer. I will be able to see the comments but not comment myself. For some reason my iphone doesn't log me in to PB.com but my laptop and desktop do. Probably a settings issue? Anyone got any suggestions?

    Thanks to those of who are helping to solve the puzzle. Please keep going! Back around 2pm.
  • Happy Christmas to all PBers from PtP and all the doggies on Hampstead Heath.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    23D scoff?

    Not scoff.
    Scorn?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,717
    The younger members of the family clearly has views about OKC’s household. 3 litre bottles of a nice looking Primitivo, a bottle of malt, one of 12 year old rum for me and two of good gin for Mrs C.
    Are they trying to tell us something?
  • Off Christmas, good piece in Vanity Fair on the Bernie Bro's going after Beto:
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/12/why-are-democrats-trying-to-annihilate-an-beto-campaign
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,081
    Happy Xmas everyone.

    Just in that gap when all there is to do is sit and watch the turkey through the oven door.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    15A extensive?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,393
    We had Christmas dinner yesterday as one of our nieces is working today. Mending broken jaws.

    My brother in law did all of the cooking and did a cracking job.

    There was even a joint of gammon to enjoy, along with the renamed Brexit Sprouts.
  • IanB2 said:

    Happy Xmas everyone.

    Just in that gap when all there is to do is sit and watch the turkey through the oven door.

    Probably better than anything that will be on TV today...
  • We had Christmas dinner yesterday as one of our nieces is working today. Mending broken jaws.

    My brother in law did all of the cooking and did a cracking job.

    There was even a joint of gammon to enjoy, along with the renamed Brexit Sprouts.

    I came up with "Brexit Sprouts" back in 2016 :)
  • Barnesian said:

    stjohn said:

    Barnesian said:

    1D owl?

    No. Not owl.
    Parliament of owls? Oh well
    Ant? Eel? Dog? Cat? Pup? Cub? Bee?
  • RoyalBlueRoyalBlue Posts: 3,223
    Merry Christmas one and all!

    Wishing you a happy, prosperous and peaceful 2019.
This discussion has been closed.