16 Comments
User's avatar
Rebecca Holden's avatar

Terry, I loved this! Apologies for commenting so late in the day - I've been enjoying musing the contents of your letter with a review to my response, due in just a couple of days, and it's only just occurred to me that I hadn't yet acknowledged your missive here in the comments!

I'm beyond proud of myself to have solved - and possibly even correctly! - all three of your clues. 😇 I'll reveal my answers in my reply to be published on Wednesday.

Terrific tale drawn from your teaching experience, Terry - there's more than one way to inspire the next generation. Brilliant, brilliant work!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

"I started with the introduction. I don’t usually do that because although the introduction to a novel is always authoritative and informative, it is also usually full of spoilers."

My husband sometimes reads the last chapter first. It's a wonder we're still together.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Holden's avatar

NOOOOOO! Last chapter first?! 😲

I remember a conversation with a former colleague who told me that she always reads the last few pages of a book first 'so that I know whether it's going to be worth reading the whole thing'. I had no idea how to respond to that!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Sacrilege. Utter sacrilege. Off with their heads!

Expand full comment
Rebecca Holden's avatar

Bonkers, right?!

Expand full comment
Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Hehe. More of your student interactions please. Have you kept in touch with any of them?

The Anne Frank book—hmmm. Did you read The Free Press article about the Anne Frank musical?

Expand full comment
Terry Freedman's avatar

No, and no. What did they think about it? It sounds pretty disrespectful to have a musical about something like that.

Expand full comment
Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

They question if Anne Frank knew she has white privilege.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Holden's avatar

Oh wow. 😮 The mind boggles. 🤔

Expand full comment
Terry Freedman's avatar

I've heard that before. Words fail me.

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

I am not at all proficient at British crosswords, yet I somehow arrived at the correct solution of the two clues you gave us today! It was just luck, though, as I rarely pick up on double meanings and other twisty possibilities. I need a tutor.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Holden's avatar

Yay! I struggled with the Maltese Falcon one, because I haven't read it and knew nothing about it - but as soon as I looked it up I realised what the answer was!

I adore cryptic crosswords, although I don't find them at all easy. It's so much easier once some of the grid is populated, so by process of elimination or deduction I can sometimes work out some of the other answers.... but in those circumstances I usually struggle with WHY those are the answers! It's an ongoing battle with my own mind, and a deeply frustrating one! 🤣

Expand full comment
Richard Donnelly's avatar

well ya know if we had the answers to how economies work we'd all be rich. Which wouldn't make economic sense : )

Expand full comment
Beth T (BethOfAus)'s avatar

I remembered the final clip of ‘Some like it hot’. Always makes me laugh. The driver is so happily blasé about it all. He’d probably make an excellent husband. Grin.

Expand full comment
C.L. Steiner's avatar

Ah, Twenty Flight Rock! I first heard the song as a cover by Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, which led me to Eddie Cochran, just as The Who’s Summertime Blues led me to - Eddie Cochran! I did hear Cochran do Cut Across Shorty before I heard Rod Stewart sing it.

I enjoyed all of the letter, except the crossword - English crosswords are too difficult for me.

Expand full comment
Daniel Appleton's avatar

NOW I'm gonna wonder if " Some Like it Hot " inspired " TOOTSIE ", with Dustin Hoffman trying to hail a cab in a feminine voice then bark out " HEY !".

I'm 66, whole lotta movies under The Bridge Over the River Kwai.....🌉

Expand full comment