Listener 4159 - Crovvword by Pointer

[starwalker]

Some lovely clues have brought me to the point where I just have to find the third item to illustrate, and I feel a need to rest. Thanks (in advance) Pointer. You have enlightened me and revived long-lost lessons.

[tenflags]

Managed to pick this up Today and all done apart from the actual illustration - will have to look at late pm Sunday now.

I was thinking another tame one until I looked at the posts here (about the end game) before knocking out some zzzzz's.

[Walterloo]

Well, yet another grid filled and then a complete stop. I have the message and an idea of the illustration but it's all a bit ambiguous for me. Thought I knew what word to find but the posts here indicate it's a word that isn't to be found on any website without hours of surfing. Frustrating because the pleasures to be found in this puzzle are many as one progresses only for it all to vanish as the effort of grid staring becomes irksome. I will keep at it but I'll pick it up in brief moments throughout the week.

I will try and negate some of the grumpiness from this post by saying that yet again there are some of you that seem to find these endgames much easier than others and I am very impressed. And this coming from someone who has finished the last 15 or so Magpies with with all of their fantistically ornate endgames (including a Pointer one) with relative ease compared to the last few Listeners. Very odd. There must be a psychological block in my head somewhere that comes to life whenever I attempt a Listener! I need a couch methinks.

[Askival]

Unlike some, it seems, I'm in a pretty good place with these Listeners at the moment. Quickish gridfills + ingenious endgames is exactly what those of us in the 'just sussing out this Listener business' camp need. Nevertheless, sympathies to the elite among you who whizz through these in a single sitting.
My first complete solve was the Dvandva one a little while back, and have been on and off (but mainly on) completing since then, so if they've been trying to hook people in with easier puzzles, then they've certainly succeeded in my case. Did anyone else find the process of illustration ridiculously satisfying, by the way? Sorry to infuriate those who aren't at the 100% completion stage yet.

[bobbycollins]

Add me to the grumps. I can't be bothered with word searches.

[bobbycollins]

Sorry, I should have qualified that with "when I don't see them fairly quickly".

I don't like end games whose difficulty is out of all proportion with that of the grid fill. Do I get to share the Grump Cup with dr b?

[contendo]

Walterloo & Bobbycollins - No need for an extensive word search. It's there as a subsidiary under the word you thought it ought to be in the BRB.

[JackDeCrow]

Is anyone else finding themselves "one short" of being able to fulfil the hidden instructions?

[BlackHugh]

Jack - You need to read the preamble very carefully

[BlackHugh]

and also the hidden message.

[Walterloo]

I think I've done it. I don't quite have the satisfaction in knowing I'm 100% but I'm confident enough. If I'm right then I'm very impressed with Pointer for the second time in a week after solving his/her Magpie puzzle. Thanks to contendo for making me believe I was on the right track but my goodness, and as stated already, one has to follow the preamble and the message very carefully. My segments were drawn with utmost care and concentration. Phew.

[Alan7777]

Well I'm glad I persevered. I had an idea of the curve after finding the two thematic items but it took me a while to find the message and then a further while to work out exactly where to draw the curve and find the descriptive word. An enjoyable challenge, thanks Pointer

[tilbee]

Catching up after weekend away. Like others a very quick grid-fill (45 mins despite no access to BRB or Web last night - definitely a record for me). However, like others, also now stumped on final step despite quickly establishing the first two thematic elements and the hidden message. From what I see here neither of the two obvious 6 letter words are the way to go ?

[tilbee]

PS: Must be missing something since hidden message suggests two possible starting points for the illustration ?

[JackDeCrow]

Thanks Black Hugh - much clearer now. Now that's sorted, I'd be inclined to say that the use of the slightly alternative final word is definitely justified by the title - made me chuckle anyway. Just need to decide how much of that first element to include now!

[BlackHugh]

tilbee

Not sure about the two 6 letters words. I only had one but I started with that and saw where it lead me - which was the full solution (assuming I'm right)

[BlackHugh]

sorry - having said "full solution", I still don't understand the title.

[tilbee]

Thanks BlackHugh - your hint was all I needed to complete. Had made the mistake of whether to start big or small, and still confused around the third last word of the hint which also sent me on the wrong track.

PS: Don't want to give too much away, but your last post gives a big hint as to the explanation of the title !

[Walterloo]

Ah, now I get the title. Now I know I've got everything else correct. Very good puzzle indeed.

[tilbee]

btw - the other 6 letter word I was looking for is the third word in the definition of the other (relevant) one.

[BlackHugh]

tilbee, Jack - glad to have helped without, I think, having given anything away.