Listener crossword 4177: Number Plates by Xanthippe

[midazolam]

First numerical of 2012 and a fun puzzle. Looked daunting at first but it all fell into place with a fun ending

Thanks Xanthippe

[sunny-dave]

Done the numbers grid - hard but fair - now for the fun (I hope) ...

[heathrunner]

A rare visit to the FN Club...but obviously the secret is to send your other half out for pizza with the girls and settle down with the crozzie and a glass (or two) of vino . I agree with Xanthippe...a little tricky to start but things accelerate nicely and nothing to get in a state about!!

[dr b]

Numbers fell into place faster than expected. I must say I found that the endgame got a little tedious, but, quite an amazing feat of construction.

[Alekhine]

I thought that this was really good.

I flew through the numbers and felt disappointed at that stage, but then found the endgame to be great fun. I loved the ambiguity.

[sunny-dave]

Done & Dusted - very satisfying - thanks Xanthippe

< now back to chatterbank to annoy the usual suspects >

[sunny-dave]

Yes - the ambiguity had me in 'the wrong leg of the trousers' for a good few minutes ... I blame the glass or two of wine I had to celebrate doing the numbers grid

[AndrewG-S]

Done the numbers part, think I may leave the rest to tomorrow

[TheBear69]

The ambiguity was devilishly hard for me to spot, but the penny finally dropped.

[IainGrace]

Numericals generally not for us but perhaps some kind soul could suggest a clue or clues to look at first in order to gain entry to the puzzle, without saying more than that.

[EagleCountry]

a and 2 was my starting point IainGrace.

[Tarraco2]

Our first ever go at a Numerical, and yes, it did look very daunting (it's the first time we've reached for the calculator rather than the BRB!). But we've got the numbers in and now we're looking forward to the 'fun' half.

[IainGrace]

Thanks, Eaglecountry. We'll see how we get on.

[Ruthrobin]

We had an early pdm but struggled to complete the numbers and are not entirely happy with our resolving of the ambiguity. Still, it has been a pleasure to have one that combines numbers with words. Thanks, Xanthippe.

[emcee]

Very enjoyable. Many thanks Xanthippe.

[AHearer]

Nice logical procedure for entering numbers (too often in numericals I use a lot of trial-and-error), followed by what seemed like a perfectly satisfactory end-game -- up to the point when I seemed to have gone wrong. The final PDM was very neat. Thank you, Xanthippe.

[jim360]

My problem is that I completed the numbers grid and have found the theme but am unable to find a fit to the first two entries in rows 6 and 10. It seems that I might have messed up the working ever so slightly. Possible ambiguity found but not certain it's the right one, and even if it is I can't think how to resolve it. Long way to go, clearly.

[Ruthrobin]

Problem resolved - happy now! Oh those clever mathematical people!

[perseverer]

Don't want to give anything away but I do remember the basis of the ambiguity turning up in a Listener not too many years ago

[Monkmonk]

B0dger
Yes it should.
You should indeed offer your most humble apologies for posting such a specific question.