Listener 4217 Absolutely Pointless by Waterloo

[Ruthrobin]

A highly entertaining gridfill this week (I am struggling over the last two squares - cells, whatever) and wondering whether there is a further pdm to come - though it is difficult to see how anything else could be hidden in the grid.
Thanks, Waterloo

[dr b]

This was only OK in my book - very clear what to do from the onset, then a bit of a slog to get it all done. As always, a very impressive grid construction.

[midazolam]

Correct me if I am wrong but was Waterloo's first listener back in 1963? This type of puzzle seems to be Waterloo's norm and one that I don't particularly enjoy. I like a PDM and this doesn't give one, so it sets me off on the wrong foot. The average answer length before removals is rather low (5.3), but it was a nice construction ensuring a uniform gimmick. Also, one can't really say that it was a breeze when we compare it to some of the timings of the first AB blogs on the friday night - so it was not absolutely pointless

[TheBear69]

I found it very tough indeed but have made it to the end. Since it's difficult to get help from 'crossing' entries, a high degree of cold solving is required and some of these clues are challenging. One wishes for some sort of message in the grid...nevertheless a fine puzzle, probably aimed at reducing the all-correct list.

[trux]

One is so tempted to comment on the relevance of the title but that would be unfair as the gridfill was fun, working out the directions a constant challenge, and a pleasure with each successful entry confirmed ... Yes, one could harp on about lack of checking letters, but I think that this cannot have been easy to compile (ensuring uniqueness of solutin) and so many thanks to Waterloo from me (and no Z Cup)

[Coalminers]

TheBear69...I don't really think that anyone who has got this far through the year would trip up here, but it was a pleasant challenge. Now going back to the results shown for 4214, I've got UNT(RUE), SEED(CAKE),ENA(BLE), PARA(MOUR), FLOO(RING) and RIS(KED) going down and then up, and I've got (CALC)RETE, (KE)PI, (PEN)NON and (SIL)AGE going up and then down. Either I'm losing it, or their claim that there were 5 of each was (TNU)RUE. Please help. And we didn't need to highlight the diagonal, did we?

[contendo]

Coalminers - "Approximately equal numbers" is what the preamble said.
I'm finding this week's a slog. Cold-solving is never my favourite activity. I've managed 32 clues so far, and know where most of them go, but can't see me getting to the end this time.

[Coalminers]

Yes, I remember that Contendo. But in the solution in the paper today and in the Listener Crossword site they say there are 6,6,5,5.

[aldanna]

I was very much enjoying this to start with, but am now slowly grinding towards a halt and becoming less enthusiastic - the two being doubtless connected. It seems very near to cold-solving, as such letters as I get (my grid is two-thirds filled) help very little with the other clues.

[contendo]

Yes, Coalminers, you're right. I make it 6,6,6,4 too. Perhaps you should put a comment in the "Join the discussion of this crossword" on the Crossword Club website. No need to highlight the diagonal by the way. Generally best not to do things they don't ask you to do.
I'm finding this week's pretty impenetrable, especially most of the very short clues.

[AHearer]

I agree that this was a bit of a slog, and if one failed to spot one feature (one might call it economical) of the construction it was easy to go astray. For some reason 5 and 39 held me up for a long time. Actually, looking back, my problem with 39 largely stemmed from the fact that I had failed to fill in the last letter of another solution, so I was trying to start off 39 in the wrong direction (I hope that's not too specific). I, too, was hoping for some sort of reward in terms of a word emerging from the pointless grid -- but I suppose I should have realised that, had it been there, the editors would have felt compelled to ask us to highlight it.

[easylistener]

Did anyone else enjoy the BBC Radio 4 programme just now about cryptics? It seems we are not alone!

[AHearer]

Yes, easylistener -- comforting to know there are others as badly addicted.

[freiheid]

A bit tedious, this one, though I liked the clue at 26. When I had two or three left to solve, I found it helpful to consider unchecked letters nearby, which were likely to become checked.

[IainGrace]

Back from hols so missed a few. On looking back at them, seems on the face of it to have been a tricky run. This week looks equally tricky at first blush, but we'll see. (PS Highly recommend Vietnam for those who haven't been.)

[perseverer]

Add me to the list of those slightly underwhelmed by this, but at the same time you do again have to admire the skill in grid construction.

[emcee]

Late starting again ...

I enjoyed this puzzle. The clues are by no means trivial and I thought this demonstrated that a puzzle doesn't need to be thematic to possess novelty. The construction is certainly impressive.

I have a full grid but can't seem to wheedle out clue 12. I'm wondering whether the answer is in the latest BRB which I'm trying so hard to win. Back to a fresh grid to see whether I've made a slip.

[Ruthrobin]

Emcee, it's in the eleventh edition too, not new in the most recent edition. That was our penultimate solve - difficult.

[emcee]

Thanks Ruthrobin, I've just found my slip. It would have helped if I'd had the correct letter in the starting cell!

[jockie]

Like others I found this unexciting, but slogging got me to within touching distance of the end. Still stuck on 12 and 20(i) although I have the initial letters. Been through e-BRB to find all words of the right length which seem to have any connection with any word in the clues which might be the definition, and have come up with blanks. Also stuck on 16 but have no initial letter yet. Still, there's several days to go, but will it be worth it?

[Grubb]

Hello to all - I enjoy reading your comments but this is my first post. I found this more enjoyable than most and just about the right level of difficulty for the weather this weekend. After the difficulty of the final few clues (16 the last to surrender), it is a relief not to have to stare at the grid until a penny drops.