Listener No 4252 Carte Blanche By Lavatch

[trux]

Wowee! Amazing stuff, but really hard to fathom initially and then, and then...all of it starts to fall into place ... pause ... think again ... think again ... Eureka!! A joy, Mr Lavatch. Many, many thanks.

[jockie]

I envy those for whom the penny has dropped. I've finally got all clues solved, the grid filled, the blank squares and the clashes identified ... but I'm looking at 28 letters from the 14 clues with misprints and (unless it's in Uzbeg or some other consonant-rich language) I'm finding further progress distinctly tricky. Perhaps with the dawn light will come for me, too.

[s_pugh]

After last week's somewhat unchallenging puzzle this proved a tremendous contrast. I too was a little perplexed by the 7th clash as alluded to by Upsetter but on closer inspection of the BRB I suspect it is a genuine if archaic literary word form.

[jockie]

Well, the dawn didn't bring any joy, nor has a couple of hours staring at a meaningless collection of letters. Would some kind person drop a hint about how to interpret "taken together, the misprints and their corrections, in clue order, lead to ...". "Lead to" clearly doesn't mean "spell out", the usual formula for this kind of thing. What am I missing? [email protected]

[jockie]

Thanks to those who have replied - where would we be without friends?

[Scorpius]

So far nothing too revealing has been posted about the puzzling aspects of this fine puzzle. Let's hope i stays that way.

[Scorpius]

I meant, "let's hope it stays that way".

[Ornis]

I think I know what to do with the clashes but I haven't quite satisfied myself as to how this interprets the relevant line of the quotation. Nevertheless I gladly add my plaudits to those already expressed. Many thanks.

[teuchter2]

Very late start and slow progress, but I haven't quite given up. Reading these postings encourages me to keep going, but I only have about half solved so far.

[Staurologist]

Another mammoth offering from Lavatch. And not swiftly completed either. But I doubled up with laughter when I saw what was going on. Excellent entertainment.

[olichant]

Scorpius, I for one agree. Even subtle hints or allusions might give away rather too much, especially given the beautifully nuanced construction of the puzzle. I can't thank the setter enough - it was marvellous.

[olichant]

Just double-checking now and (I hope this really doesn't give away anything) I'm not quite sure if one change leaves a real word, as it should. I don't suppose anyone else found that? It is, of course, probably a symptom of an annoying mistake somewhere.

[Texasetes]

Olichant, I suspect you know that the preamble is correct. Besides, if anything underhand were going on, a previous contributor would surely have mentioned it in his list of spoilers.

[fyellin]

I'm running into the same problem as Ornis. I know something "reasonable" to do with the clashes, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the quotation.

But otherwise, an absolutely superb puzzle. And I'm sure I'll be even more amazed when this last piece falls into place.

[Mesnilpat]

I am in the same position as jockie was, staring at a an apparently random collection of 28 letters. If any of the people who provided enlightenment to Jockie are still around - [email protected] please

[Mesnilpat]

Thank you so much to those who responded - and for not giving too much away. I soldier on.......

[olichant]

Texasetes, you are (of course) absolutely right. I need to learn to use a dictionary properly.

[Agioklima]

Finally got there after mulling over the quotation for far too long. As my husband (RIP) used to say, if in doubt READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Amazing puzzle, thanks Lavatch.

[danielmason]

'Bit of crust sent over for biddies' Did anyone else think that biddies was a misprint for birdies and the answer was NEST?

[jim360]

Yup, although even with that misprint it wouldn't be a viable definition, ought to be "place for birdies".

[IainGrace]

Have name and key word and almost complete grid but stuck with three or four clues on the perimeter which presumably involve clashes. Hey ho. We battle on.