Inquisitor 1641

[Ripper]

All grid filled in! Most of the instruction found, but no idea what the two letter words connected to the theme are, I've searched the grid till I'm boggle-eyed! Could someone help me with the extra letters of: 27 down: Short cut used in Sauchiehall Street, before bringing in supermarket chain (6) I have BALDIE as the answer. & 29 down: Auntie traps chief species of marmot (5) I have BOBAC (I assume Auntie refers to the BBC?)
Thanks in advance.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Yes, to both (BE[f] = 'before' abbrev + ALDI minus [f]) (OBA is 'chief' + B[b]C minus [b]).

[Neveracrossword]

Ripper, the two eight-letter words are parallel. They are both descriptions of part of ….the themed structure.

[ProfessorMaisie]

The 2 connecting words do just that - they go between each of the towers (one is very close to the top, the other is slightly less close to the bottom - they're both used by people crossing it).

[Neveracrossword]

Ripper/PM, I was trying to be enigmatic - hope it didn't come across as unhelpful?!

[ProfessorMaisie]

Yours hadn't appeared while I was typing, Neveracrossword - I wasn't attempting to explain the enigma, just trying to answer the question (but rather too slowly, as usual).

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, PM. - and I mentioned the eight-letter words only because you hadn't! Still, I'm sure Ripper won't mind.

[ProfessorMaisie]

The preamble gives the letter count for the connecting words, Neveracrossword.

[Ripper]

You two are amazing as usual! All I can't find now is the fool. I often go to London & have been across this structure dozens of times, but I've never met this fool!!!!!

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, PM. I don't understand. Ripper said he had 'no idea what the two ...' and that wasn't covered in your first reply (not that it matters, but it's why I tackled it).

[ProfessorMaisie]

I see what you mean - I took the omission to be only the 'eight letters' part - not the whole thing (I thought it better to deal with the clues separately, before tackling the theme... needed a bit of thinking time for that).

[ProfessorMaisie]

The fool is a down clue answer.

[Ripper]

Got it - thanks to you two, just read the story. Now for another crossword, I'm determined not to get bored in this lockdown. Last night We found an amazing thing to do with badminton raquets and a washing line!!!!!! who knows what we'll get up to this evening!

[ProfessorMaisie]

You've obviously got plenty of space to play in, Ripper (sounds like fun!).

[Neveracrossword]

Ripper, glad you got it finished. This week's Enigmatic Variations, in the Sunday Telegraph, was good. Have you got that, done that?

[Ripper]

Neveracrossword - is the Enigmatic Variations cross available on line?

[Neveracrossword]

Ripper, the online version is available only to subscribers. I photocopied it on Sunday so could send you a copy if you have a throwaway email address?

[Ripper]

What's a throwaway email address? Remember I'm rather ancient!!!!!

[Neveracrossword]

Ripper, I'm not much better where technology is concerned! I think we're not supposed to post our real email addresses here, probably for security reasons, but I've seen posters mention 'throwaway addresses'. I think it's one you can get, set up very quickly - and then abandon afterwards.

[Ripper]

Oh dear, I'd have no idea how to do that! But, thanks again it was a lovely idea. Mental note to buy the Sunday Telegraph next week!

[Neveracrossword]

Oh well, Ripper, it was just a thought! Quite a few of the weekend crosswords were posted on here, so I've asked if anyone could do that that. I do think you'd enjoy it. I'll return to this thread if my request gets any response.