Listener 4044 - OOOOPPPP by Raich

[turnerjmw]

This week's puzzle is by Raich, who last brought us "Men In Her Life", a George Eliot-themed puzzle two years ago .

Nothing too taxing or out of the ordinary here, though the finish might generate a little discussion. Best of luck

[emcee]

A rare puzzle for me where Chambers wasn't needed -- I do like puzzles where reaching for the big red tome is kept to a minimum. I agree, turnerjmw, the decision at the end is (and will be) arguable.

Right, back to last week's Listener where I just can't get the interest going to complete it. Hope this week's spurs me on!

[AHearer]

As you both say, quite an easy ride this week: the first time for ages, or possibly ever, when I've got ninety percent pencilled in on the train. As for the finish, I suppose I can take as long as I like over it.

[starwalker]

Fairly straightforward - but oh, the finish is .. er... well !

[robinruth]

Yes, indeed - even I have managed to complete the grid with delightful ease, almost did an AHearer, 'pencilling it in on the train home' style and I have a complete 'instruction' but, Oh how to interpret it?!

[robinruth]

Oh how obvious! I think the endgame is fine now that I have discarded the obvious - How I like it!

[zita-green]

I've only just downloaded it yet you all sound like you've finished it. I'm a beginner and daren't even look at it now.

[twencelas]

A welcome relief after last week's conundrum. Heigh ho as they say

[starwalker]

zita-green - don't let us put you off in any way. Simply treat the puzzle as you normally would, and if it leaves you with a smile on your face at the end, then that is a bonus.

[SpodoCommodo]

starwalker - don't worry about zita-green, on another thread people were complaining about her posting that she'd finished a crossword before they'd hardly had a chance to start (dont get me wrong, I'm not bothered one way or the other).

[emcee]

Just to expand a little on my earlier comment: there is no argument over the completion of the grid -- it's the interpretation of one of the words in the message formed from the extra letters that could produce entries with different answers!

[robinruth]

Emcee, I believe I understand what you mean but feel that the title itself possibly indicates what is required, together with letters that are already in the grid. I don't see any other way of producing the required quantity (sorry about the obscurity of this wording).
Perhaps I am lucky in not having the wit to see any other solution.
Spodo commodo, I believe Zita Green, quite fairly, recognises the difference between this horrendously difficult level of crossword solving - where some of us are the fools that rush in - and the other far easier ones that we can solve quickly. The Express Guardian solver becomes the Listener train to Vladivostock.

[s436]

Enjoyed this one, it made a nice change for me to be able to finish one without too much pain.

Ironic that the task of completing the puzzle did not conform to its theme, and I'm at a bit of a loose end now :)

[SpodoCommodo]

robinruth - could you rephrase "the difference between this horrendously difficult level of crossword solving - where some of us are the fools that rush in - and the other far easier ones that we can solve quickly" so that's it doesn't sound condescending to someone who does all levels of crosswords and who doesn't mind helping people who have problems with the "far easier ones" ?

[robinruth]

Yes, dear Spodo Commodo, it was in no way intended to hurt you - I too do them all with almost obsessive pleasure but have only recently joined this thread (and the Listener) and feel that it is sometimes like masochism to download those two pages at 16.00 on Friday. Quite a number of us are present on the other threads and willingly lend a hand when we can, but some of us ( and I regard myself as one of the fools rushing in) are desperately treading water here and coming up for the third time (do you prefer that metaphor?)

[Cruncher]

I think you are all terribly clever to fill this without using Chambers. Can't say that 11ac comes up in conversation very often - or 10dn etc. Found the denouement a bit four square and still puzzled by the wordplay for the latter part of 15ac. Any hints?

[robinruth]

Cruncher, you clearly have the solution - and the letter to remove (penultimate one) - I think you need to 'change direction' in the ultimate one (those last four letters = part)
Hope that wasn't too obscure - it was the way I rationaised it.

[Patch49]

Download 2 pages, Robinruth? Being a Save Paper sort of gal I copy into a Word doc and resize to one page.

[Cruncher]

Thank you robinruth - got it now. Doesn't affect the solution but nice to know!

[s436]

Cruncher - I used Chambers extensively myself, I'm sure I'm not the only one :)

[Scorpius]

No problem with the highlighting or the lack of symmetry (which does not seem important here). A minor quibble is that two of the clues can be read in such a way as to generate the answer without any misprint.