Listener Crossword 4063 - Resident by Hotspur

[starwalker]

Down to the final four of the year now, for those who are still in for an all correct year. (Sadly my own ambition dies some weeks ago due to a careless error of transcription.)
Have not started yet, but first impressions are that it is going to be OK.

[Mysterons]

Look forward to seeing this in the morning - glad to hear it's not a stinker !

[Ruthrobin]

It has misprints and clashing cells, Mysterons, but so far, we are only finding the misprints, which are yielding quite easily. Probably a shock to come still!

[Ruthrobin]

This continued to be a pleasure to solve with a fine p.d.m. that reminds me of the Jackson Pollock where we had to paint our own forgery.

[AHearer]

Yes, very pleasing: very precise clues, with a nice ending. 13d held me up and I didn't get it till I'd confirmed the misprint from the couplet.

[turnerjmw]

I too enjoyed this. Good clueing and some interesting misprints. Still unsure of two pieces of wordplay, mind.

[midazolam]

Once again a new theme to me and so it has broaden my knowledge. The crossword was nowhere near a challenge to get the denouement compared to the Pollock one and the misprints are not a necessity but do round the theme off. At least the numbers are out the way for another 3 months!

By the way i think some of you were quite harsh with the numbers last week, at least there is something extra after solving the maths that makes it worthwhile. Some of the number ones we have had to endure are just that and are very tedious to complete. It must take a tremendous amount of thought to compile if creating words as well

[bobbycollins]

I have only come here to bookmark the link, but can't resist a comment!

I had a quick scan in work last night which suggested that this should bring enjoyment and not torture. I do relish the odd very difficult puzzle, but this level appeals to my less sadistic side. Anyway, I've got a bit of work to do before I can get stuck in.

Regards

[starwalker]

I agree with all that's been written. Some challenging clues (still struggling with one or two bits of wordplay) and a pleasant finish that was as informative as it was neat.
Nice to see Hotspur's second appearance this year after a gap of over twenty !

[jamesah]

I got back from holiday in midweek and printed out Phi's 50-50!! I've solved a fair number of the clues and I think I know what the unclued answers have in common but I'm now stuck. As we are way past the deadline for submissions I hope that it is all right to ask for some help before I finally give up.
(1) What sort of reflective symmetry? Is it the usual 180 degree rotational symmetry?
(2) I can't get the first across clue which looks simple enough. Is it a 50-50? Any help gratefully received.
(3) Even then, where does one start putting in answers? Does the first down answer start in the top left corner? I'll keep going until Monday then try Hotspur's which must be easier (a crossword in which every answer has to be cold-solved is a bit much for me)

[turnerjmw]

Hi jamesah, the thread from that week might help. It was question no 831483, if you want to alter the address in your browser. But briefly, 1) reflective symmetry is not the same as rotational. It means if you draw a line through the middle of the puzzle (horizontal, vertical, or either diagonal), it will fold exactly onto itself. See that thread for more details. 2) French word for country, and not a 50-50 3) Yes, 1dn does start there. If you're anything like me you'll have to solve about half the clues cold before you can start fitting them in with confidence. Good luck

[cluelessJoe]

Congratulations to you early finishers. I found this a neat and accomplished offering, without being over-obscure (but still demanding a degree of research). I was lucky in guessing the location of all the clashes after finding just a couple, which helped speed up the process - but a few clues took a lot of thinking about, and on the odd occasion it took a good while to justify the wordplay even when virtually certain about the grid entry. Thanks Hotspur

[jamesah]

Thanks Turnerjmw, I'll see how I get on.

[Eril]

Well 13d has stymied me. I know the letter to substitute, and think I know where, but then there seem to be two possible answers differing only in the first letter, but neither are satisfactory from my reading of the clue. The definition could be either end, but in each case the wordplay doesn't quite work. I know it is only one day, but I really feel that I have already taken 27...

[bobbycollins]

Much trickier than I had anticipated, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Cracking end-game.

I too have a couple of wordplay doubts - including 13d

[kwyjibo]

13d - If you know the misprint there is a fairly common synonym for the correctly spelled word, and then remove some letters to get the answer.

[Eril]

Thanks kwyjibo - I had thought of that, but had focused on the wrong word. Slapped forehead when I saw it...

[daagg]

A slightly surreal theme, but good fun. I did the top half first, and then managed to work out the theme from Google, which greatly helped with the bottom half. Still scratching my head about the title.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, Daagg, I don't understand the title at all. I filled in from the bottom up - but much prefer it when it goes the other way:

[JackDeCrow]

Still struggling with the wordplay for 13d, but looking at the wikipedia entry for the name in question might make those wondering about the title look at it "in a different way"!

[JackDeCrow]

The magic works again - I see it now (13d that is!)