Listener Crossword 4070

[starwalker]

This week's offering is "The Glady Marsh" by Salamanca.

This is only the second Salamanca Listener that I have seen that is not part of his Plays of the Bard series.

Another fairly fast grid fill, but before I attempt the instructions, I feel that a small libation is called for.

[Patch49]

First time I've ever finished on a Friday - and without a libation either!

[Speravi]

Carrying out the instruction shouldn't detain you for long, starwalker. This is easily the quickest I've ever completed a Listener. Pleasing theme, easily verified, and with an in-clue reference in plain sight.

[starwalker]

Agreed. This now calls for a further libation - not necessarily small !

[midazolam]

not a very taxing beginning to 2010 so far and this the easiest of them all. wikipedia to confirm the theme and chambers to confirm all the alterations, this will be great for newcomers

[daagg]

They do seem to be a lot easier since Christmas! This one especially had several clues which I saw straight away (pretty unusual for me). The theme was fun, but perhaps the asterisked answers could have been made even more "in the fashion of that indicated" - but then I suppose they wouldn't have been in Chambers.

[Ruthrobin]

Certainly enjoyable and not too difficult. However, one of the asterisked clues has led me to a solution that I recognise but can't find in Chambers. Daagg, I didn't think last week's was especially easy.

[catstail]

Glad to hear that this is suitable for newcomers. Have already entered a few answers. Am hoping I will get further with this than the last two. I think knowing the number of letters in the answer, not having extra words in the clues, and not having to alter most answers before entering them helps.

[perseverer]

ruthrobin - may not be the one you're thinking of, but look very early in the alphabet. Sorry - a bit cryptic.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, thank you, Perseverer. That was the one. I had read 'all the way through' in my hunt and stupidly missed it.

[cluelessJoe]

Enjoy it while you can catstail, they can only get harder!

[Jogler]

An enjoyable puzzle with a fun pdm. Have only turned to the thread now we are there and, as usual, lift hats to all those speedy finishers! The only answer we have some query on is 8down where there could be two possibilities for one of the unchecked letters and we are still working on all the elements of the clue to resolve this.

[easylistener]

Well as a newcomer I think I have done pretty well this week. Though I am stuck on 34a . Still can't work out what exactly I am meant to do with the unchecked letters (which I have found) and how that relates to the title. Anyone willing to give me a subtle hint?

[Clamzy]

I think you'll have to trawl chambers for the definition in 34 as I can't find it in my Bradford's. Regarding the unchecked letters given in the preamble they are just an aid for you to check you have the correct unclued answers.

[kwyjibo]

For 8dn Chambers provides a definition that shows which alternative should be entered (although I managed to miss it first time).

[midazolam]

it is the slate part of the clue that should resolve that unchecked cell Jogler

[Jogler]

Ty both. I had been working on the slate part, Midazolam, and looked at it from all directions - went back to the dictionary with the microscope, as you suggested, Kwyjibo, and finally got the reward!

[bobbycollins]

easylistener, treat the words of the title in exactly the same way as the asterisked solutions.

ps part of the preamble is very slightly cryptic.

I feel a run of stinkers coming on.

[catstail]

Getting on slowly here - but have filled in more answers than previous weeks. I thought that I had 30 ac straight away - thinking sidereally, but it cant fit unless I have 22dn incorrect and some other down clues have very very weird spelling. WIll plough on.
Any thoughts - without giving too much away - if I am jogging along on the correct track would be welcomed! Thanks.

[Ruthrobin]

No, catstail - rethink 30ac.

[Eril]

Happy with almost everything - bar the wordplay of 35d. I have the definition and the answer, and all the letters are checked. So it is that feeling of completion that I am missing. Is it the name of a Scottish hill going up? I've tried searching the internet, to no avail.