Listener 4085: If I've Told You Once... by Ploy

[midazolam]

Ploy gave us a relatively straightforward but interesting grid with "Signal Boxes" and it is the same this week. In fact there is more in the grid than needs to be highlighted. A very impressive grid construction once again, but the cluing is rather easy for listener standards. For those struggling with the extra letters (as I did) they are not actually necessary (although act as confirmation) as all the clashes can be resolved unambiguously.

Thanks Ploy

[midazolam]

Actually Ploy produced a very impressive Magpie crossword in February that was much harder than this. If anyone would like a copy (of this or todays) then email me at [email protected]

for all those that need a bit extra than what the listener has given this year then I recommend the magpie http://www.piemag.com/ as a source of thematic tough crosswords that will definitely improve ones listener skills

[midazolam]

i mention the "magpie" as another source of thematic crosswords as their May edition has an introduction wondering how to get others to tap into their market. We all know about the EV and the IQ in the weekend papers but if you add up the cost of these each week the magpie subscription is a fraction and caters for everyone. Easier, tougher, numerical and prize crosswords with personal statistics on a monthly basis with the help of the listener's statistician John Green. (I think that is what JEG means)

Let me compare it to the listener. Recently there was Elint's debut "Ashtanga" listener called "Labour", well this months mapgpie has a brilliantly constructed extemely tough crossword by Elint worthy of anything this year. They also have Charybdis this month (interestingly part of the duo Harpy with Ploy who created the excellent listener "Hard Rectangle" in 2008 and created a recent magpie prize crossword) again very enjoyable. That magpie edition had one of the toughest Samuel crosswords I have tackled.

I can go on for ages as I am always stunned by some of the crosswords that are published compared to what we are used to in the newspapers including recent listeners.

Enjoy, Midazolam

[dr b]

Hi midazolam,

Agree that this week's didn't work up too much of a sweat.

Had a look at the piemag site - the free samples look like they could keep one busy for quite a while.

[silversolver]

Pretty straightforward although I struggled initially with a few of the extra letter-pairs. Once I had found them I enjoyed the way that the clashes were resolved and revealed the words and the writer.

[bobbycollins]

Peculiar one this.

Straightforward grid fill and easily spotted writer, which led to the easy spot of the resolution of the “remainder” of the clashes. However, since I only have four of the six pairs in question, I don’t have a clue what the two word phrase is! No big deal since there IS only one method of resolution. Just peeved that I don’t have a rounded finish.

Oops, just noticed that I don’t have the final letter of 27d – two possible answers but no idea about the wordplay. No hints please.

Regards to all.

[Clamzy]

Yes bobbycollins the wordplay does resolve 27d and I'm in exactly your situation with the two word phrase and have been since Friday evening.
Are we on this thread or the other this week?

[bobbycollins]

Looks like this one, Clamzy

[midazolam]

sorry my mistake. lets stick to this thread as it is more the norm than the "quizzes & puzzles" thread

[milford15]

I got the grid filled fairly easily, but I am not sure yet about 5D and 10D (no hints thanks - still working on these). However, i have the writer of the quotation and the quotation, but only 4 of the 6 letter-pairs (as others have). Trawling through to try to find the others, but some of the wordplays are tricky, but hope to get there soon! Enjoyed this one a lot.

[AHearer]

As others have said, generally a fairly easy grid fill (though I too am still stuck on 10d), with the items to be highlighted and a bonus standing out clearly. As for the letter-pairs, I do have six but can make no sense of them so I'll have a second look this evening.

[AndrewG-S]

Nearly there on the grid, about 6 to go. Have the highlighted cells and the bonus which is not to the highlighted. No idea yet on the letter pairs, but still making progress so hopefully get there soon

[easylistener]

Finished the grid (almost). Still stuck on 10d,31a and 31d. Hints welcome.
Got the name and four words.
Haven't spotted any bonus. Hints welcome.
Only got 3 pairs of letters but as others have said, these are less important now the highlighting is complete. Still, it would be nice to know. Hints welcome!

[AndrewG-S]

easylistener - for the bonus look in a very obvious usual place
10d I am still stuck on
31a an unusual alternative for the first word

[midazolam]

for those stuck on what the letters spell out then use the quinapalus site to get the anagram. unfortunately meticulous wordplay can only help get the letters

http://www.quinapalus...p=0&dict=6&ent=Search

[7lattens]

10D: Letter 2,3,4 are an abbreviation - letters 1,5,6,7 are french - have the writer but have not located an appropriate quote

[AHearer]

An hour in the drizzle delivering charity envelopes helped to clear my head! 7lattens, the rubric is careful to say 'four words from a quotation' -- and from probably the best known quotation from the author you've identified.

[easylistener]

Thank you AndrewG-S, got the bonus and 31a and 31d. That just leaves 10d and the letter pairs (even though I don't need them anymore!). 7lattens - There are 8 possible abbreviations for letters 234 and that's assuming there are no clashes there.Can you narrow it down a bit? And midazolam, quinapalus is only useful for one word answers not a two word phrase?

[pushmi-pullyu]

I'm a newcomer to this site, and am in total awe of all you coves who get the whole thing finished by Friday night and then say how easy it was. I have (I think) solved all of this week's except for being completely baffled by 4 down. Any gentle hints welcome!
Pushmi-pullyu

[7lattens]

easylistener - 10D - letter 2 is a clash - for the definition of Virgin think more laterally

[easylistener]

Thanks 7lattens, got it at last! Thant just leaves the letter pairs even though I have done whatever they spell out!