Listener 4091: Mind the Gap by Calmac

[AHearer]

[Philoctetes]

Well, like others I just ran through this, but was stumped by the unclued across until I sat down with a clear head this morning. I do not think it was particularly well constructed. Firstly, the unclued downs had no relevance, even to the unclued across, and might as well have been given clues. Secondly, it was not so much as a PDM as a look up the answer. For me, a PDM should arise out of the logic of the puzzle, clue structure, theme, so that you work through, step by step, until you see the light. Nothing in the puzzle actually led to that final moment. Disappointing all round :(

[Cruncher]

I was happy to have a less demanding puzzle for once - finished most of it whilst the 74 bus was crawling its way through Oxford Street and Knightsbridge yesterday afternoon. I thought its was ok and thought the wording of the preamble was rather elegant. No complaints from me

[Clamzy]

Less demanding Hmmm. A very easy set of clues as has been said but it took me all of 24 hours to figure out the rest.
In 1997 I didn't submit an entry for Calmac's last Listener completing only half a dozen or so in those days.

[Alekhine]

Yes, easy enough, I think ... but I confess not to understand the wordplay for 40d. I'm happy that I have the correct answer, and I'm OK with the 'Lifted' part, but how does the rest of the wordplay lead to the answer?

[perseverer]

The same war representative was the subject of a correction of nationality a few weeks back......

[Mysterons]

.... but it was easy to myth that one.

[jacinth]

Talking of a few weeks ago, there was nothing extra going on in 'Digimix' which is a disappointment.

This was one of the easier ones, took Italy/NZ and the first half of Brazil/Ivory Coast. 15d and 31d among my last too. Not the most exciting, but not the worst of the year.

[Clamzy]

Yes the blogs for Digimix are on Listen With Others, together with a FREE extra number puzzle from Oyler and his blog.
Unfortunately my wish for a blog from someone who solved it using only a calculator was not fulfilled, but I suppose the solution to that is in my own hands:-)

[Ruthrobin]

Yes please, Clamzy!

[bobbycollins]

Embarrased to admit that I have only just seen the final step thanks to a nudge from a regular here.

When the light dawned I felt that the finish was pretty neat, and the unclued entries do have a proper job in the puzzle's completion. So all in all an enjoyable puzzle for me. Thanks to Calmac.

[BlackHugh]

I have just finished it as well. Was stuck for a whole day on 26d. due to my absolute conviction that the final letter of the answer was indicated by "tourist centre". I agree that after last weeks "stinker" we were due a less demanding one!

[silversolver]

I also got there eventually. I saw the unclued across entry immediately this evening having stared at it for more than an hour yesterday - it is amazing how often that happens with the Listener! I had also convinced myself that the theme was something completely different (did anyone else think of tsunamis?)

[Cruncher]

Hi Clamzy - me too. Managed Digimix with a £2 calculator from a Cumbrian newsagent, a few bits of paper and an indecent amount of Coniston Bluebird. With less Bluebird reckon it might have been solvable with a much cheaper calculator

[Clamzy]

Hi cruncher. On the other board someone bemoaned the fact that his calculator had only eight digits which was inadequate in this case. Mine's the same but I also have one on my desktop which can handle larger numbers.

[failedagain]

Virtually all versions of Windows in the last two decades have included calc.exe, a calculator program that handles many more than eight digits. The XP version goes up to 32 digits before it resorts to scientific notation.

[daagg]

It was my 30 year old calculator which let me down. I was trying to solve it in an armchair, being more comfortable, but I resorted to my laptop with its 32-digit calculator.

[Scorpius]

Like Philoctetes I was underwhelmed by this. I couldn't really see much point to it since there was no developed theme as such, just a phrase that, unsurprisingly, is not in Chambers nor in my ODQ. Since there were various possibilities for the unclued down entries (bearing in mind the unspecified lengths) it was a while before I hit on the correct choices and saw a couple of words I recognised. The preamble hint is pretty obscure until you've arrived at the correct solution, so wasn't much help.

[AndrewG-S]

The phrase was in my Chambers (in the Appendix).

[hypotheses]

I have both the current Chambers and a very battered 7th edition. The phrase is in both. But as with a couple of previous respondents, having an entry in (almost) every light, I don't quite see the point of it all. A couple of hours to solve 90% of the clues, a couple of minutes of clarity to solve the remainder and a couple of days to decide that the final result is (probably) correct is not very intellectually satisfying.

[tbayliss]

Well I got there eventually - I think. Some easy clues but very tricky with the middle bit. Can't agree with those complaining about it being too easy. Those easy-ish clues get you started but unless you know the bit in the middle (I didn't), the title and preamble are not too much help.
I am left with one puzzle no one has mentioned. The square at the very centre of the puzzle seems to leave unsatisfactory fragments above and below. Am I missing the final piece of the puzzle here?