Listener Crossword 4117 Great Expectations by Samuel

[Zabadak]

Not finished yet, but I've got grid B, so I know two things already. There's an awful lot of pretty close to cold solving in Grid A, and I've got to get a bigger print out to have any kind of chance with the instruction. Best of luck, everyone.

[contendo]

That should be "publishes", not "published", in the last sentence

[Clamzy]

cJ - Is that the American version?

Merry Christmas.

[cluelessJoe]

Come now Clamzy, would I?
(sorry, can't give you a direct answer on this thread)
A Merry Christmas to you too ... and to all the usual - and unusual - suspects, all of whom add to the enjoyment of the weekly Listener institution. See you all in 2011

[trux]

It seems unseasonal but here's my "rant" too : I think the AB thread is generally a good thing, which a) encourages solvers to persevere and b) creates amity (most of the time) between fellow Listenerites and c) is often quite witty & humorous. This has certainly been my experience - and I am glad for it. Of course, the nudges & hints should not be too blatant - especially not early on when there are still patently many solvers struggling. (For a laugh, have a read of the "Tel EV 945" thread and see how I was berated by Graudian & bibblebub ...). Happy Xmas to one & all !

[Roundhillbob]

Help! Hi all. I am progressing on this at my usual sedate pace, with limited time following a house move.
My problem relates to the next crossword. I rely on the newspaper for my listener, rather than going on line. I assume there will be no paper on Saturday. Does anyone know what the arrangements for publication of the crossword will be this week?

[perseverer]

General opinion is that there will be no Listener this week, but the newspaper will be published on January 1st and that will have the first of the 2011 Listeners.

[Jogler]

Late to post here as we have been tied up with traffic, family stuff .... and just slow to finish having a Completely Wrong answer to one of the down clues! However, a bit of working backwards eventually did the trick and it has been amusing to read the wit and wisdom of the contributions thus far. Suffice it to say, we enjoyed the puzzle and we have enjoyed the comments - as always.

This weekly thread is always a pleasure and we feel that over the year we have made some new friends (rather longer lasting than those we made on the M1 on Saturday night!). As you have probably picked up; we are a solving couple - please don't hold this against us - himself is generally left to the cold solving and sits with his BRB and bookish aids whilst I enjoy the conundrum of the end game and sit at my laptop. We enjoy expanding our knowledge of the various themes that come up and just aim to get the puzzle finished before the next one comes out (not always successfully). It is nice to know that others have finished and, when completely stuck, to garner the occasional hint; but these hints rarely make sense to me until after completion when they serve to confirm that one has gone along the right path.

As to the nature of the Answerbank.... what is the point in doing a cryptic and asking for the answers. I suppose that the term 'answerbank' suggests that that is its sole purpose but, Trux, we are with you as far as Listener and EV are concerned - I was amazed by the vitriolic response that was aimed at you - suggest you stick with the n&cer's in the future:)

Finally, and sorry this is so long, a very Happy Christmas to all Listenerites.

[teuchter2]

Hi everyone. I'm as late as ever. I got through grid B quite nicely, but am well stuck on A and don't know if I'll bother. I might have another look. I've got the theme without needing any 'portal' hints. I must confess that my daughter did help me with the Troglodytes origami.
We had no papers in Teuchterland last week, so had to join the Crossword club. My main reason for logging on today was to see what the consensus was about the date of the next Listener and to wish you all a Happy Christmas.

[Philoctetes]

Just to make your Christmas a tad merrier, here's one from the school of bizarre interpretations. When I first saw the bit about detachment, I went on the assumption that this referred to the GRIDS - without being too explicit, this caused me much frustration, even looking on the previous page of the paper to check there was nothing there. Scrapped that idea, and came to the next most obvious solution.
Ho Ho Ho to all fellow daft solvers.

[BlackHugh]

Merry Christmas everyone
There is a message on the crossword club web site that says that the missing Jumbo crosswords from Saturday will be published on the 27th. It may be worth checking if that applies to the Listener as well.

[Clamzy]

Yes thanks I will check on Monday.

On the other board there is comment on Sabre's puzzle. I take it that the solution is on line today? I checked the newspaper, found no Listener, and didn't buy.

If anyone has the solution I'd be most grateful for a copy.- [email protected]
Many thanks

[BlackHugh]

Clamzy - I've sent you it

[Clamzy]

Thanks a lot and All the Best.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Ho Ho Ho! Happy Christmas everybody!
Posting this now not because I need help this time (so Trux, no sweating it, eh?) but because I am also concerned about where 4118 will be located. There is a paper on Sunday, isn't there? Boxing Day ought to have it - but maybe 27th as suggested? I can't imagine them missing out a Listener for a week - this has never happened before in the years I've been collecting them. Also, I buy the paper rather than subscribing to Times Online or whatever it is, so don't want to miss it.

With regards to 4117, don't know if I'm the only one who did this, but my solution involved no detachment whatsoever; not even little doors. (That clue is already out).
i just overwrote numbers with the associated letters from grid B in happy jolly red ink on grid A (as well as those that were already there) and posted it, along with a real crimble card in case hitherto unincluded parties (statisticians, for example) were feeling left out. Needless to say, they ought to have it by now.

Merry Xmas everyone, and a happy new year!

[Rogue-Elfe]

PS - I have another puzzle to take me through the festives. The book Puzzle Island by Paul Adshead; for which I have started a thread.
It wasn't a crimble prezzie (they'll be opened tomorrow or later in my case, long story). but one I ordered from Amazon.
If anyone has completed this, and I mean fully completed it, then please link to that thread and comment for me. I'm not going to complain about clues here, since that's exactly what I'm after!
I have left my solutions to this point, so people can see where I'm at.

Thanks.

[easylistener]

Having finished my school term and at last have a bit of time on my hands I am disappointed to find no listener this weekend. However, I have discovered the delights of previously saved emails with listeners attached. I can work at these knowing they are not too historic and enjoy reading the message board and listenwithothers blog on the specific puzzles. But still nothing beats doing one "live" with you lot at the same time!

[contendo]

In 2004 Christmas day fell on a Saturday & there was no Times and no Listener crossword, but there was a paper & crossword on 1st Jan. 2005 (no. 3806), so there should be one this time.

[AndrewG-S]

Can anyone email me a copy of Elgar's Enigmatic Christmas Day Toughie from the Telegraph online site? ([email protected]).

[trux]

Andrew G-S : just saw your thread (was busy doing the EV - which is not really a "Toughie" by any stretch of the imagination - was there another one ?) - have scanned it and e-mail is on the way .... bestest

[easylistener]

ooh would it be too much trouble to email one to me too. [email protected].
I NEED a good puzzle to do!