Good Times...

[Lie-in King]

Hi everyone! Imagine my astonishment when answering the door an hour or so ago to a delivery of the prize for the Times Jumbo Cryptic Crossword!

It's been about 9 years since I won anything, so I'd got out of the habit of checking the winners' names & was thus pleasantly surprised!

One small gripe - Harper Collins (from whence the prize came) obviously don't follow a "green" packaging policy � they used yards & yards & yards & yards (really!) of scrunched-up brown paper in the box to protect the books � perhaps a smaller box might work? Ah well, I now have a brand new Times Atlas, Collins & books of Times Crosswords & Sudokus to enjoy.

I've always said it's the taking part, not the winning that counts, but confess to a small thrill to have finally succeeded at one of my favourite puzzles!

Thanks for letting me tell you about my good fortune & I hope that many more AB'ers will soon (or once again) feel that same frisson of excitement � good luck to all!

[Mamyalynne]

Not before time yer maj, enjoy the prize I like a sudoku i do

Mamya♥

[Claud.Butler]

Congratulations!
My first, and last, win was a cheque for the princely sum of 1 guinea( �1.05) I'm starting to think another win is a bit overdue.

[Lie-in King]

Thanks mamya - so do I - my puzzle of choice to go to bed with...

...Oh dear, now that sounds sad... :-))

[flicrat]

You certainly deserve a reward for all the help you give us all. Congratulations! ( Be thankful it didn't come with all that small white polystyrene - or whatever- ballast!!)

[Lie-in King]

Claud - was that for the first ever crossword?

Calm down, it's a joke! :-))

[Lie-in King]

flicrat - thanks & you're right - though I'm looking at a black rubbish bag full of the packing materials, all ready for the dustmen in the morning...

...And no, our recycling service don't take cardboard or brown paper... :-(

[factor-fiction]

Well done Lie-In-King.
When I won a newspaper crossword once I started to get hate mail from someone who traced my full address and said they could tell from my neighbourhood that I didn't have need of the prize and shouldn't enter in order to give those who needed the prize more of a chance. Hope you don't get the same !

[Lie-in King]

Doh! I keep mucking up the <> thingies lately...

Pours drink & tries to calm down...

[Lie-in King]

factor - but...what...why...how.?.. Good grief!!

I suppose that taught you not to try & rise above your station in life?! :-)

I'm not sure anyone here reads the Times, so I hope I'm safe... Gulp...

[flicrat]

Re recycling - join the club. Our lot don't take cardboard etc either, only newspapers, - and then only when the communal bin of our block of flats is overflowing! (And similar problems over the Glass and Plastic bins. Heigh ho!)
But don't let that spoil the delight of the win!!

[Claud.Butler]

It wasn't quite the very first crossword. But it sometimes feels as though it was.
Still, it's not the winning but the taking part that's important. Well, that's what I tell myself, anyway. :-)

[Lie-in King]

Our lot will only take bottles - no old glasses, plates, etc - even if they're clear glass. The collectors are mostly friendly & apologetic, but "rules are rules" wins...

[grasscarp]

So Lie-in King, you should say a big thank you to all those who helped you win this prize! Come to think of it I dont recall ever seeing a question from you. Well done boss.

[Lie-in King]

Hi grass(pot)carp!

I gladly proffer my thanks to everyone at AB! This place helps keep me sane...

...Sad, but true! :-))

[Tallulah!]

Winning is wonderful! Well done Lie-in King.
I've never seen you ask for help, either. So it's doubly deserving.
I hope you've got reinforced shelving for the new additions.
The Times Atlas(purchased not won) broke the Homebase flat pack!
T x.

[JMR27]

Yippee! Well done Lie-in King! I hope it's the start of a run of good luck for you. Judy x

[Lie-in King]

Thanks Tallulah - I'm passing on my not-so-old atlas & Collins to the daughter of a friend, so the shelves should hold!

The package didn't include a letter, just an invoice showing how much the books are worth - how much?! I can buy them much cheaper at - for example - Sussex Stationers. Surely they could get a "job-lot" & save money as well as being able to offer more prizes?

Ah, what do I know? :-) Off for dins now...

[Tallulah!]

What another dins! You had one yesterday!
I won a tea mug, a tea spoon and a tea towel from Colossus stinker last week! It was the best feeling and was all my own work.

[woodhamgirl]

Hi lie in king - funny enough i was just thinking of you and was going to ask if youd ever won anything.
So congratulations - I cant think of a better person who deserves it - youre a great help to us all so very well donex

[Lie-in King]

Sorry for the late replies, my ISP has been playing up all night...

Tallulah - you'll be wanting more tea then?..

Thanks woody - oops! If that's unacceptable, then I promise never to do it again!..

:-))