Listener Crossword 4034

[starwalker]

This week's offering is "Overhead Reduction" by Schadenfreude. No mention of colouring, but apparently scissors, paper, adhesive and a straight edge will be required. Hmmmm !

[emcee]

Apologies! I seem to have dropped a 'c' in Mr Freude's monicker. Why can't he/ she just be satisfied with 'Smith'!!!

[midazolam]

i spelt it wrong twice! oops

[Speravi]

I admit it: I'm missing something here. I had the grid filled on Friday night, since then I've been staring at it without getting the PDM. I can see a cut and even a gap, but it still eludes me. I can also see a couple of words that go together and might suggest a cosmetic procedure, but that's too outlandish, isn't it? I've looked at initial letters in clues, along diagonals, and up columns, but the grid remains silent. I'm left with thinking that the symmetry characteristic requires the insertion of a central row or column, but I can't see how that would supply the amusement to which so many allude. I'm not too proud to beg: a gentle hint would be much appreciated!

[midazolam]

i must admit it took me awhile too. You must read the preamble very carefully. How could one clue be removed to make the grid you see before you? It is difficult to give hints without giving the game away

[Mysterons]

You are almost there Speravi - look carefully at the bar pattern in the edited grid, and note what's 'wrong' with it. That should tell you which of your 2 possible reinstatements is correct.. The task then is to insert the missing entry whilst ensuring that all intersecting entries remain real words.

[Speravi]

Thank you both for those responses - they will prevent some of my wilder imaginings. I'll return to it now and think along those lines.

[Speravi]

Got it! - thanks again to Midazolam and Mysterons.

[turnerjmw]

Very well done Speravi<b/> , and hats off to midazolam and Mysterons for their restrained hints.

[turnerjmw]

Apologies for my appalling html coding . . .

[cluelessJoe]

<n><e><v><e><r> mind turnerjm, happens to us all!
And now back to check on the old "here's one I made earlier" .. the glue made the paper ripple like a sheet of corrugated cardboard, so it's been sitting under Chambers for 2 days straightening out.

[Cruncher]

A pretty puzzle. Thought of many more devious arrangements along the way but the final PDM certainly raised a smile! :)

[shelouse]

I certainly agree. A lovely PDM. Have one small reservation regarding the across clue near the end of the list beginning "Basic assumptions.....". Do not really see why the clue indicates a plural. Otherwise an excellent puzzle.

[Mysterons]

Chambers does seem to support either singular or plural, and the structure of the clue would have allowed either option.

[robinruth]

Just completed it with a smile and great delight as we got there under our own steam without having to appeal for help this time. Coming from overseas (without giving too much away by saying where), I, too had reservations about the solution Shelouse queries, but agree with Mysterons that Chambers justifies that interpretation of the word. Now for the cutting and pasting.

[easterfool]

Wasn't this fun? I loved the last step - so clever. I wish that I could set and clue to this standard.

I've enjoyed the discussions for the last few Listeners, but been too late in solving to be of any use. I've been racing to get done before the deadlines so I haven't had time to put digits to keys. I'll try to do better in future, but holiday times are coming. How do others cope with being abroad and lacking the reference books? I'll have to buy a bigger car if I am to take my Chambers etc.

[Mysterons]

You're right, sometimes it's just not possible to keep up with solving and submitting whilst on holiday abroad, especially if internet access is not possible. However, for the purpose of statistics, JEG will accept late entries due to holidays, illness and other valid reasons, as long as he is alerted to this in a timely manner. In the case of holidays, this means advance warning with an earlier entry - full details are included in his annual report.

[Flocko]

Just face it -- you have to take Chambers everywhere you go. I've gotten some strange looks on airplanes and at security checks, but it's just the price you pay. Internet access is just the start; I've found that printing the puzzle out is usually the bigger problem. I've been reduced on a couple of occasions to transcribing the whole thing by hand when no printer was available. It's an obsession, but you do what you have to do.

...Flocko