MM and KM Links April 2010 [Week 3]

[crofter]

I am getting the impression that “The Count” (aka middlestump) is beginning to come to the view that I am regretting his coronation as Regal Setter of the link words. Not so! In fact, I am delighted to see that he has all the punters dancing to his tune. Every MM Linker is an individual and I have learned over the years to expect the unexpected (that’s Irish for you!). This week, he did ask me why we call this game MM Links. So it’s time for a history lesson, folks.

[crofter]

APOLOGIES ~ It's 2011

It’s fairly clear that the KM Links Game tries to predict the Monday link words in the Herculis Crossword as set by Kate Mepham in the Daily Telegraph. Her predecessor was her father, Michael Mepham, who was a colossus in puzzles of all types. We began by trying to predict Michael’s link words and I had the idea of scoring each person’s attempts and producing a monthly league table. Sadly, Michael died suddenly on 15 December 2006, which is when the MM Links Game took on its present form. Shortly afterwards, his daughter Kate re-introduced the Herculis format and it was decided that we could run both games, MM Links and KM Links. The new scorer to volunteer to run the KM links was seekeerz and both have been running for well over four years ~ virtually without a break (thanks to a handful of excellent helpers).

[crofter]

Each week, we adopt the same format with the MM Links Game, opening the channel of communication on AB on Saturday morning at 08.45am and the four words to be linked should be posted at 9.00am. Everyone is invited to participate and early MM hits gain bonus points! The international version of this same game (with participants from at least three continents) is KM Links and kicks off at a very early hour (which is difficult to predict precisely). Consequently, the timing of your posting is deemed to be irrelevant ~ only the number of hits you are able to register. The regular organiser of KM Links comes all the way from Oz (Roo-land) and is my good friend, “seekeerz”. She is truly the “Wizard-ess of Oz.

However, as I always say ~ “Why not chance your arm at both Link Games?” You have nothing to lose. Both games remain open for most of the weekend and all entries are scored and entered on to master scoreboards (more or less accurately) to trace progress through each monthly contest.

Until we meet again, may I wish you ~ “Happy Linking”!

:o)

[seekeerz]

goodness ... where is everyone ? did they think you might issue a questionnaire, crofter, and they've all scuttled for cover ?? surely the shrubbery isn't closed for repairs, oh !! I remember ... pauline was going awol for the weekend and strix .. well who knows what the big owl is doing, but where are the rest of you ??