MM Links Solutions January 2011 [Week 1]

[crofter]

By all accounts, Queen Christiana the Cheerful began 2011 in benevolent form. Determined to maintain an upbeat attitude, she adopted the thematic title “Accentuate the Positive” and went for the link words:

FLYING Start
Keep SMILING
Hope FULLY (ouch!)
Future PERFECT

In truth, the game proved a suitable challenge for the early birds and on the whole, when comparing the performances of the setter and predictors, I reckon it was a case of “Honours even”!

Before I forget, congratulations once again to roslyn251254 & teacher1 for their recent wins on the Spectator Christmas Crossword.

NOW READ ON

[crofter]

Surprisingly, as many as four of the first five entrants were able to make it to the scoreboard. First came tearinghair who can be relied upon to KEEP SMILING for TWO POINTS. She was followed by three gerund grinders in the form of Strix, ulysses100 & lysander who went with FUTURE PERFECT (each gaining TWO POINTS). There was a short break until yet another ex-champion, Jools, hit on the esoteric HOPEFULLY to claim the third link of this round.

There was only one more “two pointer” when patchett claimed a prompt “Keep Smiling”, before the clock shut down the opportunity for bonus points. After this time, there came a string of “single pointers” in the form of beejay1124, BigMac, Handbaglady, teacher1, Elpseth & cliffyg. They led up to the discovery of the final link FLYING START, when the Canadian contingent entered the contest and Mrs Ont-ice (Entrant #35) picked up the final TWO POINTS.

[crofter]

One hour later, Entrant #36 appeared in the guise of ex-champion ladyalex, who cleared off no fewer than three of the four links to score an impressive Three Points and qualify for the coveted title of HOT SHOT OF THE WEEK.
*** Let trumpets sound and canons roar ***
*** The peasants cheer and shout “Encore” ***

There then came a late flurry of one pointers with kettledrum, gen2,ChrisHewet, Eiggam, kawakiri & twix123 all getting a toehold on the scoreboard, before the game came to a close.

The League Table after this first week is:

THREE POINTS: ladyalex
TWO POINTS: Jools, lysander, Mrs Ont-ice, patchett, Strix, tearinghair & ulysses100
ONE POINT: beejay1124, BigMac, cliffyg, Eiggam, Elspeth, gen2, Handbaglady, kawakiri, kettledrum, teacher1 & twix123

[crofter]

With one week over, there is a reasonable distribution of points across a group of largely ex-champion MM Link setters. Will next week discover a new talent to be developed over January? Tune in next week to follow this exciting game. Be there or be square!

For the present, this is crofter signing off.

Until we meet up again: HAPPY LINKING!

:o)

[boxtops]

Thanks crofter - tisk, I was going to put Future Perfect, but I thought it was a bit obscure - should have stuck with my first thought!

[Aquagility]

Hmm, not good. But thanks Christiana (demoted now, you see) and thanks Crofter. At least I've finished the Generalist, even if it did take nearly all day.

[JoolsTwo]

Thanks Crofter and Christiana - See you next week same time same place.

[tearinghair]

Thanks Queen Christiana and crofter. I thought Keep Smiling was the least likely of my four guesses! Well done to all scorers; looking forward to next week.

[Ont-ice]

Thanks Christiana. Can it be that I have found someone whose wavelength I can decipher. I hope so.
Thanks Crofter for all the hard work on the abacus. Did you get the new one I mailed to you for Christmas?
Same time next week everyone and congrats to Ladyalex.

[Christiana]

Thanks to Crofter and his brand new smoking abacus for masterminding the whole thing, and to everyone who took part for their inspired guesses - some of them much better than the ones I thought of. And congrats. to Lady Alex and all the other scorers for the dubious distinction of being on my wavelength.

[LaneyB]

Please Crofter Sir, am I entitled to one point because at 9.27am I posted Keep Smiling and I don't see my name posted as having a point. Your obedient servant, Laney

[crofter]

LaneyB ~ Apologies for the omission which will be corrected immediately ;o)

[ladyalex]

Gosh! I'm overwhelmed..hotshot of the week!
And I didn't check till now!

Thanks to Queen Christiana and to crofter!