Listener Crossword No 4275 Make A Connection By Ioa

[trux]

Is there a tradition to start the year with an extra-easy puzzle? This one certainly fits the bill but nonetheless has some nice touches (and not too much gridstaring in the end) even if the clues were rather easy for a Listener. Thanks to IOA for a most gentle solve and at least I am confident that I am now 100% for 2014!! Bestest wishes for health, happiness and successful solving to all on the AB.

[olichant]

Yes, a nice gentle gridfill - which was welcome after Ploy's tricky puzzle in the Magpie (first Magpie plug of the year). Thanks, IOA.

[BobHWW]

It's not always a relatively easy one. Exactly 20 years ago was Dimitry's New Year's Resolution. One the best Listeners ever in my opinion and only 80 correct solutions. Check it out if you don't know it.
I agree that this one was on the easier side but a nice introduction to the New Year. Thank you IOA.

[jim360]

Full grid, but almost by accident, so not quite sure what the connection is or what's going on. Can spot various hidden words that are sure to be important but not yet found 26 cells. Some thinking to do to sort out the mess, clearly.

[upsetter]

Rather easy clues but a nice PDM - with several red herrings to trap the unwary.

[dr b]

Straightforward & enjoyable enough; tracking down one of the missing letters took a while.

[emcee]

Steady start to the new year. Not a new theme, alas.

[jim360]

All sorted now, I think. Yes, a theme done before, but this was in a different way and quite a rich theme so I'm sure it will come up again. Thanks IOA for a good start to 2014.

[Contrarian]

Perhaps a little too gentle. Managed to complete it within 45 minutes and still fit in a blazing row with my wife.

[Ruthrobin]

Oh dear, Contrarian! Was that because you were solving while she had to make dinner (familiar scenario)? Dinner over here, nice easy speedy solve - just right for the first of the year.

[IainGrace]

As Saturday solvers, we thought might join the Friday club, given holidays etc. Very easy grid fill but no idea what it's about. Oh well, sleep on it.

[Contrarian]

Ruthrobin,

It could have been that - she does complain that she's becoming something of a 'Listener widow'.

This time, though, it was basically because my mother is coming to stay tomorrow.

[Cagey]

I enjoyed that. A very encouraging start to the year.

[sunny-dave]

Very gentle, very pleasant. Not a new theme, but no harm in mining such a rich resource again.

Took a while to find one of the missing Down letters - very cutely hidden.

Thanks IOA.

[AHearer]

As has been said before, a very easy grid fill -- but after that the P took much longer than an M to D. It didn't help that I'd misidentified one of the missing letters, which led me on an interesting wild goose chase. Finally spotted a potential work in the grid which made sense of the title, and that did it. Thanks to IOA, and best wishes to all for the New Year.

[IainGrace]

Had our PDM over breakfast but still don't get the wordplay in two clues that participate in parts of the denouement.

[IainGrace]

Now had our second PDM to complete the puzzle, not having been helped by looking at the wrong clue for one of the missing letters.

[doctormatt]

Also 100% for the year to date; gentle but clever.

[AHearer]

There ought to be an entry in "The Meaning of Liff" for the brief moment, just after one ha posted ones Listener entry, when one is convinced that one has transferred the letters but not the shading from the rough copy. Altringham? Great Missenden? Letterbrick?

[tenflags]

I think the word you are looking for AHearer is "***".. as used by myself last year on more than one occassion.

[sunny-dave]

If you are uncertain ... Twitchen

If you know that you have forgotten ... Llantwit Major