Listener 4137: Frightened Catherine by Ifor

[midazolam]

An enjoyable Listener début from Ifor (although a setter that I have solved in the Magpie, EV and IQ).

I was wondering why this needed to be a carte blanche as I was solving it, but the little twists justified it. Clever theme that was well constructed. Thanks Ifor

[email protected]

[dr b]

Yes, my first thought on seeing the grid was "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!", or something similar, but it all comes together nicely. Ifor has also set this month's Crossword Centre puzzle, which is not coming together nicely for me at all.

[Ruthrobin]

I can but agree with both Midazolam and Dr B on both counts. This was a fine challenge all the way through with the last pdm coming after the grid was completed - just how it should be. Indeed, it became clear why it had to be a carte blanche as the solving proceeded. Yes, Dr B, I am still struggling with this month's Crossword Centre puzzle too.

[trux]

Excellent ! A really good puzzle this week. Perfectly fair. Step-by-step process of pdm's - quite easy to start the "blancmange" off which helped get further answers - then working out differing letters - and their significance ... then on to final twists and turns. Beautiful. Many, many thanks, Ifor.

[Zabadak]

Just in under the wire on Friday night, having handicapped myself by starting rather late. Another blank grid? I suppose it reduces the chances of misprints in presentation, and in this case (I wanted to get a clean print on one page, and couldn't copy the grid image across into Word) it was also easy to create a reasonable facsimile. Why half the clues were in italics online I have no idea, and while it's nice to have the "two words" and "Unclued" stand out, why they have to be in much larger font size is beyond me.
Enough kvetching - this was a mostly enjoyable puzzle where I resisted (perhaps foolishly, it helped with the last two in) to work out what the unclued answers until very close to the end. A good, solid, proper Listener which held together well.Thanks to Ifor and regards to all.

[Coalminers]

Didn't make the Friday club - but an excellent puzzle. One fantastic clue and a very appropriate title. I think there are several pitfalls for the unwary - one of which I hope I am not!

[Coalminers]

There do appear to be two ways of entering the thematic convergence, both (5,5), and both of which seem to satisfy the preamble. I'll have to think about that overnight.

[TheBear69]

An excellent Listener with an ingenious idea for resolving all of the ambiguities.

Am I wrong, or is the title short a letter?

Re the Ifor puzzle on the Crossword Centre, I have a filled grid but do not see the 8-letter thematic item or know what the 9-letter descroption is...

[dr b]

Coalminers, it seems to me there's only one way to write the "convergence" that also gives you directions as to which clue to ignore.

[TheBear69]

Actually I can see two possibilities for the convergence (5,5) both of which resolve the ambiguity (in the same way.) I think either should be acceptable - but I suspect only one will be accepted...

[midazolam]

The Bear69 - until you resolve your question in your first comment you cannot chose which of your two convergences to pick. Everything sorts itself out once all the twists are identified.

[Eril]

Yes - an excellent puzzle where EVERYTHING is significant.

[AHearer]

A lovely puzzle, with everything fitting together very neatly. Thank you, Ifor.

As to Ifor's Crossword Centre puzzle, it took me a long time to see what was going on, and even once I had a full grid I was not entirely convinced by my version of the end-game.

[Coalminers]

THank you, dr b. As I said I was going to, I thought about it overnight and came to the same conclusion.

[Ruthrobin]

Guess what - this week's IQ is blancmange too! Phi has offered us no clue lengths and no clue numbers either!

[starwalker]

Wonderful Listener debut that I managed to make more difficult by putting in a wrong answer. Thanks Ifor. I sha;; keep an eye out for you in the future.

[Deviant]

I guess I'll have a go, but I hate carte blanches with a vengeance ('cos I'm useless at cold solving) and 3 in 6 weeks or so is just ridiculous. I shall be asking Mr Green to pass on my complaint. Why can't they spread them out?

[bobbycollins]

Deviant, I'm with you on the cartes blanches subject.

However, the first two across clues slot nicely into their rightful places and should help with getting going on the grid fill. Finding it hard work though, but chipping steadily away.

[Paula]

Once again I have a completed grid but my differing letters are not precise and, although I can see which clue to ignore, I cannot see the thematic convergence.
Will battle on tomorrow.
Thanks Bobby for the info on Bradfords at Amazon - as soon as it arrived, I finished the travellers within 10 minutes!!

[JCVW1]

Hi All, I've been an avid follower of the Listener for a few years now, and solve them occasionally. However, the carte blanche style are the ones that I have a real problem with. I assume you have to cold-solve, and then do a "jigsaw", but I always end up with a few solved clues and a blank grid! Any tips would be much appreciated, to ([email protected]) if anyone would be so kind. Thanks.

[cluelessJoe]

Yes, despite the recent surfeit of carte-blanche puzzles, this one is enjoyable enough to be forgivable - cleverly worked, cheers Ifor.
Jason, there are worse examples - at least here you get clue numbers and know the answer order, so you can work from both ends and see approximately where down answers slot in with numbered acrosses - remember the symmetry which helps with across clue placement. Stick with it