Listener 4146 What it Says by Waterloo

[dr b]

A pretty straightforward solve this week, as 6 or 8 cold solves revealed the likely method of entry. But, a well constructed puzzle, and a nice break after last week's brainbuster.

Thank you Waterloo, and now I can't get that damn Abba song out of my head.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, a relief to have an easier solve this week.

[trux]

Impressive speed, Dr. B - as this seems to be more of a chore or a bore than many recent Big L's - is there really no end-game ? (Or will I eat my words when I have the PDM - the "discovery" of how to make grid entries wasn't IMHO even a FDM) .... Surely I must have missed something ?

[Ruthrobin]

Farthing drop moment, Trux?

[dr b]

Nothing to do after filling the grid, that I can see.

[Zabadak]

Rather an odd one, this: a (the?) penny drop moment (with my second random solve, as it happens, one of the long ones) right at the beginning then a bit of a steady plod after that, though 61a etc made me scratch my head a bit. Certainly a relief after last week's which I quit struggling with having started as late as Tuesday. If there's anything else to find once the grid is complete, Waterloo is being very coy about it!

[cluelessJoe]

.. even earlier realisation for me, after the first clue solved. I've only done another handful after a late start, and I'm afraid I am already into trux's chore/bore mode. I don't think I will be a Friday night finisher though, as I can't see this one holding the interest for long enough - maybe one to finish bit by bit over the weekend during key holes at the Open.

[easylistener]

Easylistener on summer hols and glad to have an easy listener to amuse me. PDM early on, now to enjoy the bit by bit grid fill. Would like an end game to go with it but we can't have everything!

[AHearer]

Yes, a much easier ride than last week's -- nice to have one where I could make headway even when I had to stand on the train home. There was one clue where I was in no doubt of the answer but took much longer than I should have to see how to fit it in. I keep looking back at the filled grid, thinking that there must be a hidden reward there somewhere, but I'm dashed if i can see it.

[u10]

No one can complain about lack of bars!

[AndrewG-S]

I was going to write exactly the same as Ruthrobin, no complaints from me about something a bit easier this week - means I can enjoy the weekend! Assume golf will be rained off so looks like some wizarding treats (?) at the cinema for me. Hope this one is not 2 hours of moody teenagers.

[starwalker]

Once the entry method is established, the hardest part is keeping track of clue components.

[tilbee]

Early start and finish on this one today, due to English summer weather. Nothing too challenging here.

[pushmi-pullyu]

Still working on how to enter the 61a answer, but otherwise done. This means I can go on struggling with last week's.

[Coalminers]

I'm just where you are, Pushmi-pullyu. Methinks I need to think outside of the box.

[trux]

Re : 61a etc. : treat the middle letters as two separate instructions and you will end up with three "entries" (1,1) and (2) .... don't think there can really be any ambiguity

[Coalminers]

Thanks Trux - my conclusion too. That's comforting to know.

[Antmark]

Trux, but doesn't this mean the same answer is entered twice? (i,e. once as 1,1 and once as 2 ?

[IainGrace]

Rather disappointing. Idea revealed after a couple of solves. After abandoning last week's overcomplex puzzle, oh for a traditional Listener crossword that is neither fruitlessly stared at for a week nor dispatched in a single sitting.

[AHearer]

Are we getting into a bit too much detail here by covering the one clue which required a bit more thought after the initial idea had been grasped? Or am I just being curmudgeonly because it took me longer to spot than it should have?

IainGrace, are you worried that your highlighter pens are drying up from lack of use? Or is it your scissor fingers that are getting itchy?

That makes four questions in the space for answers.

Maybe we should wait for a numerical carte blanche where all the digits have to be erased except for one, into the shape of which the entry has to be folded -- oh yes, and then coloured puce as a result of decoding the number of the puzzle using a disguised substitution cipher.

[Alekhine]

I'm with you, Antmark.

There's something not quite right about 61a.