Listener 4149: Toga by Nod

[midazolam]

An enjoyable Listener debut from Nod

A concise preamble for once, straightforward clues and a nice finish to round it off. A few of the clues I had the wrong letter, despite being perfectly acceptable alternatives, which may have been deliberate.

Classic Listener fun. Thanks Nod

[tilbee]

Unlike others the end game came very quickly. Immediately realised what was required and determined the relevant option. Now completed with the exception of having to go out and buy a special pen (which I will forgo since I do not submit).

[contendo]

Oh dear, this isn't going anywhere. My response to the advice is "Where to?"

[aldanna]

Contendo, I too am thinking "where too?"

[TheBear69]

I agree with most of the above - some sneaky ambiguities on the extra letters but had no problem finding the advice or following it; but the wordplay for 12d stumped me until a few minutes ago. I am not sure this is a fair clue as it does not seem to be subject to the 'primary reference' sentence of the instructions, unless it's hiding somewhere.

[kwyjibo]

After taking an age for the penny to drop last week I managed to do this one in a single sitting.

[contendo]

Denarius caduit. The final solution resolved my doubts about one clue over which I was still deliberating, and the correct answer to it had me chuckling.

[aldanna]

Had sudden idea this morning and... ta-daa!! pdm!

[borealis]

TheBear69, liike you I only saw the reference in 12d after I had the answer - but I am all too familiar with it, so I saw this as a fair clue. The Listener guide says: “In their clues, setters should avoid using words, meanings and abbreviations that are not in The Chambers Dictionary, with the exception of familiar proper names.” Would we accept a clue reference to “capital” as “paris”, “president” as “ike” and maybe “charlie’s bird” as “woodstock”? I don’t think any of these are in the BRB, but they are familiar proper names, fictional or otherwise. How familiar is familiar?

[tenflags]

12d is fine for me but having started this yesterday I'm following in the footpaths of many here.

Grid filled, narrowing down the few remaining ambiguous letters to what I think is a coherent message / advice but no Denarius caduit or Ta-Daa for me yet. Some ideas mulling but I think I need to go and get on with some DIY (A-Hearers advice I think it was) to see if that will unlock. Besides which the DIY needs doing.

[Clamzy]

Me too Tenflags. I guessed what was required before completing the advice and sought technical help on-line. This came up with nothing helpful so I went back to find the correct extra letters. They confirmed what I knew last Friday so I completed manually. My big problem was with the South East corner but that was nothing new as Mrs. Clamzy was born in Deal. In mitigation I should add that she is from sound stock who just happened to be working down there at the time.
Thanks for the compliment at the end of last week's thread IainGrace, but not this week I'm afraid.

[tilbee]

Like TB69 last thing I did (sometime after completion) was justify the wordplay to 12d. I never consider that I have really completed a Listener until I have understood every nuance. Feel I was somewhat disadvatantaged however, by having no children /grandchildren that may have introduced me to this.

I accept that no knowledge is totally useless, but this goes as close at it gets.

[IainGrace]

We are fine with all the clues, have the advice but haven't the foggiest what to do with it. Struggling to interpret the first word of the advice, but guess that's the point..........

[IainGrace]

Clamzy, we are plainly in the same boat this week. There is a second leg to that saying.............

[Clamzy]

Yes - Google has two quite different second legs and I know which one I prefer:-)
But I forget my manners. Thank you for a slendid debut Listener Nod.

[Clamzy]

Try splendid.

[Philoctetes]

@tilbee - as the relevant entity in 12d first appeared in 1954, you might not need offspring but hark back to your own childhood. Unless, of course, you didn't...[Shocked emoticon here]
I thought the title could have been better, but agree it was a fun debut.

[Cruncher]

Finished this this evening in a crowded Cephalonian airport awaiting a return flight. WIthout BRB or any other aids have had to take a few stabs at answers and wordplay which will need confirmation tomorrow but a nice sense of arrival at the end

[perseverer]

For 12d I seem to remember the various entities featuring in Noel Edmonds Sunday morning radio shows circa 1980.

Incidentally, anyone else find that following the advice to the end makes it very difficult to read the writing!

[tenflags]

Having had my Denarius caduit this morning - I'm wondering that Perserverer

[Speravi]

Regarding the obliteration resulting from following the advice to the end, I'm tempted to use a pencil rather than a 'pen'. I enjoyed this, although I lack confidence in my answer to 16d (which doesn't seem to have troubled anyone else) because I cannot resolve the wordplay. Thanks for, and congratulations on, this debut offering, Nod.