Guardian 23,945

[porilo]

Is anyone having any success with today's Guardian? I think they've printed the wrong grid, at least in the copy which I have. It's an alphabetical puzzle in which each answer begins with a different letter of the alphabet and they have to be inserted wherever they fit (I hate this type of puzzle!) but the grid is numbered. Normally when they have alphabetical puzzles the grid is not numbered, so what are the numbers for? Then, looking at the first square in the top left corner (it's numbered 1), there's space for a 6- letter word going across and a 4-letter word going down. Obviously those two words must begin with the same letter but there are no "double clues", i.e. two separate clues next to the same single starting letter. Likewise with the square numbered 13. There's space for a 10-letter word going across and a 9-letter word going down, and again both must start with the same letter, but there aren't any such clues. I've solved quite a few of the clues but don't see how they can fit into the grid. Am I missing something or have they have printed the wrong grid? At the moment I'm completely bewildered. Please, someone tell me that the grid is wrong!

Regards,

Gregory

[kayakamina]

13a and 13d start with A

1a and 1d start with F

Hope that helps K

[Argee2]

I agree with you. I have been struggling. I thought that F could be in two parts at 1 (across and down) but have not got it. I have put J in at 11 and L at 8 down, but that is as far as I have got.

[Argee2]

Thank you, kayakamina. Am I right with J at 11 and L at 8 before I go any further, please?

[kayakamina]

You are correct. J is 11, L is 8 .

To help you along 21 is D.

From earlier posting you should know that 15d is K

[porilo]

Thanks so much. That's a really great help. Maybe I can make some progress now. What confused me is that there were no "double" clues as there usually are in these alphabetical puzzles, so if 13a starts with A, I could't see where the clue was for 13d which must also start with A because there's only one "A" clue, but I now see that the "A" clue will cover the across and down. Mr Araucaria is being extra fiendish this week. I think I can make a little headway now.

Regards,

Gregory

[dzug]

Not sure why the grid is numbered - it doesn't appear necessary.

I quite enjoy this type of puzzle - they are usually a lot easier than you would think. Today's is perhaps a little more difficult than normal. I've finished it bar one clue for which I can't see how to decide which of two possible answers is right.

a clue for 1 Argee2 - thy father lies.

[Argee2]

Thank you, dzug. I did get it eventually and finished the puzzle.

[porilo]

I'm still not sure about 1a and 1d. The only words which I can find to fit are FIVE FATHOM but it doesn't seem to make sense with the clue, so presumably it's the wrong answer. Apart from that, I think I've finished the rest of the puzzle. Boy, that was hard work !!!