Listener 4090 Refrain by Dysart

[Ruthrobin]

An evocative theme from our childhood this week and some very ingenious clues. Tougher than last week, we thought.

[dr b]

I don't know - the penny almost dropped too quickly for me; 1d is not hard to get, in which case all falls into place. But, well constructed and enjoyable as always. 1a gets my clue of the week.

[starwalker]

I would agree with that. At the moment I have most of the grid, 1D and the lyric. Looking forward to the rest.
Much harder than previous Dysart offerings I think.

[thebuzz999]

All done except the wordplay for 33a eludes me...

[Zabadak]

Obviously no-one else here was watching the footy. 1d certainly helped, as did reverse engineering from the song. thebuzz99: have you got all your clashes? if so, you should be able to sort the word play out without delay... No Charge for the assistance!
I left tracing the rest of the song until I had completed the grid: I'd be interested to know if anyone used the letters to confirm/complete answers? I loved the final PDM; or does the shape generated by the meandering song mean anything too?

[tweaker]

Dysart's definitely made heavy weather of the preamble on this - much of which could be simplified. The cluing seems to look smoother than last week, so on with the battle!

[qwerty99]

The penny has just dropped - most amusing! I thought the clue at 35 down was rather clever, it certainly had me scratching my head for a while. Why is entry of the alternative title below the grid "optional"?

[AHearer]

Yes, that was fun. I, too, liked the final PDM. I had a moment of panic when tracing out the line because I was looking for the wrong sort of article as the fourth word.

[poorsolver]

Following on from last week's comments about maths puzzles, For those wanting more Mathematical puzzles. The Magpie Magazine, available by subscription, has at least one mathematical challenge each month. There are also five other puzzles by many of your Listener favourite setters. The website is http://www.piemag.com and I think there's a sample edition there to download.

Well worth it every month.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, and re the Magpie, the A and B puzzles are slightly (or even considerably) easier than a 'standard' Listener, though they apparently have an E on file - perish the thought!

[daagg]

Ah hah, I've just worked out why the transmutation seemed to be incomplete. I was expecting more of a relevant shape, and I was missing a "word", but all magically resolved itself. There are a few dead ends on the trail, which I think are deliberate but add to the fun.

I certainly thought this was harder than the previous Dysart puzzles I've tried.

[midazolam]

Intermittent solving on this one. Well done to Ruthrobin for a timely finish (you are definitely improving!). How often has there been a 14x14 grid in the listener?

Although the theme was obtained fairly quickly, there was enough to keep one interested, with a clever finale. Seems odd that one of the corrected misprints fails to produce a real word.

Thanks Dysart. I think this was easier than "Mercury's Whereabouts" but harder than some and talking about The Magpie, Dysart has a crossword in this month's offerings.

[daagg]

midazolam, I think all my corrections make real words. One of the clashes works both ways, so I needed the 8-letter anagram to resolve.

[midazolam]

An oversight by me, daagg. I could not get the wordplay of my 2 word entry at 2 down that worked with the definition. the resulting meandering line worked perfectly elsewhere! I now realise my error and can file it away with a clear mind.

[daagg]

I suppose the absence of the last word could also explain the meandering nature of the trail.

[Zabadak]

Hi daagg - I rather think that's the point. It put me in mind of the puzzle years back based on Chesterton's poem;
Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode,
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.
A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire,
And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire;
A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread
The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.

[daagg]

Zab, I first heard that poem during maths lectures at University. I think it was used as a chapter heading for differential equations, because you never start solving them in a very direct way.

[Roundhillbob]

Well this appears harder than most recent. No joy on the first couple of read throughs, but have much of the right hand side now, so on the way. Really need to get to it before Sunday morning.

[Mysterons]

In answer to your earlier question Zabadak, yes I did use significant portions of the undetermined trail to assist with solving remaining clues - I did strike lucky as my first 17 entries were predominantly situated at the top and to the right side of the grid. Apologies for the late reply, but I have been watching the footie !

[AHearer]

Yes, daag, it's the head of Chapter 16 of Jeffreys & Jeffreys, Mathematical Physics. I'd forgotten all about those chapter headings until you mentioned them. I think Ziman's Solid State Physics had a few nice ones. too.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Wordplay for 3d and 4d seems to be giving me the wrong two extra letters. Is this a situation anyone else has encountered? I am certain of the answer to 3d, and whilst my geography isn't good, my 4d is in India, I believe. Only halfway through this yet due to a late start; but the theme is there. This could mean, Zabadak, that I might just end up trying to pre-empt the first few words locations in the grid, but by the sound of it, that won't be easy.