Independent Inquisitor 1136 Saturday July 24th 2010

[Speravi]

I have the five letters, and I believe that I have the resulting word: I don't have the perimeter, although the rest of the grid is filled. Deducing 18 missing letters out of 48 from a single word (plus title, I suppose - although I have gained no help from that) is a step too far for me. Have any of our regulars (or irregulars for that matter) been able to crack this?

[turnerjmw]

Yes, I have cracked this, Speravi. This has been an "in" theme for the past day or two. The top and bottom lines of the perimeter are probably more accessible than the rest if you have to guess at words, but the single word should provide the association. It just needs a little lateral thinking. You're more likely to get at it that way than from the title, though once you have the thematic idea that too makes perfect sense.

[Speravi]

Thanks for your response, turnerjmw, that gives me encouragement. Having just completed EV925, I have an idea of what the "in" theme may be, so I'll take another look, especially with your hint of where to focus on the perimeter. I had previously been concentrating on the right-hand edge.

[hooplah]

Hi -

The "in" theme is that Nimrod got married yesterday, and every single bloody daily crossword had a wedding-themed Nimrod puzzle in it. (He sets as Enigmatist in the Guardian and Io in the FT). An indulgence too far? I'll say. I thought we were over that and now I find yet another in the Inquisitor. Still, at least this is a good one: still working on the perimeter myself.

Regards,
Hooplah

[Speravi]

Ah, thank you, hooplah - I did wonder about the references to Enigmatist and Io on the Listener thread.

[Ripper]

I've got the five-letter word
I've got four (I hope) words on the perimeter
but I'm completely stuck!
Help! (please)

[turnerjmw]

Think traditionally, Ripper

[Ardboe]

After a long struggle everything has fallen into place! However I can't work out the logic behind the answer to one clue. "New clue-writer's given time" Could anyone explain please?

[Ripper]

Hi Ardobe
Think of a proverb about time

[Ripper]

Hi Turnerjmw
I thought of something old, new, borrowed, blue, but that didn't work!
One of the words I have is library(book) is that right?!

[Ardboe]

Thank you Ripper and yes you are completely on the right track.

[Ripper]

Hi Ardboe
I'll have to think about that ( I got married SOOO long ago!)

[Speravi]

Having now completed, I do tend to agree with hooplah that this verges on the self-indulgent, not that one can blame Nimrod for understandable exuberance. Perhaps the various editors were unaware that they were collectively creating a tsunami of a theme. Incidentally, in what way does a penny embody newness?

[Speravi]

That was rather churlish of me. I enjoyed the puzzle, these jigsaw type offerings are a favourite of mine, thank you, Nimrod, and I wish you and your bride health, wealth, and happiness.

[Ardboe]

Hi Speravi Chambers definition of penny - orig new penny.

[Speravi]

Yes, Ardboe, thank you, although I had consulted Chambers, I had missed that somehow. Mind you, the entry also refers to 1/240 of a pound, so "penny" could be old, as well, I think. I'm left feeling that that one is rather less satisfactory than the others.

[RossR]

I'm still half stumped. Is one of the perimeter words - the last one - extremely short?

[Ardboe]

or maybe "shirt"!

[Indy-trier]

No RossR. The shortest word I have in the perimeter has 5 letters. It fits neatly into the general perimeter theme hinted at by your 5 "overlooked" letters. If it helps this shortest word is the only item in the perimeter expressed as a single word.

[Indy-trier]

Thank you Nimrod. I enjoyed this crossword!
Wishing you much wedded bliss - and hoping that your new situation will be far less challenging than your puzzles!!

[RossR]

Thanks, Indy-trier. I have now figured it all out. The short word I thought might be our "blue" turns out to be part of another word.
A very satisfying crossword - when the final pennies drop.