Listener No 4120, Cross Country by MynnoT

[Ruthrobin]

Am I destined to start another thread or are all the friends hiding somewhere else? What a great and well-set challenge this has been. The light has just dawned regarding the theme and how to obey the instruction. Yet another superb opening for the year's puzzles.

[trux]

made it to Paris, now definitely going out on the lash .... am unleashed .... hardly the best way to have a PDM but then there is still Monday´s 8 hour flight ... have printed off some old Listeners to see me through the ordeal ...

[pushmi-pullyu]

Best of luck Trux, PDMs have a way of coming at the most unexpected moments.

[aldanna]

I decided not to log on to AB this week until I had completed the grid and got the message. Now, as ever, I am struggling with the end game. I am currently recovering from surgery and gently going stir-crazy, so was glad to have something absorbing and time-consuming to do - but I am nevertheless pretty envious of folks jetting off to the Caribbean, Paris, the cinema.....Will now offer grid to mathematician husband with instructions to find theme.

[AHearer]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, aldanna.

[contendo]

This one's a long slog, not helped by the positioning of many of the deleted letters. I'm pretty confident of the solution to 36ac but can't find it in the BRB. 38ac took a bit of finding too.

[Ruthrobin]

Contendo, the preamble tells you that 36ac is not in the BRB. It is in the Collins English Dictionary.

[contendo]

Yes, it's a good idea to read the preamble.

[lyrabelacqua]

Phew, done it at last, in Holmesian fashion (when you have eliminated the impossible etc), though in truth the PDM is not that improbable. Simpler than I thought it was, and I went all round the houses to get there. Usual tough love from MynoT. Very satisfying.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Yuck. After thinking I was nearly there, am now stumped on the predictable 29, 31 and 36 ac. Since I know the extra words, I have all the letters for 36, though, so I don't suppose it matters that I don't understand the clue or where the missing one fits in. Apart from this, the other two are in the BRB, yes? I note that 36 isn't the only solution not present here; which is most probably necessary for the theme to be revealed.
I will try to work on that instead of the remaining clues. By the way, I presume this isn't anything to do with a certain theorem, since that HAS been done before.

[silversolver]

I was also delayed by a cinema trip to see "The King's Speech" and an alcohol-fuelled dinner party (not sure if that counts as being "on the lash"). Despite these self-inflicted obstacles, I have battled my way to a completed grid but the final step has, as yet, eluded me - no doubt the penny will eventually drop.

[society]

Happy New Year to all of you crossword folk. You all are brilliant!

[perseverer]

It has been pointed out before, but if you are a member of your local library, and they subscribe to the Credo reference system, Collins English Dictionary, and many other reference books, are available free online for home access. You can check if you can get access at

http://www.credorefer...m/loginwayf.do?auto=0

[Rogue-Elfe]

Got 29ac; and no, it isn't in the BRB either. Ho hum.

[cluelessJoe]

Well done to those who made the final leap. I just took a leisurely stroll to a full grid over a few short sessions, but will need to take another breather before the last step, as it's not looking immediately apparent.

[kwyjibo]

I have to admit to being quite chuffed with myself for finishing this one. Stared at the grid for ages trying all sorts of permutations until I figured it out. Very clever TonyM.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Yuck. (Again). I have all the answers now (31a still don't understand the wordplay, but it has to be right. No idea of 36a but there are no unches), and even figured out how the instruction given by the clues is supposed to work. I think I even understand the relevance of the title; but can I deduce the theme? No.
I thought I was enjoying this weeks crossword, but I do have a cold, and I think I'm...well, growing languid or spiritless, if you see what I mean. Time for some cheese, I think. It always helps the brain....

[Rhone]

10 clues short; in danger of giving up now. Too many "missing" letters unidentified so lots more blank in the grid than usual at this point. Early part of instruction also seems to descend into gibberish! Maybe an afternoon walk will be good to clear the head.

[Rogue-Elfe]

Got it, got it!
(And I didn't have cheese after all; but a garlic bread. Good for the sore throat).
I agree with everyone who thinks this is a great puzzle, but it's a rather infuriating one at the same time - BRB does not confirm all but 36a as the preamble seems to suggest. (I know I've mentioned that before; it's a bug-bear this week).
Now back to Waterfall in this month's magpie, Nearly there....

[perseverer]

Crosswords will frequently have one or two proper names among the answers and these will rarely be in Chambers, which is described as the primary reference.

[Clamzy]

Take the initial letters of the first 7 clues followed by the five letters going SE from cell 2 and finally the 3rd and 4th letters of 29dn.