Listener 4124 Travel Guide by Aedites

[Zabadak]

Much more fun for me this week, challenging but not daunting. It gets much easier once the theme is grasped, but the final straight line takes a bit of spotting. One of those which manages to be educational as well as pretty, and nicely put together. Appreciation to Aedites.

[Ruthrobin]

Turast, no you can't enter on-line but can ask for an extension if you are somewhere where there is no mail service (on mission, for example in the jungle in Borneo) but have to ask in advance and get your entry into the mail before the final date - even if it is not going to arrive by that date. I am told that Mr Green is scrupulously fair in the selection of the winners. He takes all the successful entries to someone else who selects them out of a bag. I am sure that bagful is properly shuffled as he is certainly meticulous. Ask for your 'statistics' and you will see how detailed and fair the record is (a bit of a shock to the system, too, when you see the silly errors you made - at least, that was my experience. He also enters the crossword himself, so clearly doesn't begin marking until after the closing date.

[Clamzy]

I don't know whether or not he give the sack a shake or maybe digs deep, but randomness is an elusive concept.
Regarding entries, electronic ones are not accepted and the overseas ones are sent by snail.

[Clamzy]

Sorry RR didn't turn the page and see your reply.

[aldanna]

I find it quite cheering that Ruthrobin, who seems to feature regularly in the Friday club, also makes silly errors.

[rognov]

I have to agree with previous posters that the X letters were an unnecessary help (and rather reduced the satisfaction level - not for the first time). I suspect it was ordered by the vetting committee. At least, this time, there was a proper 'theme'. (I'm still struggling to work out how 'confederatio helvetica' constituted a 'theme'. But never mind.) A good puzzle. A Hungarian one on the same lines might be more of a challenge!

[contendo]

Eril - I think your problem may be failure to appreciate that every word has a front end and a back end...

[jamesah]

Thanks Ruthrobin. Mind you, I don't think that the line should be straight bearing in mind the 13 letters involved!

[Clamzy]

Jamesah the preamble is clear "draw a straight line through 13 cells".
Ruth Robin is correct and any other line than a straight one will not suffice.

[turast]

Eril
You have me worried about 33Ac. Isn't it just a 5 letter adjective meaning deft (in a physical sense like a gymnast), with, as Contendo says both ends gone + a one letter abbreviation for about? Or have I missed something vital? I know it's very frustrating when you have the answer, but can't see the wordplay.

[perseverer]

I wondered if the X letters were intended more for those who do not use the Internet. Verifying the thematic locations is straightforward on-line but less easy if you were trying to find relevant reference books in a library, for example.

(Numbers coming up next?)

[trux]

greetings from the other side of the world, Indonesia, and havent even looked at this one. Double dose when I get back to Geneva on Sunday. Should cure my jetlag.
Re prizes, I heard that the correct answers for the Saturday Times are lined up randomly, one selected and then it is the nth, I think they said 20th but it may vary, next in line which is the winner .... this would certainly work in a roulette wheel style system of ordering the correct entries .... For people seeking worthwhile prizes, spend 20 mins on Wikipedia doing the Sat FT Polymath and go after the superb fountain pen they offer and which I use occasionally to enter Listener, EV etc and which I have never won either, though I do have a brace of Speccies to my name

[turast]

HELP!
My location furthest West but South of the significant geographical feature appears to contain more letters (6,6) than the two extra words (7,4) I have from the clues to the entries which intersect in a location which is correct in terms of the two locations on either side of it. I know it must be me. Any clues as to where I've gone wrong?

[turast]

SORRY
Answering my own post. Got my anagrams slightly wrong. Couldn't see the wood for the trees. I need a rest.

[jamesah]

OK Clamzy, I know that you're right! I just think that a suitably coloured curvy line would have been more appropriate for what was represented by the 13 letters.

[dr b]

Yes, I also thought that geographical accuracy would have been more pleasing than trying to hit all 13 cells with that straight line.

[turast]

Completed this afternoon. I have no idea what the x marks meant, or how they were supposed to help. I am in awe of those who said they recognised the theme while still solving the clues. Would this solve have been possible ,without the internet, to those who have never been in the vicinity of the locations? Some great red herrings in the clues too, or would they be smokies?

[dr b]

turast, did you read what the x's spelled out?

[Mysterons]

Put it down to experience with a dose of good luck, for me at least turast. With just 2 intersecting clues solved I chanced the anagram of their extra words, guessed what the location might be, googled those 3 words, and up popped the 7 Xs ! That then gave me all the extra words, from just 2 clues solved - a lucky dip !! A few clues later I had the thin blue line, with more 'free fills' to assist further soving. My last 'freebie' turned out to be X=G.

[Clamzy]

Apologies Jamesah my post wasn't meant to sound that way. It should have said that we have a very strict Ref and I didn't want your creative efforts to land you in an offside position:-)

[turast]

Thanks Dr. B. I feel such a fool! I guess this bears out what others were saying about the PDM as I'm sure I've got a correct solve without the "xtra" help. I too was shamefully unaware that "xxxxxxx" had such a thing as was generated by the extra letters. Apologies to sons & daughters of "XXXXXXX", and surrounding district. Can we now make assumptions about who Aedites would back in a Cattuso v Jordan scrap?