Is There A Mistake On Daily Mail's Weekend Blankout 7 November?

[NancyGragson]

Hello, Column J has one clue which will have to sit in the middle of the line to preserve the symmetry of the crossword

The column immediately next to it has three clues one, the middle one of which must also sit in the middle of the line to preserve the symmetry. I cannot avoid getting a letter from Column J and Column K next to each other but there isn't a clue for the row.

Have they made a mistake? Have you sorted out what it should be?

[MargoTester]

It's not in the usual format this week, took me ages to sort it out.
Column J , line 7a is ARK
Column k reads currant(blank)nudge (blank)rockslide
Column A sickle(blank)swag(blank)rift(blank)laic

This should help you to get started - shout if you are stuck. Good luck :-)

[NancyGragson]

Hello MargoTester

Thank you for your reply. I too have rockslide but would need another 9 letter word for the puzzle to have symmetry. There aren't enough spaces for Currant and Nudge as well as Rockslide plus the blanks in between. It must be sponsored by Nurofen this week!

[whitehill]

But currant is a different column from nudge and rockslide - that must start with saint

[MargoTester]

I'm so sorry I mixed two lines (spec savers visit needed)
K down. Currant x Euro x ruthless
M down saint x nudge x rockslide

[MargoTester]

I think we all just assumed it was in its normal format ie completely symmetrical and put the blanks in accordingly. Once I realised that I managed to finish it, after a struggle!

[MargoTester]

Did you manage to finish it DB?

[Spotty Dog]

No way! It doesn't work. No symmetry. Currant has 7 letters, Ruthless has 8. Must be the wrong grid. Two hours of my life wasted!!

[MargoTester]

Well two of us have finished it Spottydog!

Kd currant x euro x ruthless
Ed eyepatch x jets x torpedo

So symmetry is reversed, does that help at all

[maragon]

It doesn't help when the instructions at the top say that the word "bunch" 'must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry'. Thought I was having a 'senior moment'.

[Tony N]

I agree with Spotty Dog.

To achieve symmetry the single words "TIE" (for F down) and "ARK" (for J down) must result in blanks at 9F & J; 10E,G,I & K; 12E,G,I & K; 13F & J. The blanks in columns E and K preclude the insertion of 3 words in either of those columns.

"Symmetrical", in my book, means "Made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis" (sic OED).

[MargoTester]

It's not symmetrical in the usual sense but there is symmetry in that the top mirrors the bottom
.
In f down the word tie appears in rows 13/14/15 (6 spaces from bottom)
In j down the word ark appears in rows 7/8/9 (6 spaces from top)

[MargoTester]

So row A down is sickleXswagXriftXlaic
Row O down is deerXomenXlogoXfriend

Hope this may help but it is definitely correct

[VoodooMole]

Hi, I was having real problems till I found this thread ! I've subscribed so that I could say 'Thanks' to everyone but can't actually find a way to do that !

[scorpiojo]

You just did :)

[VoodooMole]

Guess I did. Thanks everyone. Looks like an interesting site.

[MargoTester]

Voodoo - glad you found it of help. Really tricky this week, took me ages to work out that is was not 'fully symmetrical

[Tony N]

Margo, your comment about columns J and K indicate that it is not symmetrical in any sense, except perhaps about a diagonal centre line.
I shall be interested to see what The magazine claims is the answer next Saturday.