Listener Crossword 4513 Lost In Translation By Ottorino

[emcee]

A gentler one this week after last week's humdinger.

I enjoyed this; the penny drop and endgame was quite satisfying so thanks to Ottorino. Thanks also for educating me with something I never knew before!

Incidentally, did anybody else see the Grauniad crossword by Picaroon yesterday? It seems as though Picaroon is Kea and there were Listener related messages formed within the grid. It appears to be a 'mea culpa' on Kea's part and a 'thank you for getting me out of that mess' to Arcturus!

[starwalker]

I have also learned something from this, even though the final step is still to be completed. Thanks Ottorino for a grid-fill that was easier than the preamble led me to expect.

[kdgs2]

Agreed that progress on this was much more straightforward than I expected. I really liked the thematic elements though, and following the down-clue instructions and the end of the preamble dropped pennies with satisfying clangs!

I'll look out Picaroon's crossword over the weekend, thanks for the heads-up emcee.

[Contrarian]

emcee,

Which Guardian puzzle do you mean? The regular one yesterday was by Boatman.

[Neveracrossword]

Contrarian, I looked at the Guardian crossword website- the puzzle was 27,571.

[IainGrace]

After last week’s slog, a much easier start this week. Whether by luck or judgement, Mrs IainGrace spotted what was going on with the across clues on a first read through and thence the accompanying down clue.

[Hagen]

It certainly was a relief to have a grid fill that was more straightforward than it initially appeared. I went down various blind alleys before realising how the endgame worked (it doesn't help that I can't count) and so it was all the more satisfying when I got there. Despite having some familiarity with the theme I had never noticed the relevant fact before. Very enjoyable and neatly done - thanks Ottorino.

[s_pugh]

Entertaining, informative and unambiguous. What's not to like? Thanks Ottorino.

[Scorpius]

Re emcee's comment on the Guardian puzzle, according to a Who's Who list Picaroon is James Bryden, who also sets as Lavatch, not Kea. As far as I can see the puzzle is a tribute to Ross Beresford who designed the crossword compiling program, Tea and Sympathy. Every other row is thematic.I don't think there's any 'mea culpa' in it. A terrific puzzle so thanks for drawing our attention to it, emcee. The clues certainly had the elegance of Kea's.

After filling the grid of this week's Listener I thought I was in for a lengthy hunt when nothing jumped out immediately, but then it did jump out sharply.
An enjoyable puzzle on an unusual theme. Much easier than last week's, but I didn't find it a doddle.

[Scorpius]

Apologies to Picaroon - that should be James Brydon.

[emcee]

Interesting, Scorpius. That's certainly one interpretation which may well be spot on. Two of the three rows you omit give "USER ILL ADVISED" and "MISMANAGED. RASH" hence I thought some error had occurred which Arcturus (Ross Beresford) had put right.

Also, "KEA" does appear in three of the consecutive unchecked letters between the columns beginning 3dn and 4dn.

[olichant]

I enjoyed the puzzle - a really neat idea for a theme - but I got holed up for literally hours on the very last step, having discounted a possible bit of the grid to look in. My bad.

I'll look at that Guardian puzzle with interest.

[Philoctetes]

Nicely straightforward, until that last step. I would not say that the "thematic form" is actually a grid entry, though one can see what is meant.

[icynorth]

I agree with Philoctetes. That inaccuracy in the preamble put me off for a long time. A shame, as we’re often forced to rely on precision there.

But a fun puzzle and much more enjoyable than last week’s slog. Thanks, Ottorino!

[jim360]

I'm happy to welcome an easier one as I consider easing myself back into the world of Listeners. Not sure I agree that the preamble was inaccurate, though.

Only one real question: How does HILLS define the necessary three-letter word in the 12th down clue?

[vetuste_ennemi]

It works if your take 12th down as down exception, Jim.

[jim360]

Sorry, not sure I follow.

[vetuste_ennemi]

...as the one down removal

[jim360]

But surely the "one down clue" is ... not the one that reads "climbing hills..." etc. I'm asking about that one.

Am I missing something?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Dunno, Jim - only just started doing it while watching final Poldark, kicking cats, swigging large Bacardis etc. So don't know other candidates for the single down removal.

I can get a tree from the clue with the "rising hills", however.

[jim360]

I can see how it works, I just genuinely didn't realise that hill and man can mean the same thing.