Listener 4122, Heart by Phi

[Cruncher]

Thought I'd start a thread for one. Rather relieved that the Friday club are quite on this one. Have a smattering of answers but a long way to go. Happy solving all!

[segue]

Is there a next Wednesday (at 5.30/last post) Club?! Maybe it's just me.

Half the clues more or less cold-solved and half the words (A) identified - and more than half the enjoyment of an average Listener already. I'm sure the consolations of philosophy would say it's all about the journey and not the destination.

I will definitely give Bakewell and Frampton a go. Montaigne was one of my "special authors" back in the day and still an inspiration - if only for retiring to SW France aged 38 to read and write!

[contendo]

Finally got there with a little help. Thought the clue to 10 was a bit below the belt. Just time to draw breath before 4123.

[Staurologist]

Tuning in, as usual, after solving, I have found your comments as entertaining as ever. My first effort at producing an initial symmetrical grid resulted in 9 x n rather than n x 15. However, it involved having to enter some of the lights running on from line to line (a technique that would not be beyond Phi), and word B was split between the first and nth columns. The problem was easily resolved by cutting the grid in half and transposing the two halves, when everything appeared as if by magic. The only doubt at the end was how to highlight both items, as required by the preamble.

This reminded me of what Montaigne wrote in his essay "Du repentir": "Le monde n'est qu'une branloire perenne. Toutes choses y branlent sans cesse: la terre ...". A truly earth-shattering puzzle.

[tenflags]

I echo that Contendo.

Never mind the Friday club, or Saturday club; I'm starting a new club called the 'Rear Gunners' club - may or may not finish at any time and count ourselves lucky to complete the mission at all.

and yes Staurologist - I am not certain about 'both items' to be highlighted mentioned in the pre-amble, and have assumed these are the '(two words) from the 'further thematic phrase' that I have overwritten the area of wreckage with - I now wonder if the wreckage should also remain ?

I would appreciate any thoughts on the matter

[Philoctetes]

Finished at last! My "dipping" technique just did not work, and I stuck on a few of the mid-range down clues (all quite simple and fair, but just went answer blind). Started fretting that I would go beyond Friday. Then, last night, I had a vivid dream when I was told, and shown, the shape of the grid, and it was all plain sailing once I woke up - ain't the human brain wonderful. Or, it would have been plain sailing had I not convinced myself (temporarily) that the alphabet had 25 letters.

[contendo]

Tenflags - the "both items" are surely 1) the new thematic material produced by adding the letter pairs and 2) the two words of the thematic phrase. My only doubt is the reference in the preamble to "plus one other letter" to spell word B. I didn't find I needed any extra letter. Can anyone explain?

[Philoctetes]

Contendo - IIRC, the final letter of Word B is not a double cell.

[tenflags]

Well I think so too Contendo but there is room for a bit of ambiguity as the preamble includes "new material...in the Midst", and " a further phrase should now be visible" - It does not explicitly say replace anywhere. I remember squeezing those o/x's in cells in tickytacky a short while ago.

As a friend pointed out to me it would of been clearer, and preferable, if the preamble said highlight both "words" not "items" .

[bellabee]

i'm not sure i quite understand the doubts expressed here but if you haven't yet submitted the puzzle maybe you should take another look.- i think it was ahearer who said that there was no ambiguity in the endgame [in an early post] and i think that is true once 'a further phrase' becomes visible.

[silversolver]

Phew, finally got there.. wasn't able to make a start until after the weekend and this one certainly tested the grey cells. What an excellent puzzle and a superb construction. Now on to 4123...

[Apache4D]

Oh dear....thought I had hit Mr. Gladwell's tipping point, with a partial grid construct and the top half filled....but alas I have hit the wall...not sure I'm going to get a second wind...the seemingly endless cold solving has me stumped! Phi's glueing is superb but the surface reading has me fixed everytime!

[contendo]

Apache4D - Yes, it sometimes feels like glueing.

[Apache4D]

Contendo - glueing indeed!! I can only blame my phone's autocorrection facility....fixed was also meant to read foxed!! Think I will have a break from this one an return after I have completed 4123

[teuchter2]

I have persevered to the point of solving all the clues and fitting them together to some extent, but only did that late last night and have been out all day, including a very dire footie match with an acceptable last minute goal. At least it was only £6 for concessions! I'm not an SNP devotee at all by the way, but I don't really mind Donald Trump's development and I don't feel that people here agree or disagree with it along party lines - well not the people I know!
How long is it likely to take me to get from the sticking-out bits stage to something more elegant - or should I give up now?

[Mysterons]

You're nearly there teuchter - just make sure you only have one entry on the top row
of your initial grid.

[Speravi]

Thanks to a nudge from Cruncher, I have a complete 9 x 15 grid with 'new thematic material' and a 'thematic phrase (two words)': In 'highlight both items', the 'items' are surely the material and the phrase, rather than the two words in the phrase, or at least, that's how it seems to me.

[Apache4D]

Finally solved!! So glad I persevered, and now I will allow myself to start 4123....only thing I don't understand is the wordplay for the clue that begins "detect...one verb from ten"

[Jogler]

Rear Gunners reporting for duty. Having left this one alone last week having become extremely frustrated with the prolonged cold solving, an idea for a way ahead came during a pause at Theale Services near the end of a long drive... I don't think I want to be relying on that routinely. Agree with lots of the comments above (it has taken half an hour just to read them), and especially with Apache's final note above. Now to bookmark 4123!

[contendo]

I think the clue would actually have been better worded "Detect what could make ten from a verb-form".