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!

[x_word_fan]

Not surprised they are quiet! just wondering whether to make a start on this or the father of the bride speech for next Saturday.

[Arcticpenguin]

xwf- at least the wedding will be finished by next saturday.

[starwalker]

I gave this a couple of hours last night before retiring. I have just under half of the answers and word A, without a single grid entry of any kind.
This seems to be much harder than the usual Phi. Newcomers and beginners expecting an easy ride (like last week) should look away now.

[Zabadak]

Maybe I'll just fill the grid with random letters. Alternatively, I'll put in all the answers I've got, cut out all the little squares, throw them up in the air and see where they land. At least I'll have an "area of wreckage".
I'm beginning to think this might be a number puzzle out of sequence.

[trux]

Cruncher - I think they may be quite for quiet some time yet

[Ruthrobin]

Here's an occasional member of the Friday Club - and the Sunday Club on occasion too :) - still beavering at it since the first half was all cold-solving but I do now have my first complete grid. It becomes easier as you go along. Take courage - but it is certainly not for the faint hearted.

[trux]

.... spoke too soon ! The "wormcatcher" is already ahead of the pack !!!

[dr b]

I'm about where starwalker is, with Word A and a very strong suspicion as to what Word B will be, as well as how the endgame is going to play out. Not too much time to devote to this today but I will plug away as time allows.

[Apache4D]

After re-intoducing myself to the listener at the start of the year (my slight OCD prefers the neatness of starting again at the beginning of the year, once I lose track of the puzzles midtear!!), I have thoroughly enjoyed my return with completions of the last three...I therefore found myself refreshing the page of the times crossword club yesterday for about 15mins until 4122 appeared, the addiction has well and truly returned!!!

But wow, I feel like I've been punched by a heavyweight and have spent the last day doubled over in shock!! I have a precious few solves, one synonymous extra word, and that is it....with the grid failing the 1 across test (for me anyway) as George would say, I am well and truly stumped!!

Congratulations to all for making this forum develop into a welcoming, sociable, and intriguing mix of intelligent minds....back to tend my heart problem!

[Cruncher]

Still quiet quite for a Saturday morning - I wonder if they are smugly posting their complete solves elsewhere. Actually I don't mind too much. Always feel a bit bereft if I have the Listener done and dusted on the first day

[midazolam]

It was Phi's last listener in Nov 2009 when I wrote "Went off to bed..with only 2 words entered...a record for me...not for the faint hearted". Now I can say that last night I had not one answer entered. Seems as is Phi is continuing his trend for the stinkers!

Now with a full grid and a new set of double letters, I hit another brick wall as adding them together makes no sense in the wreckage, although part of a two word phrase already stands out. Time for a rest and then a rethink.

Definitely not one for the faint hearted, although an excellent finale is in motion

[Jogler]

Just popped on to bookmark the thread..... the h-g is currently taking a blunt instrument (head) to a vertical edge (wall) and I have had a long laugh at the posts. I do enjoy it when it is quiet quite and I can pretend I am one of the team!

[Ruthrobin]

Got there - what an amazing construction. Wonderful Phi - congratulations from one of the Saturday Club!

[AHearer]

What a delight -- that's what a Listener ought to be like. Not just an empty grid, but not even the starting grid! Very fair clues (except for the possibility of making the wrong choice at 12). The theme was fairly easy to guess, but even so the end-game was very pleasing. It's so nice when what pops out at the end tells you anambiguously that you've done things correctly.

[trux]

Am nearly over the line ... have to say that one or two clues did rankle a bit ... (was going to bleat that 22 was not a nobleman but then was told that if I took off my initial first letter, he got ennobled) ... and that, according to my BRB (c. 1871), the "eight gallons or so" of 18 are only "about six gallons" ... and there probably shouldn't be an apostrophe after Meadow in 1 ... but this would be pure nit-picking and a most unnecessary diversion from the ingenuity of the end-game (so ingenious that I have not yet managed it).

[contendo]

I can see this is going to be a busy week, perhaps just as well as the weather is not conducive to gardening. Got word A, which renders some of the clues a bit more comprehensible, but am finding the last 12 clues tough with two exceptions. I suppose finding the divide between across and down clues will be a key moment.

[dr b]

staggered across the finish line - very nice.

[AHearer]

Yes, trux, I did the same at first with 22. As for 18, the current BRB does have it as about eight gallons -- inflation affects everything!

[tilbee]

Nice to have a tough one today. Started late this afternoon and have only cold solved a dozen or so clues so far. Have some candidate synonyms for Clue A, but not worked this out yet.Think this is likely to keep me occupied most of the week.

[teuchter2]

I have only solved about 12 clues and nothing in the grid as yet. Wish I could get 1 and 3 across as I have 2 and 4 and could maybe then make a start, but I sense it is going to be beyond me. Incidentally the worm-catchers are diversifying. There is a robin that goes into a supermarket in Aberdeen at 5.30 each morning to get a crumby breakfast. Well it is an early bird, but I don't know what health and safety will make of it!