Listener 4134: Cruciverbalism by Poat

[AHearer]

Thank you, Poat. Quite pretty, but not tough enough to keep me away from the garden for too long this fine weekend. I have to admit I had to rely on the phrase to get me started on the bottom right-hand corner.

[contendo]

Fortuitously the first 5 clues I solved were the first 5 across clues which, with a bit of inspired guesswork, gave me the whole sequence of omitted letters. Still a lot of solving to do. I think I have the bar distribution more or less worked out, but I have unchecked letters from the phrase which don't correspond with those given by Poat. Perhaps my phrase is a red herring.

[Zabadak]

Great spot, Freiheid! Count me amongst those who hadn't noticed, but, my word, what an impressive extra detail from Poat. Real class.

[Cruncher]

Enjoyed the double message. Thought this was a neat piece and nicely constructed.

[trux]

Took a while with no PC to hand ... but safely over the line. Very pretty construction. Some tough clues and tough words (the flea again !). Thanks Poat for timely & neat puzzle.

[contendo]

Finally stumbled over the line after realising that unchecked doesn't mean across unchecked by down and vice versa. Some really tough clues. The fire-bird held me up for a while. Very ingenious construction.

[BlackHugh]

I have also just finished - quick for me. I found it quite enjoyable - now I'll be able to go back and try and finish last weeks. I remember that last year there was also a toughie the week before Easter (I remember contemplating it during the Good Friday service) followed by a relatively straightforward one at Easter.

[Clamzy]

I must get some of this wavelength stuff if it makes puzzles of this quality easy. Of course once the extra words are removed there are some entertaining clues which I enjoyed.
Thank you Poat.

[abns]

I may be in the minority, but I've been enjoying the recent slew of carte blanches. As long as the theme merits a blank grid and you can get into the grid without solving too many clues, then I'm pretty happy. This fell squarely into that category, so no complaints from me.

[7lattens]

Both phrases complete and a nicely coloured grid on Excel to highlight the quotation - still troubled by wordplay to answers in the bottom right sector

[Trekman]

Took a while to get going but managed to finish it ok. I liked the puzzle but the reason for entering a comment is to congratulate the people who finished the earlier Carte Blanche by Ten-Four. I used to think I was pretty good at solving the Listener Crossword but I'm still mystified even after seeing the completed grid. I'll never get on the leader board because I'm cryptic rather than mathematical but there are some amazing solvers out there who can do both.

[Ruthrobin]

Freiheid, I hadn't seen it - indeed, what a spectacular extra touch!

[Paula]

Finally cracked it except I do not have the two alternative forms of the defined answer.
Have still to work out the wordplay in two answers so perhaps they will turn out to be the alternatives!

[perseverer]

Paula - if you are able to check your grid entries in Chambers, you should find that two of them are acceptable ways of spelling the word formed by adding the omitted letter to your entry.

[tilbee]

Thanks Freiheid see this now.Afraid went totally over my head.

[silversolver]

Found this one tough going initially but then once the theme had dawned, it all fell into place very nicely. An excellent and enjoyable puzzle.

[bobbycollins]

Wow, another blood, sweat and tears for yours truly.

And Fleetwood Town are in the Conference play-offs, with myself and Intotheblue there to scream them on.

[Clamzy]

Good luck for your team Bobby. I was surprised to see how may ex-football league teams surround you in the conference. You have nothing to fear from us down in 20th place:-)

[IntoTheBlue]

I like carte blanche puzzles and once I'd got into this one I enjoyed it thoroughly. (I seem to remember the EV using the same quote to good effect a couple of years ago.)

Bobby C...the home date against the Wombles is 6th May.

IntoTheBlue

[Philoctetes]

A bit flat this one, with some tough clues but not enough letters to be really challenging. I wondered if the 7th verse was fair, but it did make me chuckle. And I still haven't really worked out the wordplay for the last clue. But it's a busy week, so I mustn't grumble.
Bobby C - congratulations to your team on getting this far in their debut season. I am NOT a football fan, but the rest of my clan are ardent Hatters, and enjoyed their visit to your ground earlier. Best luck, and looking forward to a good match at Wembley.

[bobbycollins]

thanks for the kind words about the footy from myself and Intothe Blue. Don't see us getting passed thw Wombles (on paper anyway) but nil desperandum!!