Listener 4067

[Clamzy]

Welcome to a new Listener year with Be My Guest by MR E for starters.

[easterfool]

Jacinth: You and I obviously made the same resolution, and with the same effect. I don't think that I'll ever be one of the superquick. It was a nice start to the year, I agree. Isn't it interesting how one person's problem clue is another person's easy one? Sometimes it gives me the warm glow of "Oh, I got that one straight away" - other times I am in total agreement.

[foxy33]

Finding this a hard slog. maybe the paper folding wasn't such a chore after all! I have lots of letters in the botton left but 18D has defeated me so far. Can someone point me in the right direction?

[twencelas]

Foxy33 - the definition is the last four words

[easterfool]

foxy33; When you have identified the extra word, the answer is made up from 3 parts, 2 of which are abbreviations.

[foxy33]

Yes of course! Thank you both.

[Apache4D]

Well I have finally finished! I had a similar solving experience to others in that it took me several hours to get going, but then a few clues started a slow but steady opening of the flood gates.....I am now going through that frustrating Listener withdrawal!!

The only remaining issue I have is with the wordplay of the runaway, my initial letter for this clue was the same as the start of the answer, when it was quite clearing something else when the instruction is constructed...I'm certain I have the right answer but can't remove one of the two available words with the correct letter and make sense of the remaining wordplay!

Other than that, can't wait till Friday/Saturday....definitely have the bug again!!

[Speravi]

Eril, I understand the point you make - but wouldn't it be more natural in that case for the wording to be, '... a cell', rather than, '...some cell'?

[Cruncher]

Apache4D - the extraneous word is no doubt the one the instruction requires. The remaining two words from the last three of the clue define a homophone of the last three letters of your answer. Not sure if that helps or is rather more complicated than the clue itself!
Aahh that Listener hiatus until Friday night - is there a cruciverbalists anonymous help group somewhere?

[cluelessJoe]

.... and it can only get worse - looks like an awful lot of us are going to be snow/ice-bound with a lot of downtime on our hands over the next couple of weeks. At times like this it would help to have a Listener every day. Keep warm everyone!

[Apache4D]

Cruncher, many thanks, of course!! That's put my mind at rest now.....

[JackDeCrow]

Mysterons - belated thanks for your reply. You were so admirably restrained that I've only just got it now! What a relief!