Listener 4739 Question And Answer By Chalicea

[upsetter]

A delightful and timely contribution.

Thanks, RuthRobin.

[Cloverjo]

Oh, I do like a Chalicea puzzle. Looking forward to getting my paper tomorrow

[perseverer]

If you figure out the theme early, it does rather take some of the challenge out of the puzzle.
Thanks, Chalicea

[Philoctetes]

As usual wiyh Chalicea, well constructed but barely challenging

[Cruncher]

An amiable stroll. I had a flower theme going on in the top line so that helped to distract me

[upsetter]

Agreed.
Not a puzzle requiring much perseverance. It is odd because Chalicea is a well-known blogger and solver who herself has no difficulty with even the hardest Listeners.
Most solvers agree there should be a range of difficulty, but we have had a long streak of pretty simple stuff recently

[emcee]

At least there's an Ifor Inquisitor puzzle which should be good.

[HawkCrossword]

Yes, it yielded quickly with that hidden message, but what an achievement to produce such a grid. A lovely way to spend Saturday afternoon. Many thanks, Chalicea!

[Aldhelm]

I cannot agree that we've had a long streak of pretty simple stuff recently.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes to Aldheim's comment. We have found some of the recent ones fairly difficult, especially last week's numerical. Indeed, Upsetter, we manage to solve most of the puzzles and I do blog fifficult ones, but I firmly believe in giving puzzle clarity and avoiding difficulty for its own sake. I'm sorry for the handful of experts who dislike having to suffer the occasional easier puzzle but those do encourage new solvers and get record numbers of solvers and I don't necessarily equate quality with difficulty and complexity.