After this setter's previous scientific efforts, I thought we might have had another lesson in astrophysics, but not this time. The pattern was quick to spot, but the final fiddle factor took me...
Now that really WAS easy, though I had to work fast as I'm off out to watch England/Sweden in the company of some Spurs. Once the first of the unclued answers drops, the rest follow without too much...
Best of luck with this one, everybody. I nearly quit with it being a carte blanche (sort of - at least we have word lengths) with indeterminate numbers of letters to be removed from clues, clashing...
The lack of numbers in the grid didnt hold this puzzle up for long and now having obtained a full grid, the author, birthplace, the removed five letter collection and one of the three novels...
I think I've got there, though held up for a long time in the NW of the grid and an overenthusiastic wrong answer to 1 down in particular. A wrong assumption about probably the most critical missing...
(sorry started on wrong site, apparently) - so repeat here : Well, we had all been moaning that the Big L was getting to be the Big EZ ... not this week, mefears but after a mammoth struggle, have now...
Where is everybody? Posting somewhere else? What an intricate construction. I have been delighted by the subtlety of this and now have a full and functioning grid but I am wondering how it fulfilled...
My heart sank when I saw the length of the preamble, but simply followed the straightforward instructions and the grid came together nicely. Quotation and play identified, now it's just a case of...
Zany clues, almost laugh-a-minute stuff and a remarkable (and surprising) dénouement. Brought much needed mental warmth to the icy surroundings here. Terrific stuff, great fun and the best of...
Last puzzle of the year and it is Mango. 2008 was the last time we saw them with the excellent City Tour. This was not as good, but an enjoyable challenge. Shame the whole theme was got very early...
PDM at last! Having huffed and puffed, suddenly it dawned on me what it was all about. Of course, haven't actually finished it yet but wanted to get in early as never started this thread before....
So, no Friday finishes on this one. Me neither: perhaps I really am slipping. I'm really struggling to get enthused about this: it looks like a lot of cold solving and then a letters jigsaw. I don't...
I have been staring at a complete grid for half an hour now and I must be missing the obvious. This was an extremely easy grid fill. I was expecting a tougher challenge with double clues and clashes....
Not much here to cause any grief this week, I think. Not too high on the difficulty scale, but enjoyable anyway. Now I have no excuses for the afternoon and will be forced to finally clean out my...
Judging from the dearth of postings, others are also finding this less than a walkover - pretty much as foretold. I'm still working on paragraph one of the preamble and an odd assortment of answers....
Anyone else have a problem with too many extras of a certain letter? Very enjoyable puzzle, though haven't entirely understood all of the thematic treatments. Thanks Lavatch (and if solvers enjoyed...
Some lovely clues have brought me to the point where I just have to find the third item to illustrate, and I feel a need to rest. Thanks (in advance) Pointer. You have enlightened me and revived...
