Monthly Prize Puzzle (April 2015)
A Puzzle by Radler
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Why not have a go at our latest Monthly Prize Puzzle?
The winner will receive their choice of any of the Telegraph Crossword Books published by Hamlyn.
Please note that, due to punitive postal charges, while the competition is open to all, the prize is only available to UK solvers.
A review will follow after the closing date (18th April 2015).
The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
I’ve left this post open for comments, but if you don’t want your comment to be deleted then avoid asking for or giving help with the clues.
OMG! I have an enormous case of smug because I just managed to guess it from the enumeration and find the answer in the solutions. I really cannot believe it. I’ve only solved a few clues so far.
Anyway, I will be good and not submit my answer until I have done the crossword, but that is going to be a mahoosive help.
Who’s a Smarty Pants then? I’m a million miles off. Have fun this evening.
Thanks. Back from smarty pants to just pants today I fear.
Me too!
But I have to say the crossword itself seems VERY difficult and it is going to take a considerable time to complete.
Yes. I’m still pecking away at it but enjoying the wrestle.
When I printed off the puzzle last night there was a small error in the enumeration for the question that caused a little confusion, but not major. By the time I put it aside last night I had the question and the answer but a few gaps in the SE corner that needed overnight cogitation. These slotted in this morning so answer submitted. Last Wednesday we had one of my favourite words in the Jay puzzle ‘petard’. Today we have another one in 13d. Really good fun with many clever clues. Not a quick solve but fun all the way.
Thanks Radler
KiwiColin,
Presumably, you submitted your answer just for the “Honour and the Glory” … or are you expecting to pick up the prize on your visit to the UK.
Yes. I will be able to pick it up in person, if I get lucky, and then get all the setters I can find to sign it at the Sloggers and Betters do.
Actually, I see you’ve won twice already. Maybe you could pick up a backdated prize?
I did actually post a prize to NZ as a “one off”.
If the previous prize book was packed in the luggage, it would provide entertainment on the journey and the chance for autographs too.
We all want 2Ks to win – no pressure on the prize-drawer!
The prize that Big Dave had posted to me was the special Telegraph Centenary Crossword Collection by Phil McNeill. It is signed by the author and also by six of our favourite setters. Cephas, Elgar, Rufus, Micawber, Notabilis and Giovanni. It is a very much treasured item and I have it sitting beside me now as I write this. I am very grateful to Big Dave.
That’s one very special item of memorabilia. I do hope you filled in all the answers with a very soft pencil to avoid making a ‘whatsit’ of anything!
realised the perimeter anagram with about 6 to go and could use it to help me finish. Took me ages to get 4d! (woman called karen..) duh – great clue. Last one in was 14a, just wasn’t sure, it seemed a bit weak unless I’m missing something…
Great fun. many thanks Radler
I’ve always been a fan.
Thanks Radler.
OK – I’ve shed the proverbial ‘blood, sweat and tears’ over this one. At this moment in time I am still short of six answers, five relevant letters for the anagram and haven’t the foggiest notion what the ‘novel question’ is – let alone the relevant answer.
Right now I have no burning desire to ‘thank’ Radler as some of the smug set are doing and – as for the cat with the cream who got the answer before doing the puzzle……… words fail me! I suppose that’s just the problem – words are failing me!
If only I could show you the email I sent Radler when I tested this one, you’d be a much happier Easter Bunny as I too struggled with the anagram.
You seem to be doing very well with the old words, Jane. You’ve done more of the puzzle that I’ve managed yet, even if I did lick up all the cream.
Just to update you all……….. I now have a completed grid, 28 random letters written out in circles, lines and diagonals and am NO nearer to the answer.
Jane, I’m very impressed with your efforts. Although I got the final answer after solving just one clue, several sessions and breaks later I still have only six words in my grid! I am clearly not on Radler’s wavelength at all, but I shall persevere!
You don’t know how impressed you really should be – I’ve GOT the wretched answer at long last but, given that I’ve never even looked at the source material, can you imagine how long it took to get there!
I could list all the random avenues that Mr. Google and I have travelled down in the past few hours but I’d hate to spoil the ‘fun’ for everyone else.
OK Radler, I salute you – 11,26 & 27a are some of the finest clues I’ve encountered but………. please can you send someone round to fix my computer. Any request I’ve put in for info. in the last hour returns ‘this page cannot be displayed’.
Thank you Radler – the long anagram evaded me until the last, even when I had the relevant answer to the question and ii should have twigged. Similarly slow on 4d but so obvious when you see it, so that’s my favourite
Well, that was fun! Splendid puzle, thanks Radler.
I kept returning to this throughout today to have another nibble – and what rich but satisfying fare it was.
I learned a few bits and pieces and had some real battles justifying some answers, but apart from sharing Dutch’s question mark at 14a, all is now clear.
Lots of potential favourites here, but I will choose 4d. Had the wrong answer to that for a while and wasn’t happy with the parsing … then had the right answer but still not happy … then it hit me. [What I want to add here would get me into trouble so I won’t.]
To Radler, I have one thing to say, but it will have to wait until after the closing date. I don’t think it can possibly give anything away to anyone who hasn’t finished to say that the pattern is (2,4,3,6,3,3,3,4).
I continue to nibble and am now exactly half way there…
… to be continued tomorrow!
I have every confidence in you, RD.
Done it! Your encouragement and a good night’s sleep helped me to get this finished over (a prolonged) breakfast although I have had to “bung in” my last four answers without fully understanding the wordplay.
Good fun despite all the blood sweat and tears.
Many thanks to Radler.
Well done that man! Must admit, I’ve also got a few ‘half-parsed’ ones. Shame we have to wait so long for the review – the memory of the torture will have faded a little by then!
Yay! well done, RD.
Half-parsed. I’m sure there’s a clue in there somewhere…
Thought someone would pick up on that! Have you finished justifying your bowl of cream yet?
Happy to oblige. I have, and I’m licking up my second!
How about “Incompetence revealed from partial wordplay after the penny drops (4-5)”?
I’m liking that! Plus – it’s far more PC than anything my brain was suggesting.
I’ve only half-parsed that, but I like your thinking.
I should let you have the glory, but couldn’t resist having my own go at it. I stole your penny, so you get joint credit:
Penny inserted into one cheek on date is semi-analysed (4-5)
OMG – this just gets better and better! Kitty – your mind definitely works along the same lines as mine (although, of course, at my age I wouldn’t dream of admitting it!).
Yes: deny everything.
I replied to this but my reply appears to have disappeared.
I’ll say it again – excellent!
After all that I nearly forgot to submit my solution. Thanks for the reminder, BD!
I have never tried one of these before. What a lovely puzzle – a number of quality d’oh moments. I found it pretty tough going. After staring at the anagram for a while I only made progress by looking at my answers and seeing if it inspired a novel question – and luckily one jumped out.
Many thanks to Radler for a great challenge
You obviously read the right ‘novels’ – lucky you.
I cannot believe that I have got the answer to this one…but I have.
Slogged away for ages at the grid them reread the instructions and figured out what the answer had to be.
Admit that I am still missing two, but overjoyed that I managed to get all the rest.
I will continue to try to solve the elusive two.
Thank you.
Penny has dropped for the remaining two now…..cannot exactly parse them, but they fit well enough for me.
Looking forward to seeing the review now.
Should have said thanks to Radler.
I have eventually completed this entire puzzle. I worked out what the final word of the anagram might be, but, alas, got no further as I was thinking entirely along the wrong track. I mentioned this to my daughter and read out to her what I thought could be possible answers. She immediately knew the answer! Of course! So, alas, I shan’t be entering my answer as I have had help.
Very well done to all those who did fathom the answer!
Suffice to say I have loved the challenge and enjoyed working out the parsing and completing the puzzle. Needless to say, I look forward to the review.
I’m always much impressed by the sheer ingeniousness (and wit) of our MPP (and NTSPP) setters. How fortunate we are to have them! Special bouquets to them all and to Big Dave.
Thank you very much, Radler. Much appreciated.