Rookie Corner – 371 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Rookie Corner – 371

A Puzzle by X-File

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.

This week we have another new setter. As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. I do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.

A review by Prolixic follows.

Welcome to X-File.  If I was paid by the hour for solving and commenting on the rookie corner crosswords, I could afford to take the rest of the month off!  Whilst there was a lot of inventiveness and some good ideas on display, these were lost in some poor or overelaborate cluing.  It needed a a bit more fine crafting and chiselling to produce a polished rather than a rough hewn finish.  I suspect that it was over-ambitious for a first crossword.  Concentrate on the basics, keeping things simpler to start with and then building up the ideas.  In this crosswords, it was the simpler clues that worked the best.

The commentometer reads as 9/26 or 34.6%

Across

1 Get the better of old posh fool (6)
OUTWIT – The abbreviations for old and posh followed by a four-letter word meaning a fool.

5 Fine Ferrari never runs, no acceleration, and not ultimately worth fixing… really not worth fixing (5-3)
WRITE-OFF – An anagram of F (fine) FEI (Ferrari without the Rs – never runs – and A – no acceleration) WORT (not ultimately worth).  Sometimes setters run away with an idea and produce a clue of such complexity and verbosity that it becomes over the top.  These are referred to as otters. This is a classic otter.  More importantly, in the cryptic grammar, fixing as an anagram indicator needs to come before the letters to be re-arranged, not after.  Here “not ultimately worth being fixed” would have worked better.  Also as the solution, with the hyphen is a noun, the definition would be better as “it’s really not worth fixing.”

9 I’m going to Israel cheaply (3,5)
AIR MILES – An anagram (going or cheaply) of IM ISRAEL.  Unfortunately this clue does not work at any level.  There is no valid definition and where the letters to be rearranged are split (as they are here) the instructions to the solver need to make grammatical sense.  A mixed with B or A with B mixed works but A mixed to B does not.  Perhaps “I’m over in Israel travelling with fare concession”

10 For the most part lymphoma, in lymphoma not for the most part (6)
MAINLY – The answer’s hidden (not for the most part) in the fifth to seventh words of the clue.

11 Overpaint’s becoming overt, bargain to bar suffering’s rewarded (2,4,2,4)
NO PAIN NO GAIN – Two phrases, each 2,4, the described how you get from overpaint to overt and from bargain to bar.  This is one of the worst examples of nonsensical surface readings in the clue.  I am tolerant with Rookies not having fully polished surfaces but simply stringing words together to make a clue that makes no sense whatsoever as a sentence in its own right does not work.  Perhaps suffering’s proverbially rewarded would be a better definition.

13 See 22 Down

14 Understand? Surface appears easy (8)
GETTABLE – A three-letter word meaning understand followed by a five-letter word for a surface on which items can be placed.  Again, the cryptic grammar does not quite work as the structure of the clue resolves to Wordplay appears definition.  Perhaps “Understand, surface could be easy”

17 Vocally prohibited woman  head covering (8)
BANDANNA – A homophone (vocally) of banned (prohibited) followed by a four-letter woman’s name.

18 Ivanka’s naked, turning orange finally, as a dishonest man (5)
KNAVE – The inner letters (naked) of IVANKA reversed (turning) followed by the final letter or orange.

20 How Hamish and Sally go together? (7,5)
HOLDING HANDS – A reverse engineering clue – the first part of the solution as a hidden word indicator and the second part of the solution being the hidden word give what you might find in the second to fourth words of the clue.

23 Setter’s good to you, with lightweight anagram: Find a reptile in Guiana (6)
IGUANA – A single letter for the setter followed by the abbreviation for good and the letter representing you in text speak with the letters in anagram without a unit of weight – lightweight.  The second part of the clue is both a definition and a clue its own right being an anagram (find) of GUIANA and a lightweight anagram in its own right.  A minor point but if you is being used as text speak, this should be indicated, alternatively, a homophone indicator should be used.

24 Northern Ireland’s troubles start to leave a catalogue of victims, promoting profound negativity (8)
NIHILIST – The abbreviation for Northern Ireland followed by a phrase 3,4 for a catalogue of victims without the the letter T (troubles start to leave).  Troubles start needs to be trouble’s start correctly to indicate the initial letter.

25 X-File’s swapping alien for a new one with feminine glasses (8)
SNIFTERS – The role of X-File as compiler maintaining the ’s has the abbreviation for Extra-terrestrial replaced by the abbreviation for new, the letter represented by one and the abbreviation for feminine.  I think that the “a” should be omitted here as it implies it is inserted into to the solution.  Where you can omit an article, you should.

26 Release the clutch on route and block traffic (6)
WAYLAY – A three-letter word meaning to release a clutch of eggs after (on) a three-letter word for a route.  Chambers gives the solution with the meaning to obstruct as obsolete (the usual meaning is to ambush or attack) and this should be indicated.

Down

2 One‘s begun not plead with itself, abandoning the ego (4)
UNIT – The begun from the clue without a three-letter word meaning to plead followed by the itself from the clue without a four-letter word for the ego.  Another clue where the surface reading is sadly lacking in sense.  Also, give this device has been used in 11a and in part in 23a, perhaps it is overusing the wordplay.

3 What sisters share,  e.g. Anna’s bandit (9)
WOMANHOOD – The description of a person of whom Anna may be an example followed by a four-letter word for a bandit.

4 You French-kissers come mostly from Holland (6)
TULIPS – The French single pronoun for you followed by a four-letter word for the part of the body used to kiss.  As the solution is a noun, perhaps these ones come mostly from Holland might be better.

5 Used to turns around the speed of sound, and now clean your 17 (7,8)
WASHING MACHINES – A three-letter word meaning used to be and a six-letter word meaning turns around a phrase 4,1 for the speed of sound and the single letter that can represent and in phrases such as fish and chips.  The definition here is too loose to define the solution.

6 1+2 coming together, getting resistance… (8)
IMMUNITY – The letter representing one followed by the abbreviation for millimetre (an example of the solution to 2d) followed by a five-letter word meaning coming together.

7 …out of electronic ruler, making it longer (5)
EKING – The abbreviation for electronic followed by a four-letter word for a ruler.

8 Fill with a novel passion (4,2,4)
FALL IN LOVE – An anagram (passion) of FILL A NOVEL.  I am not convinced by passion as an anagram indicator.  As a noun some editors would not allow it.  Nounal anagram indicators should nevertheless suggested movement such as organisation.  Even as an &lit clue, where the clue as a whole is wordplay and definition, I don’t think that the clue precisely defines the solution.

12 A loving art, to break a heart? (5,5)
VITAL ORGAN – An anagram (to break) of A LOVING ART.

15 Tries powerlessly to get a friend, without being an easy target (4,5)
AUNT SALLY – A five-letter word meaning tries without the initial P (powerlessly) with a phrase 1, 4 meaning a friend around it (without).

16 Put out too much with one’s sister before dinner and a movie (8)
INUNDATE – The letter representing one followed by a three-letter word for a religious sister and a four-letter word word dinner and a movie.  A couple of points here.  This is the third use of one to represent I.  Try to avoid repeating wordplay indicators.  Also, dinner and a movie is a definition by example of the four letter required so this should be indicated.

19 So much for Mandy, not heeding my unending scream! (3,3)
AND HOW – The letters in Mandy without the MY followed by a four-letter word for a scream with the final letter removed (unending).

21 Little by little, had a struggle going to France (5)
DWARF – The single letter that can represent had (little had) followed by a three-letter word for a struggle or battle and the abbreviation for France.

22/13 One succeeded getting into Romania, travelling from western Turkey (4,5)
ASIA MINOR – An anagram (travelling) of I (one – again!) S (succeeded) ROMANIA.  The wordplay here implied that the IS are inserted into an anagram of ROMANIA which is incorrect.  The use of from here appears to be a link word.  You can have definition from wordplay but wordplay from definition is not technically correct.


35 comments on “Rookie Corner – 371

  1. Welcome to Rookie Corner X-File
    Sorry, but many of your surfaces are nonsense and worse, some wordplay is inaccurate
    I got bored and gave up – it may just be me though, there is a certain type of puzzle I like
    Well done for having a go though, I know it’s not easy

  2. Suspect that Prolixic is going to have a busy time with this one.
    We stopped trying to parse each clue quite early on in the solve and concentrated on getting a completed grid. We did manage to do this with a little bit of electronic assistance along the way.
    You’re bound to get a lot of useful advice over the next few hours X-File so take it on board to use it with your next offering.

  3. Perhaps it is because I have solved, parsed, and hinted on 131 consecutive Dada Sunday Prize Puzzles that I seem to have fared better than LetterboxRoy and the 2Kiwis. However, I do have to agree with their underlying sentiments as there are some clues that just do not make sense – 24a for instance – which led me to a WAG* ending in M rather than the T that it should be.

    And, like the 2Kiwis, final completion was somewhat excessively electronically assisted.

    Some ‘polishing up’ of wordplay is definitely required, but I quite liked 1a, 17a (although our Don Quixote (a.k.a. Rabbit Dave) will probably have something to say about an ‘unspecified’ woman), 18a, 4d, and the 22d/13a combo.

    Thanks X-File and, in advance, Prolixic.

    * A technical term for a type of Guess.

  4. Good morning X-File and a warm welcome to Rookie Corner.

    I was encouraged by 1a which made a great start, but I’m afraid thereafter it was pretty much downhill a lot of the way. Although surface readings are one of many very challenging aspects for new setters, several of yours were nonsensical, as raised by LbR above. For me, this creates quite a barrier when trying to solve a clue. There were also a lot of technical issues, not least a couple of anagrams with no anagram indicators. The nebulous woman in 17a mentioned by Senf was among the least of my concerns!

    I persisted with the solve and managed to complete it, although, in a number of cases, this involved unravelling some tortuous parsing after the event, and I still have three clues stubbornly unparsed. I suspect Prolixic is going to be busy.

    In addition to 1a, I had ticks by 20a, 26a, 4d & 22d/13a.

    Thanks, X-File, you’ve clearly put in a lot of effort to compile this. I hope you can learn from all the comments you get on this site, particularly those from Prolixic, to help you with your next submission.

    1. Hi Rabbit Dave, Thanks for taking the time to solve and comment despite what I’m sure are many errors on my part. I’m pleased I got a few ticks!

  5. It is not often I give up on a crossword but I decided that I was going to have to reveal so many letters to finish off solving the bottom of the puzzle, that I put my pen down with five clues to go. There are a lot of clues with ?? by them as I solved from definition alone. The fifteen-word 5a was solved from enumeration and the last four words of the clue, I really haven’t got the time or inclination to work out the rest of it. 23a is another clue where, if you could find a way to fit the word anagram into the final five, the clue would be much more solver-friendly and understandable.

    Sorry to sound so negative but I did like 1a, 4d and 22/13. Thanks to X-File and, in advance, to Prolixic

  6. hi X-File, thanks for this very tricky puzzle. Somehow, everything was ultimately 14a … but in several cases I’m not quite sure how. I think Prolixic will have plenty of good advice and look forward to the review (thanks in advance)

    Quite a few surfaces made little sense (although unlike Senf I thought 24a was one that did – except, “troubles start” doesn’t quite work for me, should be eg “start of troubles”) – 2d was the main example (I originally assumed some sort of typo had crept in) but there were a lot of others.

    11a used a nice device (which was then used a couple more times – probably one of this type of clue would have been enough) – but unfortunately another example where the surface doesn’t really make any sense, so it didn’t quite come off.

    In a few cases there were unnecessary distractions that could have been omitted from the clues: for example in 23a the possessive ‘s, and the “in Guiana” are both redundant; in 25a there’s an “a” that really shouldn’t be there (also in 12d, though it’s perhaps less ‘misleading’ there); in 21d the comma seems unnecessary and a little unfair (and again, the “a” isn’t needed)

    9a has a very loose definition (if any at all?) and no anagram indicator; 5d I get most of the wordplay (not sure about the N) but don’t understand the definition! 8d I’m assuming is intended as a sort of &lit – for me, this was another “nearly but not quite”.

    5a, the clue itself did ‘work’ – that is, the surface made sense and the wordplay was accurate – but I think was just too convoluted. (I got this one from the enumeration & definition, confirmed by a couple of checkers – then reverse engineered to understand the wordplay.)

    I still don’t ‘get’ 20a (presumably something to do with the names’ first letters?), 26a (don’t see how the last 3 letters = “block traffic”), 6d (I can see the 1 and the 2 but where do the other three letters come from?) … I may well just be on the wrong track with these!

    Despite all that, some nice ideas on show and I’ll look forward to another X-File – with a little less convoluted wordplay, and concentrating on smoother surfaces. 16d was perhaps a little clunky but did raise a smile! And 1a, 14a and 15d were favourites.

    Thanks again!

    1. Fez,
      – 20a is a lurker with the answer in this case containing the lurker indicator.
      – in 26a, I think “block traffic” is the definition. “Release the clutch” very cleverly clues the last three letters.

      1. Thanks Rabbit Dave, a big “d’oh” on 20a, that earns a tick :-) And 26a now makes perfect sense too!

    2. Hi Fez, thanks for such a detailed response! Glad you didn’t think it was a complete 5a
      on 24a: would you mind expanding on this? I used ‘troubles start’ but there seemed to be something wrong without adjusting as you suggest. I considered using ‘trouble’s start’, but I wasn’t sure if that was worth the sacrifice of surface, so I left it as is.
      On 11a and other examples: I agree, For me the only two clues that genuinely don’t make sense are 11a and 2d. In these cases I thought the wordplay was interesting enough to justify including them. This is one of the things it’s hard to gauge without diverse feedback, so it’s great to get that here. Given the general reaction I’m inclined to avoid this in future unless I can make the surface silky smooth.
      I agree that 9a is missing a proper definition. I left it as is as one of my test setters particularly liked it. I’ll rewrite this with an added definition while trying to preserve the surface
      It’s difficult to comment on 8d without spoilers so I’ll defer.
      thanks again for the feedback!

      1. Morning X-File – I think Prolixic’s thorough review should help with many of the ‘technical’ points. Re 24a, the problem is that “word start” doesn’t indicate W in the way that “start of word” or “word’s start” do – but imho this is one which is still ‘fair’ on the solver, ie the intention is clear even if not grammatically perfect. Personally I’m ok with this occasionally if it really helps make a better surface, but would try to avoid if possible. (On the flip-side, I’d never sacrifice ‘sense’ in a surface for the sake of a clever wordplay device… I love convoluted clues and ‘interesting’ word juxtapositions etc… but a few of these just took it too far!)

        Many thanks to Prolixic for the review… I still don’t get the washing machines, though :-/

        1. The wordplay is WAS (used to be) + HING{MACH 1 (speed of sound) + N (and)}ES (turns), but the definition in the clue does not work to define the solution.

          1. Many thanks Prolixic. It was the and=N that eluded me (d’oh, again) I think I missed this because of the “now” which I’d assumed to also be wordplay… so the definition is “now clean your bandanna”?

  7. Hi X-File,
    And welcome to Rookie Corner! You have some very interesting & inventive ideas in several of these clues – e.g. 11a, 8d, 23a, 5d, 26a & 24a. Pretty much all of them need some tweaking but I like what you have been trying to do with things like, ‘Releasing the clutch …’. Prolixic will give you some great specific feedback tomorrow – he is always brilliant with that. I liked 1a and 12d, plus 18a made me laugh. Though it did leave me with a mental image i’d rather do without ;-)
    As others have said, there is quite a bit of the clueing subtlety that needs adding but, with the level of inventiveness you’ve shown here, if you get the detailed clueing techniques right then you have the ability to create some really top puzzles.
    I hope this helps! Take action on what Prolixic suggests tomorrow and I look forward to seeing your next!
    -Encota-
    PS I always make brief notes as I solve, which I am more than happy to share with you. They do contain too many spoilers & too much detail for here, though. If you are interested then ask Big Dave to put us in email contact. Though I won’t be offended if not!

    1. Hi Encota,
      Thanks for your feedback and kind words. I really appreciate the encouragement; I know I have much to learn and improve on, but it’s good to hear you think I’m heading in the right direction.
      I’m sorry to put that in your head but I’m glad 18a made you smile. I’ve written about ten versions of this which are all flawed in some way, but I persist because it makes me laugh.
      I would be really interested to see your notes, and would be happy for Big Dave to give you my email address.

  8. Thanks for this crossword, X-file, which I did manage to complete, despite the issues which I shall leave for others (especially Prolixic) to go through in detail. The clues which worked best for me were those which had a good surface while also containing ONLY a definition of the answer and wordplay from which the answer can be created. So these are 1a, 12d, and 15d. There are quite a few I can’t parse, so will check in again tomorrow for enlightenment.

    My assumption with 23a is that there’s something akin to a ‘director’s commentary’ going on – is that right? If so, then I’d say that part is best taken out.

    Well done for getting to this point, X-File – no mean feat. Please do not be discouraged by criticism – if you take it on board and improve it will be worth it. There are some nice wordplay ideas here.

    1. Actually there’s more going on in 23a than I first thought, having now seen Fez’s comment. There’s actually a seed for a good clue here, though I think it could be tightened up.

      1. Yes the surface of 23a is really quite clever… it was one of many I thought were close but not quite right. So lots of potential. Apologies for my v. long post above – I hope X-File will be encouraged, though!

  9. Welcome, X-File.

    Like RD, I felt that 1a was an excellent clue to begin with and it received a tick on my printed page, but I’m sorry to report it ended up being the only one. I can see several good ideas in evidence, but when those good ideas don’t translate into acceptable clues with meaningful surfaces, it no longer makes much sense to stick with them. 11a and 2d are classic examples of that. Never feel that you have to over-engineer clues, 23a would have been much better simply as “Reptile found in Guiana surprisingly”, even if moving just one letter doesn’t present much of a challenge. Anagrams must have anagram indicators, I was very surprised to see them included in some clues but not in others. Be careful too to ensure that definitions are accurate and don’t stray too far from their accepted meanings, 9a, 26a and 16d were possibly the worst offenders in that respect.

    Well done on creating a grid with no obscurities, but I do think you need to pay careful attention to Prolixic’s review and I’m sure it will pay dividends when you create your next puzzle. Onwards and upwards!

    Many thanks, X-File.

  10. Hello X-File and congratulations to you for venturing into Rookie Corner.
    Almost managed to finish as I still have 21d and 25a to go.
    Some good ideas but the often convoluted wordplay spoiled the clue’s surface.
    I’m sure that Prolixic will help you tidy up these loose ends.
    Liked the “release the clutch” in 26a and even if they don’t really work: 24a and 22/13.
    Thanks for the challenge.

  11. Hi X-files
    As a recent Rookie Corner debutant who was told to improve my surfaces, that has to be a key message for you as well. Across 10/11/17/18/23, Down 2/3/5/7/16 are most in need of attention, some being completely nonsensical. Encota told me last time that clues should be phrases you might be able to use in a pub (which perhaps offers a little latitude if you imagine it to be near closing time!!) and that is a good test I feel. If they don’t work in that context, perhaps you need to find another way. Having said that, I, too, like a complex clue (my Frankenstein creations as LbR calls them!!), but only used very sparingly and with tight grammar in the wordplay and still with a good surface. Also, it is important that grammatically the definition matches the answer – 9a for example uses ‘cheaply’ to define a noun. But I like do 1a, 4d and the wordplay, though not really the definition, of 26a.
    But what I have found is that the community here on BD is amazing. They will always be honest (which sometimes may feel a little disheartening) but they will always be happy to help. So take on board all the good advice because throughout this puzzle there are some belting ideas, ‘release the clutch’ being the pick of the bunch.
    Good luck with your next one!

    1. ‘Proximity to closing time’ is a great measure of how ‘out there’ people like their surfaces!

    2. Hi Dr Diva, thanks for your comments!

      I’m very willing to change my ways if they prove to be unsatisfying, yet I do feel a need to make a faint justification for some of my surfaces.
      I too try and imagine the context which could justify the clue as part of a sentence. I see your pub at closing time and raise you an art gallery blurb, or a conversation about existential philosophy, which afford an almost limitless source of meaningful nonsense one can draw on as a setter. In my mind the latitude is welcome as long as one stays the right side of the line, and doesn’t take liberties too often in one grid. clearly I failed on these counts here :)

      I believe if part of a sentence is grammatically sound and interesting to read, then it deserves to be part of a clue, even if it doesn’t make sense in the conventional way.
      I saw an extreme example of this in the Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth, which I think read something like:
      John, where Jane had had had, had had had had, had had had had the teacher’s approval
      This sentence makes me makes me feel warm and fuzzy, but I know from experience it makes other people quite irate. I enjoy pursuing this sort of thing in clues, so I’m know I run the risk of irritating some people when I do. I am drawn towards any opportunities for repetition, such as the end of 5a (I fully accept the rest of this clue is overcomplicated and clunky). 10a makes me happy for similar reasons even though it doesn’t make literal sense.

      1. A lot of empathy with your views, X-file, and I am not sure anyone is entirely suggesting changing your ways. Of course, it is the eternal battle between the solver and the setter, in which the setter must set out to lose gracefully! I am working on improving solver-friendliness as some of the best solvers around, to be found here, have found mine over-challenging. If they do, then average solvers must find them inaccessible and I have to take that on board. Where there is a beltingly good wordplay, misdirection or definition is to be had (‘release the clutch’ qualifies), absolutely go for it! If your style is more art gallery than chucking out time, so be it – that is for the solver to decipher. But if philosophical or art gallery verbiage (or drunken ramblings, for that matter) dominate excessively, you risk breaking the contract between you and the solver and they just give up. The play-tussle becomes too arduous and the fun is lost..
        This is just food for thought and everything is a balancing act with fairness at the heart of it. Fairness is determined by operating within the “rules” and the technical issues were an issue as others have indicated. But once they have been resolved, your style may well win through and result in a satisfying solve – that is for others to evaluate. I just offer the feedback as one coming to grips with similar issues! Chin up though! I very much look forward to the next one,

  12. Well done, X-File, on braving the slings and arrows and sticking your head above the parapet.
    As others have said there are some really good ideas here but some of the wordplay seems to be too complicated. I got a full grid but there are a couple that I can’t fully parse.
    The clues I liked best were 1a and 20a.
    Anna seems to be very popular.

  13. Welcome to the Corner, X-File. As others have mentioned, 1a got me off to a very good start but then it rapidly went downhill. A lot of your surface reads made me cringe and they do make it very difficult for the solver to understand your intentions. I did manage to fill the grid without recourse to the ‘reveal’ button but I had queries about far too many of my answers.
    Several clues fell into the ‘nearly but not quite’ category where just a small tweak in wording would have made all the difference and I’m sure that a test solver could have helped considerably where that is concerned.

    Take careful note of the words of wisdom from Prolixic and other experienced solvers and I hope you’ll be back ‘ere long with a much improved second offering.

  14. We really liked 1a, 9a,11a, 8d, and 12d. We answered some clues which we are sure are correct but we couldn’t parse them so we shall look forward to Prolixic’s analysis tomorrow. There was much to enjoy before the frustration took over. Many thanks X-File, we look forward to your next one.

  15. Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment here. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity this gives me to learn and improve. I think every comment here is useful and I certainly won’t take any of the criticism to heart. I apologise to anyone who had a go at this only to be left wishing they could have a small part of their life back.

  16. The general consensus seems to be that there’s too much nonsense here. Of course, there’s no smoke without fire, so I have to take this on board. Personally, I think life,(and crosswords), would be duller without a little nonsense, but clearly there is a limit, and going too far makes the experience less enjoyable for everyone. I will take this lesson into my next grids.

    I sure I’ve made plenty of grammatical errors, which will undermine the success of some clues. This is something I’m hoping to improve upon with experience and feedback. With this in mind, I’m looking forward to a Prolixic response.

  17. I’ve not read any of the other comments, so mine may duplicate what’s already been said, and I’ll leave detailed comments on each clue to Prolixic’s review. Overall, though, I found this rather patchy, with some neat clues in places let down by others that were very clunky or omitted necessary indicators.
    Just to take a few examples I did like 20ac and 26 ac, together with 12dn. But 9ac needs an anagram indicator and the surface of 2dn doesn’t make grammatical sense. 16dn is quite well constructed but really needs an indication that ‘dinner and a movie’ is a definition by example. And talking of definition by example it would have been better not to have ‘X’ as an example of ‘Y’ in one clue and ‘Y’ as an example of ‘X’ in another, i.e. 17ac and 3dn.
    Elsewhere there were some very good ideas but the clues needed refining a bit. Do take note of Prolixic’s comments and I’m sure we can look forward to your next puzzle.

  18. Many thanks for the review, Prolixic, you’ve certainly given X-File plenty of food for thought. I do hope that he benefits from it and comes back with something greatly improved next time.

  19. This has been extremely useful, thanks Prolixic for your comprehensive review. I’ll go back to the drawing board, sharpen my tools, and keep chipping away. I’ll be back soon with something better

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