An Ode to Cryptic Stations: ANSWERED AT LAST!

Can you identify a station from just a paving slab? Sadly, some people can
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RobbieM
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An Ode to Cryptic Stations: ANSWERED AT LAST!

Post by RobbieM »

Okay then, here we are: More Cryptic Stations, but with a slight twist this time...

We Tube Challengers have all sorts of different approaches to doing our peculiar hobby. Whilst some like to just get on and do it, for others, the challenge may be a more reflective, perhaps even spiritual experience. To illustrate what I mean, take a look at this poem wot I ’ave writed:

  • Disgruntled chap in warehouse in North London,
    Juggling routes, with cold rage. Down in Zone One...
    ...Geoff starts, you and I chill out by the golf course.
    It’s a fine way to remember a Greek character – taking a little time out!

    Though Rob, losing time, striking hard, disturbing the town...
    ...begins the exercise, moving platforms languidly, enquiring where there may be a good service.
    He’s in church, before a thousand common Tube Challengers start!
    The spirit within him, he sang elegantly as a child, and...
    ...still, he’ll aim to patronize a place where the services are – less ‘regular’.

    To the north-east, there’s an atmosphere in the midst of failure,
    (It’s not in the south-west there’s shame at being beaten).
    To the north, playing cello, Andi...
    ...sprints with envy, near to the palace.

    But in the centre, with quiet longing to return east of the capital,
    I limp about, half-cold, near the river.

Perhaps the meaning is a little obscure. Okay, very obscure... I don’t suspect I’ll be a candidate for the next Poet Laureate, but you get the point! And if you haven’t worked it out yet, I’ll explain it.

This fifteen-line ‘epic’ is actually a collection of fifteen cryptic station clues! (Have you ever read through the clues of The Times Crossword one after the other, and thought it sounded rather poetic?) They are all Tube stations, within the 270. As these are full crossword-style clues, it’s been necessary to include pointers to some locations. But I’ve tried to make these as vague as possible, so they’re not too easy. (It’s better than using the word ‘station’ fifteen times...)

PM me your answers when you’re ready – whether one, two or all fifteen.

I’ll not put a deadline on this yet. I think I’ll see how folks get on. Some are easy, some are difficult. If you’re finding them hard, I may give some extra pointers at a later date.

Have fun!

(p.s. If you’re new to cryptic crosswords, beware! They can be very addictive!)
Last edited by RobbieM on 20 Jul 2013, 14:31, edited 5 times in total.
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RobbieM
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The Numbered List!

Post by RobbieM »

Now here it is again with the clue numbers – it should be easier to solve!

1. Disgruntled chap in warehouse in North London,
2. Juggling routes, with cold rage. Down in Zone One...
3. ...Geoff starts, you and I chill out by the golf course.
4. It’s a fine way to remember a Greek character – taking a little time out!
5. Though Rob, losing time, striking hard, disturbing the town...

6. ...begins the exercise, moves platforms languidly, enquiring where there may be a good service.
7. He’s in church, before a thousand common Tube Challengers start!
8. The spirit within him, he sang elegantly as a child, and...
9. ...still, he’ll aim to patronize a place where the services are – less ‘regular’.
10. To the north-east, there’s an atmosphere in the midst of failure,

11. (It’s not in the south-west there’s shame at being beaten).
12. To the north, playing cello, Andi...
13. ...sprints with envy, near to the palace.
14. But in the centre, with quiet longing to return east of the capital,
15. I limp about, half-cold, near the river.
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RobbieM
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by RobbieM »

I'm please to report I have my first 100% correct entry to this competition! That's a relief to me, because I'd been concerned I'd made the clues too hard... Many thanks to one of our newer forum members for this.

I guess these are quite challenging though, especially if you're not used to cryptic crosswords. You may want to get some help from somebody you know who's used to doing them (and they may also benefit from a copy of the Tube map!) Alternatively, here's a good site to help you on your way: http://solving-cryptics.com/.

But as I say, beware - they can be very addictive! :)
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tractakid
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by tractakid »

I think I may have to wait for the answers for this one.
*insert boasting about notable tube accomplishments here*
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by tubeguru »

I may give this a go. I've got a couple just by skim-reading the clues
One thing only do I know, and that is that I know nothing - Socrates.

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RobbieM
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by RobbieM »

tubeguru wrote:I may give this a go. I've got a couple just by skim-reading the clues
Be my guest! The more the merrier, but...
tractakid wrote:I think I may have to wait for the answers for this one.
...I appreciate that not everyone will enter. Yet. Perhaps when I give some hints at a later date...?
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by jamesthegill »

I've had a look at this and might enter later, but even if I don't, can I request that you show your working when you post the answers please?
Holder of the slowest recorded 274 attempt: 4 months, 1 day, 9 hours, 17 minutes, 32 seconds.
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RobbieM
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by RobbieM »

jamesthegill wrote:I've had a look at this and might enter later, but even if I don't, can I request that you show your working when you post the answers please?
Absolutely. What I'm thinking of doing is having a two-stage closure to the competiton. After I've received all the entries to the 'full' competition, I'll post a re-punctuated set of questions. This may give a chance for other folk to have a stab at them.

New to cryptic crosswords? Just a brief description of what you need to do: Each question is made up of two parts - a genuine clue to the answer, and a wordplay part which also points to the completed word. Most of the genuine clues above are geographically-based, though not all.

And when I do give the final answers, I'll post my working out.

Keep on having fun! :)
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RobbieM
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by RobbieM »

My second 100%-correct entry has arrived ... but not from a Forum member.

Well done my mum! :D

I'll maybe give a couple more weeks for the 'First Class' entries to arrive, then post the 'Standard Class' clues.
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations...

Post by RobbieM »

I think it’s time to put a closure date on the ‘full’ competition. I’m off on a working holiday this Sunday to the sunny Forest of Dean, and will return the following Friday. I therefore propose a deadline of: Friday 5th July at 11:59pm.

Shortly after that, I’ll place the re-punctuated version of the clues, then give another week or so for more folks to have a try at them. They’ll be a lot easier then. (Well, I hope they will... :) )

If you’ve already solved a few of these, but not all, it’d still be good to get your answers-so-far in whenever you're ready. If you send in further correct answers later, I'll add them to your score, so your first entry isn't the final word!

In the meantime, continue having fun solving!
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations - NOW WITH EASIER CLUES!

Post by RobbieM »

Many thanks to all the thousands of entries which have flooded my way - the first part of the competition is now closed.

So, here we are – the newly-punctuated version! I’ve split each clue into two - its true description and its wordplay. Should be obvious which is which. I’ve highlighted items in quotes which are mini-clues in themselves, or need translating into abbreviations etc. Words/phrases in quotes should be taken as read, though the surrounding words may indicate that you still need to do something with them. You may find anagrams, buried phrases etc.!

I will give another couple of weeks for this, so the deadline for part two is Friday 19th July at 11:59pm. Then shortly afterwards, I'll post the answers, with detailed explanations. (This could be an opportunity to become addicted...)

  • 1. Disgruntled {chap} in {warehouse} -------- in North London,
    2. Juggling “routes” with “cold rage” -------- Down in Zone One
    3. “Geoff” starts {you and I} “chill” out -------- by the golf course.
    4. It’s a fine way to remember -------- {a Greek character} taking {a little time} out!
    5. “Though Rob” losing {time} striking {hard} disturbing -------- the town

    6. begins “the exercise moves platforms languidly enquiring” -------- where there may be a good service.
    7. “He’s” in {church}, before “a” {thousand} -------- common Tube Challengers’ start!
    8. The spirit -------- within “him he sang elegantly as a child and”
    9. “still, he’ll aim” to patronize -------- a place where the services are less regular.
    10. To the north-east -------- there’s {an atmosphere} in the midst of {failure},

    11. It’s not in the south-west -------- there’s “shame at” being beaten.
    12. To the north -------- playing “cello, Andi”
    13. {sprints} {with envy} -------- near to the palace.
    14. “But” in the centre, with {quiet} {longing} to return -------- east of the capital,
    15. “I limp” about, half “cold” -------- near the river.
Have fun!
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RobbieM
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An Ode to Cryptic Stations: DEADLINE Fri 19th July 11:59pm

Post by RobbieM »

Into our final week - it's either enjoying the sunshine or solving these clues; what a choice ... :roll:
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations: DEADLINE Fri 19th July 11:59

Post by RobbieM »

...and I can have a guess at which you're all going for. Two days left! :)
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Re: An Ode to Cryptic Stations: ANSWERS POSTED SHORTLY...

Post by RobbieM »

Okay, we're closed! Thank you for the hundreds of answers I've received... results to be posted shortly, but I'll do the answers first. Taking 'one post per clue', I'll give a poetic comment, and a detailed explanation of the result. Before you read them, just absorb this mesmerising poem once more:

  • Disgruntled chap in warehouse in North London,
    Juggling routes, with cold rage. Down in Zone One...
    ...Geoff starts, you and I chill out by the golf course.
    It’s a fine way to remember a Greek character – taking a little time out!

    Though Rob, losing time, striking hard, disturbing the town...
    ...begins the exercise, moving platforms languidly, enquiring where there may be a good service.
    He’s in church, before a thousand common Tube Challengers start!
    The spirit within him, he sang elegantly as a child, and...
    ...still, he’ll aim to patronize a place where the services are – less ‘regular’.

    To the north-east, there’s an atmosphere in the midst of failure,
    (It’s not in the south-west there’s shame at being beaten).
    To the north, playing cello, Andi...
    ...sprints with envy, near to the palace.

    But in the centre, with quiet longing to return east of the capital,
    I limp about, half-cold, near the river.


Okay, here goes:
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RobbieM
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Clue 1

Post by RobbieM »

1. Disgruntled chap in warehouse in North London,

Poetic Comment: This doesn’t imply that all warehouse workers are disgruntled. Most of them are very friendly people! It’s just this one...

Solution:
Another word for ‘chap’ is ‘MAN’.
This chap is ‘disgruntled’ – suggesting it’s an anagram. How’s about ‘ANM’?
We need another word for ‘warehouse’ too. I think ‘STORE’ is a good one.
So, our “disgruntled chap in warehouse” is ‘ANM’ in ‘STORE’. And putting it in the right place...
...you get ‘STANMORE’ – which is “In North London”!
Last edited by RobbieM on 20 Jul 2013, 14:04, edited 1 time in total.
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