Listen With Others

With nine jumbles required, filling those entries looked like they’d take quite some work.

CYTON at 29ac being entered as NYCTO was the first to fall – and suddenly all those phobias started to creep in, namely:

• NYCTOPHOBIA: … night
• AILUROPHOBIA: … cats
• ALGOPHOBIA: … pain
• ORNITHOPHOBIA … birds
• PHENGOPHOBIA … (day)light
• ERGOPHOBIA … work
• OCHLOPHOBIA … crowds
• HYPSOPHOBIA … heights
• PANTOPHOBIA … everything

Eight of these nine meanings were the hidden words in the eight clues that the Preamble mentioned, leaving just PAIN to be found, which could have been a real pain to find, but fortunately wasn’t (as it was in plain sight on the top row).

I wondered therefore which cartoon character was to be highlighted.  I soon spotted Andy Capp on one of the diagonals and therefore it was him.  Fear of work, eh!

I loved the clues’ surfaces – superb as ever.  And it’s always good to see ANDY at the heart of such an excellent construction.  Thanks Dysart!

Tim / Encota