Roman and I enjoyed our Medway Meander so much we decided to linger in The Garden of England for a few more days. One of the byproducts of this extension is the following ‘missing vowels’ foxer.
Below is a list of ‘33 Things Wot You Might Find in Kent’. Entries have been stripped of vowels and, where possible, have had any inter-word spaces repositioned*. For example, if hop picker was present it might appear as HPPC KR. Canterbury would be CNTRBRY.
* Apostrophes are ignored and hyphens are treated as spaces
In an attempt to ensure as many people as possible get a chance to participate, Roman requests individual defoxers offer no more than six answers on Day 1. (After 24 hours have elapsed, fill your boots!). If your initial six answers are correct and consecutive, give yourself a pat on the back.
1. STH S
2. PSMMD
3. PPLR KN
4. PR LNLN
5. PRS NHLK
6. H DNHRS
7. MCKJG GR
8. DV TLGMS
9. CST CMRRR
10. GRTXPL SN
11. H MFHRN BY
12. BL RTMMRL
13. LL GLMGRNT
14. DBLRPW LK
15. RMNLG HTHS
16. DGCLL RMS M
17. HMN DSN DWCH
18. CHT TYBN GBNG
19. RVL TNGPSNT
20. NTNP WRCMP LX
21. BTT LFGDH RST
22. PRT LNDCM NTKLN
23. DSR NTDFCKW LF
24. HN DR DFHR LWY
25. MNTRR M RDTRN
26. WNS TNSWRDFC TRY
27. BRT NSLD STSCHL
28. THTHR TYN NS TPS
29. RPNYL LWT LDSC RPN
30. JSP HMLLRDWL LMTR NR
31. F RFT HRG NLCN QPR TS
32. BRTN SLRG STCSPTFRL ND
33. WRL DSFR STPR PSBLTHV RPRT
I’m using the foxers as a benchmark for LLMs and holy crap ! The image based ones like collage & cluster have a higher chance of survival.
I probably need to add a “Using AI to solve foxers is considered unsporting.” warning to these. I suspect Roman could fashion AI-proof foxers if he tried, but it would be a struggle and might mean certain types had to be abandoned.
I need to check on Friday’s more…
All my guesses will be sans google from now on (Due to AI), so some may be wrong (As i can’t even check anymore!)
?s are probably wrong:
1. EAST HOUSE?
2. PSAMMEAD (Mrs Nutfield, I have no idea it was spelt that way)
3. POP LARKIN
5. PRISON HULK?
6. HODON HORSE? (This is the white horse on the hill isn’t it, can’t remember the name)
7. MICK JAGGER
10. GREAT EXPLOSION?
11. HUMF HORNBY (I assume that’s not his first name? :p)
12. ALBERT MEMORIAL
13. ASYLUM SEEKER
14. DOUBLE ROPEWALK?
15. ROMAN LIGHTHOUSE (I remember a ship, but not a lighthouse)
17. HAM AND SANDWICH (Places)
18. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (Mrs Nutfield)
19. REVOLTING PEASANT (Mrs Nutfield)
20. Something POWER COMPLEX
21. BATTLE OF EDGEHURST?
22. PORTLAND CEMENT KILN? (Maybe both of us or neither)
24. HUNDRED something RAILWAY
25. MANTRA RAMROD TRAIN? (Yes, it’s not is it)
26. WINSTON’S WORD FACTORY? (No idea!)
27. BRITAIN’S OLDEST SCHOOL (Not Loudest)
28. THE THIRTY NINE STEPS (Both of us)
33. WORLD’S FIRST PURPOSE BUILT HOVERPORT
I was about to check on google if i got these right, but before i did….
1. OAST House (me = idiot)
(After looking at answers)
Oh, i remember seeing a 6. in Broadstairs as a child, terrifying thing!
21. ah yes, an actual place in Kent, rather than somewhere that isn’t…
26 was correct, wow!
Ones you got wrong:
11. HUMF HORNBY – should be three words
12. ALBERT MEMORIAL – clue has consonants in the order B-L-r-t
18. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG – just the one Chitty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitty_Bang_Bang
built by Bligh Brothers in Canterbury
– – – – – – – – – – – – –
Ones you got right:
5. PRISON HULK – see ‘Great Expectations’
Charles Dickens’ father, John Dickens, was a Royal Navy Pay Office clerk transferred to Chatham in 1816
19. REVOLTING PEASANT – opens imminently in British cinemas
(Views expressed are solely the opinion of Colonel K and should not be taken to represent Tally-Ho Corner)
23. DISORIENTED FOCKE-WULF (could really be plural: Four Wulfs? Wulves? Wulfae??)
RAF West Malling, 16th April 1943
In the foggy evening, one Focke-Wulf landed and captured.
One shot down attempting to take off (by a Beaverette armoured car).
Two others crashed nearby.
29. EUROPEAN YELLOW-TAILED SCORPION – Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis
On the Isle of Sheppey having escaped from Sheerness Dockyard in the early 19th century from a shipment of Italian masonry.
“Its sting is less painful than a bee sting” BTW
31. FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL CINQUE PORTS – New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich
Re: 12.
So. Anticipating another cross-channel interloper I’ve spent the past week in the bottom of a pit I dig in small tree-ringed field near Dover listening for the sounds of tunneling
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.1311346,1.3260127,3a,90y,14.13h,65.63t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICTw_7DNA!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgpms-cs-s%2FAM4Q-U9otuCD7N4JI7SjAqUGkeo8W55tV_Qzj2BSfUkl-CcHmTuG2zi5OpDeXRfRhzBvkf2Xjoap-Mx8yQVII3mXWu21c4zGVgw63rzDxg0Amh9_yvPbrSY91MDjqIC2ZG_Lzag0wXA%3Dw900-h600-k-no-pi24.370000000000005-ya14.13-ro0-fo100!7i11968!8i5984!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MTAwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
I suspect Aimé Thomé de Gamond might be up to something. Probably featured admiringly on THC’s french cousin ( Arret taïaut ?), he’s been seen jumping into La Manche with pigs’ bladders and a mouth full of olive oil just to take rock samples. Also fighting conger eels.