MPP LCIIX

 

After the mass US invasion at the last MPP, we were expecting this one to be a little quieter – and it was as a few of the usual suspects had managed to make other plans – life intervened for Frank, Louis had only just got home from his jaunt around the Scottish Highlands and exotic northern European climes and Steve was washing his hair, in Italy!

As a result I didn’t have anyone staying over and my MPP weekend was reduced to just a day – but nevertheless a puzzling day with my mates. It’s all good…

When I got to the hall Phil was already waiting for me in the carpark a he gave me a hand with lugging all the refreshments and one or two puzzles into the hall. Chris and one or two others arrived soon after and they set about taking out the tables and chairs and by the time first of the London gang arrived we were pretty much open for business.

Shane arrived in the travelling locksmith workshop – which was only called upon once for a set of hex wrenches to repair something this time… no puzzles were harmed in the making of this episode.

Ali had brought along some truly terrifying bits of plastic to torment me and I was happy to be able to report on said torment over the course of the next two days… my initial reaction was perfectly justified.

Rich had brought along a number of oversized 3D-printed six-piece burrs – he shoved one into my paws and then duly observed as I made heavy-weather of attempting to solve it. I spotted a few suspicious-looking features but it took me a long time to find a way into getting anything useful to happen… when I finally managed to find the first “move” Rich just grinned and said “that took you long enough” – which I think is the closest he’s ever likely to come to actual encouragement.

A little while later there were all sorts of interesting tools and the burr was beginning to behave in a most un-burr-like manner – there are some excellent new ideas hidden throughout the solve and I’d highly recommend it – it’s called the S.V. Burr – and you’ll need to solve it to work out its full name.

I’d done my usual thing of printing off a few sets of interesting puzzles off Printables to give away and several folks seemed to enjoy putting together a set of Theo & Symen’s Black Cat, White Cat… although everyone managed to assemble it with the appropriate mix of black and white cats – we missed you, Steve! All the spare puzzles found new homes which I’m taking as a good sign!

I’d taken Peter’s “No Way!” box along again in case anyone wanted another bash at it… and several did – it was great fun watching the look on folks faced when they realised what the final few steps involved… and then the joke was on me when they went further than I had and found a little Easter egg that I’d missed – inexplicably I’d already added my name to the solver’s list – Thanks Nick! :-) I think I’m all done on that one now! Probably…

Somewhere around lunchtime the gang headed for the High Street for munchies and I headed home to grab a bite and to let the hounds out as Gill was off at a weekend retreat. After a few slices of toast and some vigorous ball tossing the hounds went back to sleep and I headed back to the hall.

Chris had brought along a set of NOS Burrs in bits and during the course of the day they magically reassembled themselves with a little help form some rather useful 3D diagrams someone had found on the interweb somewhere.

A set of Pelikan Minimas had several folks mused for abslute ages – they are brilliant little challenges – and as usual one of them – IYKYK – caused no end of trouble.

Robin had suspended his better judgement and decided to come back for another bout of puzzling and had brought along a several thingies of his own making and a copy of Henry Segerman’s Dodecaplex Puzzle that amused several folks during the day – brilliant puzzle available at a very decent price over here! Yup, zero affiliation – just want puzzlers to know it’s out there!

He'd also brought along a copy of Nan Ma’s Blast-Hedron 20 which I felt the need to gently spin to enjoy it’s expansion and ultimate explosion – a very gentle but extremely effective method of disassembly – I spent a while trying to put it back together with the help of the jig and never got past the second layer or pieces without it all collapsing in on itself… Robin was very patient and gracious when I ended up handing the bits to Kevin who did a whole lot better at assembling it than I had…

Speaking of Kevin, we manged to engage him in a little light solving of a well-known Hanayama puzzle and introduced him to a new method of solving one particular puzzle – there was plenty of glee when the bits flew apart after a little gentle hurling…

Rich Gain brought his son Adam long and seemed to enjoy a chunk of father/son puzzling during the course of the day – great to see Richard back at an MPP after quite a long break during which he’s been putting his 3D printer to great use mending all manner of things broken in his regular stints at a local repair café – top man!

The set of Keeboxes provided a goodly does of puzzling for several folks -all of whom declared them brilliant puzzles – you can’t get more of a vote of confidence than that!

Rich tried manfully to solve my copy of The Real Euklid, which I’ve decided must be faulty as he failed. (The alternative is simply too awful to contemplate!)

We said goodbye to a few folks and then headed back to the house for several more hours of puzzling and the traditional fish supper.

Kyle gave himself a bit of a scare on an old Stickman (and then sorted it himself!) and several Karakuris came out to play during the course of the evening.

It may not have been the biggest of our gatherings, but it was another cracking day’s puzzling with my mates - thank you all for making it a great day!