It's GCHQ time!

[Rusty Nails]

With cryptic crosswords I find that I get used to the style of certain newspapers/compilers and the methods they use to get answers. Once I have got used to the style they get easier and eventually I lose interest. Like Soduko there are tips and shortcuts to use to make quizzes and crosswords easier. The more you do the better you get.

I am not hooked on them but find they are good for keeping the brain ticking over, especially now that I have retired.

 

[DaveReading]

One should bear in mind when doing the challenge that on today's TV feature on GCHQ it was said that because of the nature of their work, they give particular preference to neurodiverse applicants.

Solved the questions, but had to reverse-engineer the answer to 6.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've just cheated and looked up the answers for the other ones. I'm not sure I'd have had the patience to work out the final one with the map

 

[Supersuperleeds]

42

 

[T4tomo]

I had to back solve 7, I knew what it was but had forgotten it's proper new name. But once I had the 4 letters it was a bit easier!
I had a good guess at 6 based on position but not sure how the clue leads to that....haha I've got it now, I just literally did what the clue said and then decoded the answer....

 

[Specialeyes]

So I've solved all 7 puzzles on P1, including #6 with a quick excel spreadsheet. Done the morse code on the front of the card and am now staring blankly at the 7 animal/number combinations across the bottom of the front cover, while refusing to folow the link to the hints!

 

[DaveReading]

now staring blankly at the 7 animal/number combinations across the bottom of the front cover, while refusing to follow the link to the hints!

Read the intro again, carefully. It could have been written a tad more grammatically, which might have helped.

 

[T4tomo]

So I've solved all 7 puzzles on P1, including #6 with a quick excel spreadsheet. Done the morse code on the front of the card and am now staring blankly at the 7 animal/number combinations across the bottom of the front cover, while refusing to folow the link to the hints!

They literally give you "what the GCHQ staff are doing this xmas" check out where the animals are sitting in the UK and then look again at your answers 1-7....

It may be exactly what the morse code says, I couldn't be arsed to google and translate morse code

 

[DaveReading]

It may be exactly what the morse code says, I couldn't be arsed to google and translate morse code

The Morse code is just an anodyne Christmas greeting (carol), but it can help (without needing to be decoded) in solving the final puzzle if anagrams aren't one's strong point..

 

[T4tomo]

The Morse code is just an anodyne Christmas greeting (carol), but it can help (without needing to be decoded) in solving the final puzzle if anagrams aren't one's strong point..

it wasn't an anagram in that sense, the order was already given to you, so more of a shuffle, and don't call me Carol

 

[icowden]

I had to back solve 7, I knew what it was but had forgotten it's proper new name. But once I had the 4 letters it was a bit easier!
I had a good guess at 6 based on position but not sure how the clue leads to that....haha I've got it now, I just literally did what the clue said and then decoded the answer....

My error with 6 was in adding up the differences which is a step too far. It's a two step cipher instead.

There are some extra puzzles in the sea and in the choice of animals by the way...

 

[DaveReading]

There are some extra puzzles in the sea and in the choice of animals by the way...

Do you mean the ones at the foot of the map page, that have been the subject of some recent posts ?

 

[FishFright]

Might still get to work there one day. Maybe they'll be recruiting cleaners.

A long time ago I applied for a cleaning job at a CSOS base , didn't even get an interview !

Here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodhead_Hall it was surrounded by acres of VLF aerials.

 

[icowden]

Do you mean the ones at the foot of the map page, that have been the subject of some recent posts ?

Yes the front page has 3 "hidden" puzzles.
One is hidden in the sea (look carefully - or if you have the pdf open you can "copy" the sea into a notepad document)
One is in the trail from Santa's Sleigh
And one is the animals themselves.