There is one white square missing in the grid for the Colossus on page 51 making the numbers not match with the clues in the bottom third of the crossword. The white square is missing at the bottom of 322 down which needs five squares for FILET.

Apologies for this frustrating gremlin. The correct grid can be found below.

Thanks to Sharon Mitchell, of Bedford, WA, who was the first to alert us to this error.

Click here for corrected grid

CLUEDUNNIT
Sol: Danny Devito
Twinings Wooden Tea Chest
Beth Fillod, Gracemere Qld.

CROSS OUT
Sol: Mistletoe
Heritage Kettle & Toaster
Nicole Defeudis, Wollert Vic.

STARHUNT
Sol: Drew Barrymore
10 Hopscotch DVDs
Mary Atkinson, Mt Burr SA; Edith Carey, Slacks Creek Qld; Patricia Gaudry, Parrearra Qld; Jan Goodsell, Bunbury WA; James Harvey, Cessnock NSW; Ena Low, Penguin Tas; Brenda Merchant, Adamstown Heights NSW; Robyn Murtagh, Morrinsville NZ; Sylvia Neill, Dannevirke NZ; Connie Salakas, Kingsgrove NSW.

CHECK POINT
Sol: Sleigh
Aesop Preen Gift Set
Maxine Hartwig, Gungahlin ACT.

TRACKER
Sol: Present
Luke Mangan Knife Gift Set
Brenda Kenny, Nelson NZ.

Trivia Words
Sol: Merry
iPad Mini
Shirley Chittick, Cowra NSW.

FINDAWORD
Sol: Inflatable Santa Claus
$250 Ticketek Gift Voucher
Patti Hogg, Edgeworth NSW.

Mixed Signals
Sol: The Bachelor
20 Macquarie Little Dictionary & Thesaurus Sets
Susan Blaydon, Killarney Heights NSW; Leanne Conway, Evanston Park SA; Sandra Court, Lowood Qld; Julie Anne Daniell, Fulham Gardens SA; Baden De Boer, Bondi Junction NSW; Cheryl Dwyer, Huntfield Heights SA; Suzanne Fox, Arncliffe NSW; Jolanta Galicki, Renown Park SA; Ann Goold, Point Leo Vic; Donna Gorzalka, Dubbo NSW; Rebecca Konynenburg, Weston NSW; Margaret Kriesel, Mena Creek Qld; Fred Lunam, White Cliffs NSW; Valerie McDougall, Auckland NZ; Meg McGrath, Wishart Qld; Patricia McMillan, Capel WA; Jan Phillis, Nowra NSW; Sue Robinson, Stanhope Vic; Jean Tonkin, Killarney Heights NSW; Barbara Whalley, Capalaba Qld;

MAGIC SQUARES
Sol: Cracker
2 Slip Silk Pillowcases
Margaret Formigoni, West Wollongong NSW; Lesley McInnes, Woodroffe NT.

WHEEL WORDS
Sol: Pantomime
2 x $50
Margaret Morrant, Alice Springs NT; Doreen Macpherson, Christchurch NZ.

ARROWORDS
Sol: Angels
Jo Malone Cologne
Kathleen Kerrison, Launceston Tas.

MUMBO-JUMBO
Sol: Decorations
Fisher Space Pen
Jo Murrell, Foxton NZ.

SUDOKU SHAPESHIFTER
Sol: 4 9 8 6 5 1 7 3 2
2 iPod Shuffles
Margaret Monk, South West Rocks NSW; Tirza Reid, Hawthorndene SA.

Brian Jones, Oamaru Central, New Zealand
Amelia Northcott, Goodwood, SA
Aileen Boothman, Morwell, VIC
Deborah Call, Moruya, NSW
Leila Hartvigsen, Maryborough, QLD

Each will have his or her subscription outlay returned as a winner of the November/December lucky subscriber draw.

To be in the running to win, simply purchase any magazine subscription.

Visit the Lovatts Australia online store | Visit the Lovatts New Zealand online store

“Love is a lot like backache, it doesn’t show up on x-rays, but you know it’s there” - George Burns

This month it’s St Valentine’s Day once again, and so much has been written about romantic love, in stories, poetry and song, that you might think there is nothing left to say. But it seems that we never tire of the romantic dream, which after all makes the world go round. Love will never go out of fashion. And it’s still the main subject of pop songs, with just about every angle covered, from love at first sight, to unrequited love, passion, heartbreak and betrayal.

Some of the famous song titles we have used in our crossword clues display disillusion with love: Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again and Where Did Our Love Go?

Love has been trouble from the start, from Adam and Eve, the world’s first lovers, to Paris’s infatuation with Helen of Troy, which caused the Trojan War and Lancelot, who fell for Arthur’s wife Guinevere. The course of true love never did run smooth. Antony outraged the Romans by falling for Cleopatra, Tristan fell in love with his uncle’s wife Isolde and Romeo and Juliet came from feuding families.

What makes people do such crazy things? Scientists have found that the same chemical process that takes place with drug addiction also takes place when we fall in love. Not only that, the frontal cortex of the brain, which is vital to judgment, shuts down when we fall in love.

Falling in love sounds physically dangerous. For a start, you’re falling, you’re going to hit the ground, you’re out of control. Head over heels in love? Sounds painful. What about the phrase ‘you take my breath away’? So now you can’t breathe. ‘You make my heart skip a beat’ – now you’re in trouble - call the ambulance. ‘You set my heart on fire’ – call the fire brigade too. ‘I love you to pieces’ – now you’re disintegrating, is it really worth it?

Apparently it is, according to Charles Darwin: “Much love, much trial, but what an utter desert is life without love.”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

CHRISTINE’S HELLO appears every month in Christine’s BIG Crossword magazine.
» More info here

First Prize - $100 Prize Cheque
Bob Small

Runner-up Prizes - $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers
Debra Sadler, Ray Massey

Congratulations!

THE X FACTOR – CONTEST 2
3 x $50
Sandra-Lee Bryant, Pirongia NZ; Christine Scattergood, Beerwah Qld; Wendy Wilkins, Auckland NZ.

SUPER - CONTEST 3
3 x $50
Brenda Melling, Campbelltown NSW; Len Watson, West Ipswich Qld; Karin Westin, Allambie Heights NSW.

ADDOKU – CONTEST 4
3 x $50
Jenny-Lee Fussell, Port Kennedy WA; Thomas Jennings, Lithgow NSW; Esther Morgan, Moonan Flat NSW.

10 x $50
Kathryn Bennett, Auckland NZ; Colleen Hall, Mt Maunganui NZ; Margaret Hymus, Ashmore Qld; Janice Jones, Stratford NZ; Margaret Mitchell, Pakenham Vic; Rosina Parsons, East Maitland NSW; John Pryke, Benowa Waters Qld; Bryan Symonds, Warradale SA; Delories Upcroft, Robina Qld; Janeene Wolfe, Kipparing Qld.

THE DEMON
Retro Digital Radio
Fiona Thoms, Bexley NSW.

2 Collins World Atlases
Pat Blitvic, Mellons Bay NZ; Gaylene Nichols, Glenorchy Tas.

GOLIATHON
2 Digital Cameras
Beverley Ralph, Kirrawee NSW; Clare Winch, Rosny Tas.

4 x $25
Grace Mason, Tinonee NSW; Connie Salakas, Kingsgrove NSW; Elaine Stehbens, Kepnock Qld; Lynette Trevillien, Mudgee NSW.

CONTEST COUPON

BIG EASY
Sol: Pleasure Trip
2 Twinings Tea Chests
Gwen Davis, Bourke NSW; Deborah Norris, Bellerive Tas.

NINESIES
Sol: Atomise
4 x $25
Mary Doolan, Woden ACT; Sandra Garratt, Seaton SA; Lou Jarvis, Waikouaiti NZ; Julie Waterhouse, Cranebrook NSW.

WHEEL WORDS
Sol: Punctuate
4 MOR Argan Oil Hand Creams
Shirley Harrington, Kaiapoi NZ; Jean McCabe, Sunbury Vic; Marcia Richards, East Doncaster Vic; Maxine Robinson, Camillo WA.

ELEVENSES
Sol: Forecast
4 x $25
Vel Burke, Junction Hill NSW; Judith Clarke, Leeton NSW; Denise Grant, Vermont South Vic; Patricia John, Morley WA.

WIZ WORDS
Sol: Sparkler
10 Macquarie Dictionary & Thesaurus Packs
Phil & Alice Adrian, Auckland NZ; Audrey Arnold, Kedron Qld; Elaine Briggs, Bullsbrook WA; Ian Goodwin, Sofala NSW; Anthony Millane, Sale Vic; Glenda O’Mullane, Moree NSW; Mary Pennell, Blayney NSW; Del Ritchie, North Rockhampton Qld; Elva Stevens, Mannering Park NSW; Merle York, Mildura Vic.

TWO-WAY TEASER
Sol: Imaginatively
Sony Micro Hi-Fi
Sarah Hunt, Kempsey NSW.

CONCEPT-CROSS
Sol: Colossus
2 Norah Jones CDs
Maryanne McQuillan, Ulladulla NSW; Brad Pearson, Callala Beach NSW.

ACROSTIC
Sol: Battle of Trafalgar
4 Lucky You Prize Packs
Helen McBride, Elizabeth East SA; M Nixon, Sherwood Qld; Violet Scotson, Mulgrave Vic; Kevin & Eileen Thomas, Victoria Point Qld.

DO YOUR BLOCK
Sol: Surprise
4 x $25
Coral Bourke, Donvale Vic; Mary Emanuel, Glendenning NSW; Lynette Nicholls, Wycheproof Vic; Glenda Wait, Angaston SA.

FILL-IN
Sol: Treats
4 Rainy Day Prize Packs
Deborah Barron, Timaru NZ; Zanette Kane, Christchurch NZ; Marilyn Syme, Glynde SA; Judy White, Kilcoy Qld.

SKELETON
Sol: Beast
2 DVDS: Dumbo Special Edition
Colin Morgan, Gurley NSW; Pat O’Sullivan, Yowie Bay NSW.

STARHUNT 5
Sol: Hayley Mills
4 Out & About Prize Packs
Margaret Curtis, Portarlington Vic; Jo Farrell, N Willoughby NSW; Gordon Morris, Townsville Qld; E Saunders, Invercargill NZ.

STARHUNT 6
Sol: Errol Flynn
4 x $25
Janice Brooks, Maryborough Vic; Sharne Hindmarsh, Harvey WA; Margaret Hyde, Padbury WA; Teri Robertson, Rockhampton Qld.

STARHUNT 7
Sol: Oprah Winfrey
4 Lovatts Aprons & Tea Towel Sets
Terrie Ahern, Bacchus Marsh Vic; May Hedges, Invercargill NZ; Robert Kelso, Forestdale Qld; Barbara Schobben, Burwood East Vic.

STARHUNT 8
Sol: Michael Keaton
4 x $25
Joy Hearn, Albany WA; Terri-Anne Marrinan, Windsor Qld; Maxine Murray, Kianga NSW; Vicki Woods, Norwood Tas.

BIG TOUGHER
Sol: European Escape
2 Bradford’s Dictionaries
William Blair-Quigg, Caboolture Qld; Marco Pietrangeli, Beeliar WA.

FINDAWORD
Sol: Your Expert Travel Director
5 Staedtler Prize Packs
Cathy Cox, Glengowrie SA; Judith Haskins, Parkdale Vic; Dianne Horne, Dongara WA; Lena Mifsud, Illawong NSW; Phyllis Wyatt, Howrah Tas;

10 x $50
Ian Bean, Bentleigh East Vic; Christine Casey, Milsons Point NSW; Sandra Gray, Loxton SA; Robyn Hopson, Vincentia NSW; Bruce Little, Bli Bli Qld; Peter Mole, Busselton WA; Brenda Mountford, Kalamunda WA; Audrey O’Grady, Tweed Heads South NSW; Margaret O’Neill, Narara NSW; Anne Thomas, Joondalup WA.

MEGA MIX
Portable DVD Player
W Ford, West Coburg.

5 x $50
Lois Lade, Ayr Qld; Michelle Slee, Glen Innes NSW; Helen Walker, Rangiora NZ; Peta Wendt, Heathridge WA; Valmae Weston, Pimlico Qld.

MEGA STINKER
Apple iPod Nano
Linda Williams, Boronia Vic.

3 x $100
Albert Dawson, Richmond NSW; Robin Ellis, Nedlands WA; Helyn Ovens, Kirrawee NSW.

TOUGHER – CONTEST 2
2 x $50
Connie Adams, Katoomba NSW; Toni Osborn, Auckland NZ.

GENIUS – CONTEST 3
2 x $100
Graeme Barnett, South Launceston Tas; Robyn Rennie, Rolleston NZ.

THE X FACTOR – CONTEST 4
2 x $50
Libby Hassall, Sutherland NSW; Ruth de Malmanche, Feilding NZ.

10 x $50
Lesley Gleeson, Glenmore Park NSW; Bernadette Harty, Montville Qld; Dot Knight, Christchurch NZ; Anne McVay, Sadleir NSW; Karen-Anne Ng, Reynella SA; Win Peterson, Cobdogla SA; Felicity Qualmann, Alice Springs NT; Shirley Richards, Glendale NSW; Alison Trapp, Crows Nest Qld; Ron Twine, Sumner, Christchurch NZ.

Hotel Echo Lima Lima Oscar

Reader Charlie McMahon recently wrote to query our clue ‘Pilot’s code for J’ – answer JULIET. He felt the answer should be JULIETT, to conform with his understanding of the International Phonetic Alphabet.
I looked into this and found that he’s right – but so are we. It’s spelled both ways, according to the Collins dictionary. The double T is because French speakers may otherwise treat a single final T as silent – Joo-lee-ay. And after all, the way the word is pronounced is what it’s all about.

The Phonetic Alphabet used by pilots was created in 1947 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, known as ICAO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, to avoid misunderstandings among different language speakers piloting planes.

The Collins dictionary also has alternative spellings for A. It can be spelled Alfa or Alpha, as speakers of some languages may not know that ph is pronounced as F.

All in all, there are five boys’ names – Charlie, Mike, Oscar, Romeo and Victor, one girl’s name – Juliet, four place names – India, Lima, Quebec and Sierra, two nationalities – Yankee and Zulu and two dances – Foxtrot and Tango. The remaining words are common English words that are easy to pick up even on a crackly radio.

The final choice of code words for the letters were not just chosen at random. The decisions were made after hundreds of thousands of comprehension tests involving 31 nationalities.

Orson Welles once wrote “There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror”

Can you write the highlighted words in code? (Answers below)

Happy Puzzling!

Boredom: Bravo Oscar Romeo Echo Delta Oscar Mike; Terror: Tango Echo Romeo Romeo Oscar Romeo.

CHRISTINE’S HELLO appears every month in Christine’s BIG Crossword magazine.
» More info here

The arrow to the starting letter should be pointed at the top S and not the bottom S.

Thank you to Vern Daw of Wycombe, WA  for alerting us to this error.

5 x $50
Ross Angus, Waipawa NZ; Linden Barton, Wellington NZ; Glennis Brown, Moe Vic; Lynne Gordon, Armidale NSW; Heather Warwick, Greenhill NSW.

MONSTER MAXI
MONSTER PRIZE POOL
$1,000
Natasha Martinov, Balga WA.

4 Kindle Fires
Christine Alsop, Victor Harbor SA; Gail Asplin, Engadine NSW; Lorraine Hume, Erskine WA; Laura Jones, Frankston Vic.

THE BAFFLER
Olympus Digital Camera
Ros Wilkinson, Evatt ACT.

5 x $50
Christina Beckett, Karratha WA; Rose Hooper, Mountain Creek Qld; Natasha Martinov, Balga WA; Michelle Slee, Glen Innes NSW; Stuart Wyllie, Karratha WA.

2 x $50
Susan Blayden, Cammeray NSW, Diane Hall, Bundaberg Qld.

MONSTER FINDAWORD
MONSTER PRIZE POOL
Sol: Kissing Your Sweetheart Under the Hanging Mistletoe
Natasha Martinov, Balga WA.

4 Kindle Fires
Christine Alsop, Victor Harbor SA; Gail Asplin, Engadine NSW; Lorraine Hume, Erskine WA; Laura Jones, Frankston Vic.

MATCH-UPS
Sol: New Years Resolutions
5 x $50
Dale Pearce, Woodanilling WA; Jorja Porta, Fig Vic; Natalie Sharkey, Logan Village Qld; Rodney Small, Whangarei NZ; Wendy Wilson, Moorooka Qld.

PHOTO-FIND
Sol: Long Hot Days
Sony Micro Hi-Fi System
Glynis Saggin, Montrose Vic.

SUPER STARHUNT
Sol: Kristen Wiig
5 x $50
Rose Batterbee, Rockingham WA; Leanne Murphy, Mangare East, Auckland NZ; Terry O’Brien, Barnsley NSW; Shirley Stokes, Sippy Downs Qld; Belinda Varoxis, Charlestown NSW.

MONSTER STARHUNT
MONSTER PRIZE POOL
Sol: Al Pacino
$1,000
Natasha Martinov, Balga WA.

4 Kindle Fires
Christine Alsop, Victor Harbor SA; Gail Asplin, Engadine NSW; Lorraine Hume, Erskine WA; Laura Jones, Frankston Vic.

SHOWTIME
Sol: Jennifer Aniston
Twinings 12 Compartment Tea Chest
Jean Chaplin, Golden Square Vic.

2 x $50
Judith Seivers, Carrum Downs Vic; Carol White, Gnowangerup WA.

First Prize - $100 Prize Cheque:
Lach Howarth

Runner-Up Prizes - $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers:
Marama Maaka, Margaret Sayer

THE X FACTOR – CONTEST 2
3 x $50
Rhonda Carroll, Narellan Vale NSW; Marie Hynds, Dapto NSW; Gordon Scutt, Redcliffe Qld.

SUPER - CONTEST 3
3 x $50
Vicki Crane, Manly Vale NSW; Joyce Strong, Caves Beach NSW; Andrew Walker, Bonython ACT.

ADDOKU – CONTEST 4
3 x $50
Patricia Drechsler, Gladstone Qld; Sandra Everest, Duncraig WA; Linda Winter, Okato NZ.

10 x $50
Betty Dewing, Beckenham WA; Sylvia Fletcher, Albany WA; Lorraine Forden, Cairns Qld; Fay French, Mayfield NSW; Anne Griffin, Berwick Vic; Diane Hamilton, Normandale, Lower Hutt NZ; Margaret McIntosh, East Maitland NSW; Elizabeth Muirhead, Beverley Park NSW; Bianca Munro, Wynyard Tas; Jill Robinson, Upper Burnie Tas.

THE DEMON
Olympus Digital Camera
Bianca Munro, Wynyard Tas.

2 Collins World Atlases
Michelle Bourne, Helensburgh NSW; Richard Sperring, Howrah Tas.

GOLIATHON
2 Wireless TV Listening Systems
Ann Geller, Elsternwick Vic; S J Willimott, Magill North SA.

4 x $25
Bev Carruthers, Seaford Vic; Patricia Downing, Port Pirie SA; Elaine Hollway, South Melbourne Vic; Linda White, Meadows SA.

CONTEST COUPON

BIG EASY
Sol: Romeo and Juliet
2 Bradford’s Dictionaries
B M Ehrich, Greenslopes Qld; Barbara Hedge, Armadale WA.

NINESIES
Sol: Sandpit
4 x $25
Maureen Atkin, Bribie Island Qld; Linda McGee, Berriedale Tas; Errol Nikolaison, Christchurch NZ; Graeme Simpson, Clifton Qld.

WHEEL WORDS
Sol: Primitive
4 Rainy Day Prize Packs
Mary Chambers, Dubbo East NSW; Rina Macor, Manunda Qld; Terry Moyle, Ellenbrook WA; Andre Othenin-Girard, Lismore Heights NSW.

ELEVENSES
Sol: Replenish
4 x $25
Libby Fischer, Hamilton NZ; Barbara Hathaway, Carterton NZ; Val Marwood, Calista WA; Elaine Pastok, Gepps Cross SA.

WIZ WORDS
Sol: Sunshine
10 Macquarie Dictionary & Thesaurus Packs
Patricia Atherton, Biggera Waters Qld; C Bennetts, Dubbo NSW; June Brown, Halls Head WA; Lorraine Fenton, Chifley NSW; Wendy Green, Bunbury WA; Dorothy Harris, Taihape NZ; Mary Harvey, Palmerston North NZ; Maxine Murray, Kianga NSW; J Sponner, Altona Green Vic; Maureen Weeks, Taupo NZ.

TWO-WAY TEASER
Sol: Dance at Night
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster Set
Linda Wallace, Laidley Qld.

CONCEPT-CROSS
Sol: Precious
2 John Farnham DVDs
Kathryn Giles, Langwarrin Vic; Margaret Hardcastle, Kilsyth Vic.

ACROSTIC
Sol: Terms of Endearment
4 Out & About Prize Packs
Neil Gardner, Marton NZ; Chris Macdonald, Kirwan Qld; Janice Moore, Healesville Vic; Gary Richardson, Tawa Wellington NZ.

DO YOUR BLOCK
Sol: Dearest
4 x $25
Harry Long, Mosgiel NZ; Toni Lynch, Nth Manly NSW; Kaye Murray, Sandstone Point Qld; Jens-Holger Pick, Katikati NZ.

FILL-IN
Sol: Cherub
4 Lovatts Apron & Tea Towel Sets
Emma Bond, Burnie Tas; Margaret McCreadie, Nth Mackay Qld; Marjorie Parker, Tewantin Qld; Stephanie Schilling, Quantong Vic.

SKELETON
Sol: Compact
2 CDs – The Essential Simon & Garfunkel
Helen Ablett, Highett Vic; Sue Hayes, Melbourne Vic.

STARHUNT 5
Sol: Iggy Pop
4 MOR Argan Oil Hand Creams
Margaret Bray, Tarwin Lower Vic; Cheryl Harper, Bellmere Qld; Una Hollier, Dalmeny NSW; Heather Vlug, Wellington NZ.

STARHUNT 6
Sol: Janis Joplin
4 x $25
Janice Bramwell, Wellers Hill Qld; Audrey Johannesen, Bundaberg Qld; Dallas Park, Carlisle WA; Louise Piazza, Kalgoorlie WA.

STARHUNT 7
Sol: Barbara Hershey
4 Lucky You Prize Packs
Rosemary Collins, Waikiki WA; Nanette Homan, Christchurch NZ; Klaus Stoecker, Lakemba NSW; Nancy Webb, Healesville Vic.

STARHUNT 8
Sol: Bill Murray
4 x $25
Noel Julian, New Lynn, Waitakere NZ; Lorna Moore, Glen Innes NSW; Elaine Moran, Casino NSW; Peta Wendt, Heathridge WA.

BIG TOUGHER
Sol: A Fine Romance
2 Twinings Tea Chests
Jil Gallagher, Pymble NSW; Margaret Naylor, Buff Point NSW.

FINDAWORD
Sol: Small Group Sightseeing
5 Staedtler Prize Packs
Stuart Cowan, Nambour Qld; Margaret Hart, Beulah Vic; Lorna Higgs, Carina Heights Qld; M Kelly, Lesmurdie WA; Bob Organ, Mt Gravatt Qld.