Jigsaw 18, Series 3

The Foppa, advertised at reference 1, was started just over a week ago, on Sunday 29th. First step, as nearly always, to pull the edge pieces out from the heap, turning the balance the right way up on the way. A figurative heap that is, with all the unused pieces spread out on the card table. The growing puzzle is on the drawing board, as snapped above.

The edge was completed by Monday afternoon, and I was pleased to have missed only two pieces of edge on the first pass. Last two easy enough to spot in the heap, as I now knew more about what I was looking for. But I did wonder how long it would take to adjust to the muted palette - the answer being most of the time it took to complete the puzzle, which made things much harder.

The next step was to have a go at red, gradually pulling all the red that I could find from the heap. This worked fairly well, assembling into a number of fragments of various sizes, spread across the middle of the puzzle.

Next tried for various bits of trim: belts, collars and harness. Plus faces. This did not work so well, so expanded the scope to the central figures more generally. Not yet paying much attention to the shape of the pieces.

Using the good light of Wednesday morning, another push on the remaining red. Made a start on the blue. Electric light not good, mainly because of reflection from the pieces rather than because of distortion of their colour.

By Thursday, the central figures were near complete, but the heap was still too big just to be able to pull the missing pieces out. So made a start on the masonry, top left. Made some serious progress on same on the good light of Friday morning, now making some use of the shape of the pieces. But nothing like as much on the big blocks of green and brown on the previous puzzle.

By Saturday morning nearly there, although there were lots of small holes. But I had got to the point where I could just pull a piece from the heap and place it. So all done before lunch. Just about a week after the off.

Not sure what comes next. I have a nasty feeling that my remaining master works come in at 1,000 pieces which is more than I want just presently. Plus, one needs to erect the trestle table to do them in any comfort - which is not presently convenient either. Maybe I will go and see the real thing instead, not having been to the National Gallery for some time now.

PS: just got my revenge for losing at Scrabble yesterday, contriving to leave BH with Z, Q, J and a U in her hand when I went out - converting the a comfortable lead to a commanding lead with a penalty of 58 points. Not very sporting, but it's winning wot counts.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2023/01/jigsaw-17-series-3.html.