Having A Puzzle Friend Is Essential

I Need My Lunch By Idan Shvartz

Last week I mentioned how I had suddenly started to make progress on Idan's amazing INML puzzle after many weeks of attempting to do the same thing over and over again. Having gotten started on it, at various intervals during my work, I found myself stalled with no obvious way forward and at least once, no way back either.

At this point, I have to extoll the virtue of having a puzzle friend. Either someone who has done it before or as I have done many times in the past, someone (Shane) who simultaneously solves it and we help each other along. With this puzzle, I had the company of Dominic Spadone who was the one who initially recommended Idan's puzzles to me. The wonderful thing with solving this puzzle with Dominic in the background was that he knew all the pitfalls and was able to give hints that really were barely hints. Looking through the email chain, I can actually see that he barely said anything at all. The main feature of a good clue giver is someone who can just remind you to look where you've already looked, he doesn't tell you to do anything just a hint to focus somewhere. I am vey grateful for this support because I still feel like I have actually solved the puzzle myself but not gone off on some awful tangent for too long or done something damaging to the puzzle.

At the end of last week's post, I had found the first part of my lunch and had gotten stuck at that point. I didn't know what I had actually done to get it and actually wasn't sure where it had come from. More worrying, I found myself unable to backtrack. Initially this had been a source of stress until I went back and re-read the instructions that Idan had given me. He said that 

"Resetting the puzzle is another piece in itself as part of the overall solution of the puzzle". 

This made me realise that the reset was not going to be just a matter of reversing what I had already done. I could continue toward on it in the knowledge I was getting myself further and further in the "proverbial sh1t" but there would be a way to puzzle my way out of it.

I was presented with a pair of large holes and a new tool. A quick think© again and I was on my way. More pieces were coming out and more places to stick things. Looking at the puzzle, I knew with certainty what I needed to eventually do but I was a long way from being able to achieve it. I got stuck again and after another chat with Dominic, I was encouraged to look at a part of the puzzle that I had so far more or less ignored. I had noticed something odd about it way back at the beginning of the odyssey but there was nothing I could do with it. Now, though, I had a new tool and a new set of possibilities. This time I had to think about several tools at once and a little dexterity had me the very thing I was hoping for. Time to push it into the puzzle to get my reward... NOOOOO! It wouldn't do what I wanted. Aargh! There was a teeny tiny bit of movement but something was locking it up. Think© again you eeejit!

I could see a potential locking mechanism but had no way to get to it. Or did I? What if I try this??? Nope! Blocked again. What was blocking it? This puzzle keeps you searching and thinking at every single step. So much stuff has been crammed into one very diminutive shell. I quickly manipulated the block and started using my tool to remove the blockage. Ooh! I needed a second tool and then a third before using my fourth tool at the same time, I had the next stage open. 

LUNCH IS SERVED! There's no clue behind the button but the aim of the challenge can be seen.

All that effort for a beer and a sandwich!

Having whooped with delight at getting my lunch, I turned to resting the damned thing. I had upset Mrs S by using one of her Tupperware containers to hold all the parts - there were 16 separate parts plus a whole bunch of loose bits within the main body of the puzzle. It was going to be one hell of a job getting this thing back to the beginning. Especially as several of the moves didn't seem to be reversible. At one point during the solution the obvious dovetail had been slid but was now locked open. Nothing seemed to allow me to reverse what I had done so it was obviously I had to look harder. The piece that I needed was very very well hidden but once I had it, there were a number of things I could do with it. Only one of which got me anywhere. I got stuck thinking the wrong thing after that and Dominic came to my rescue yet again. No need to tell me what to do - another of his skilful hints about how to think what might be possible with my current configuration and all of a sudden I was back on the correct path.

My goodness! That first part of the reset was very clever! Idan is another genius like Derek. I am amazed yet again. After that clever move the reset is partly a matter of remembering what pieces came out of which hole and also remembering what order they had been released to me. Luckily I had taken extensive notes and I was back at the beginning in about 15 minutes.

A repeat solve showed that I did understand it and I took my photo of all the parts that could be released from the puzzle. No I am not going to publish it for general viewing.

So much packed into one small package!

Idan has an incredible puzzle brain! This is one of the best puzzles I have ever solved - it is very rare for me to write about the same puzzle twice in a row! It will be at the top (or close to it) of my top ten(ish) of 2026. I can't wait to see what he manages to produce next. If you get a chance to own or even just play with this puzzle then jump at the chance!

Thank you, Dominic, for recommending this puzzle enhancing my experience so significantly.