2. Lockhole (Pain in the neck is sometimes refered to as locked neck and empty = hole)

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
2. Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
3. By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
4. And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
5. Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
6. Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
7. Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
8. And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

Not Lockhole (or more correctly Lockholes).

Is the theme correct, at least?

Yes - I said so!

2. Needlehole (Needle=pain in the neck, hole = empty)

Password: Norbourne

No and no.

3. Bagshot Row (row = paddle, shot = prick)

Eight letter word beginning with N......

Password: Northway

3. Bywater (bread and water)

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
2. Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
BYWATER: By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
4. And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
5. Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
6. Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
7. Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
8. And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

Password: Nobottle

(just because it's the neatest placename in the Shire)

2: Crickhollow

And 6 could well be Bag End, since Bilbo was the noted purveyor of yarns

I would have gotten it too, if it weren't for my internet connection dying out on me....:mad:

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
CRICKHOLLOW: Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
BYWATER: By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
???O???: And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
???T???: Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
???T???: Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
???L???: Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
???E???: And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

Yes - you get a CRICK in your neck, and HOLLOW means empty.

You're right about the 'tall' (but not really) stories being Bilbo's, but Bag End does not have a T. :D

I cri everytime......



Oh, well, I will get it next time, count on it.

I am half-compelled to just steal the turn like William did, for this very reason, decorum be damned.....

If for no other reason than because I now have a dangerous combination of being bored and mad that I was cheated of getting it by my brief loss of connection.

STEAL THE TURN! MAY THE OTHERS LOSE IT! - Feanor

Come on. William didn't know the rules and made an honest mistake. He would have yielded the turn to me, but I said I didn't mind. And I kind of stole the last password turn from him anyway, albeit 'legally.'

Oh well

Hello Lomion, my old friend. At least I'll always have you right next to me.

I thought Riddles In The Downs was very active?

You could revive 'Tolkien Dozen' if you can think of a new category.

OK, the "tall" bit implies THE HILL.

7 Needlehole?

Geez! I am away for a day and I miss a password and a half! That was quick work!


Or if Bilbo was the right person, it could be HOBBITON.

8. Great Smials ("big smiles")

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
CRICKHOLLOW: Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
BYWATER: By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
???O???: And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
???T???: Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
HOBBITON: Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
???L???: Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
GREAT SMIALS: And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

A modest verse in rhyming couplets, to be sung to the tune of 'Sing a Song of Sixpence.'

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

Needlehole was a good guess, but not the answer I'm looking for.

I suspect that Huinesoron knows them all but is holding back. ;)

THISTLE BROOK for #7?

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
CRICKHOLLOW: Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
BYWATER: By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
???O???: And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
???T???: Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
HOBBITON: Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
THISTLEBROOK: Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
GREAT SMIALS: And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

A modest verse in rhyming couplets, to be sung to the tune of 'Sing a Song of Sixpence.'

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

By hob-nobs, are you referring to the English cookie brand?

Yes.

(I believe Gollum has been known to share them with orcs as well. Dipped in a nice cup of Darjeeling).

By the way, the red letter could fall anywhere in the remaining answers. ??? is to indicate that there's no pattern.

That's really very culturally specific; I don't think I'd know about them but for having lived there

It would have to be OATBARTON; Hob-nobs are largely oatmeal, and -barton is archaic "farm"

BRANDY HALL: Sing a song of Tolkien: strong’s the spirit here!
CRICKHOLLOW: Pain in neck and empty? Nomenclature is queer.
BYWATER: By this may you live, since it’s not by bread alone –
OATBARTON: And here’s a place where (fancifully) hob-nobs could be grown.
???T???: Here’s the way that you must serve a tennis ball,
HOBBITON: Here dwelt one whose stories, (many thought), were tall.
THISTLEBROOK: Here have fun and paddle, but do not prick your toes -
GREAT SMIALS: And here big grins abound, they say, and none are lachrymose!

A modest verse in rhyming couplets, to be sung to the tune of 'Sing a Song of Sixpence.'

THEME: SHIRE LOCATIONS

I have encountered elements not used in the UK in this thread, too. Google is our friend! ;)

'Barton' is indeed an archaic word for a farmyard. 'In the lonely barton by yonder coomb / Our childhood used to know' (Thomas Hardy, 'The Oxen.') Oatbarton suggests a field/farmyard where oats are grown. But a hobnob tree just seemed like a fun (though fanciful) idea. :D They are oaty biscuits, after all ....

(I was possibly hungry when I wrote the clue). ;)

One to go!

Shame there's no place in the Shire named "Overnet"

Quick Post?

No.

There may be an element in the clue that you are overlooking.

You mean 'way' part?

Then it's Causeway or Northway.