Gosh, as they say, sometimes a blank is just a blank. (Should be obvious now, no? :-) )

Lucian freud?

And the grandfather's first name?

Siggy to his mates

I almost want to disqualify you for fear of the clues you'll give us. :-)

But anyway, you can give us the next clue.

(Obviously the first name is Sigmund.)

Okay - hang on a mo - need to take my socks off to aid counting....

=D> wombat!

I don't think I should play this game on a Monday. Somehow my brain doesn't work, no matter how much coffee I have.

111op- I'm not a fan of the Chinatown bus, esp the Phila-NYC route. It is unbelievably cheap, but my parents had a bad experience with them once and we all vow not to take them anymore. Here is an article in the Philadelphia inquirer, a bit dated:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2...al/7371921.htm

If you want an economical way to get to Philadelphia, you can take NJTransit from Penn Station to Trenton, then at Trenton change for SEPTA to Phila. I've done that trip many times, which costs <$25 r/t, but takes 2 1/2 hrs each way.

I am looking for the name of a place three words 4,2,3 (yes place is in Europe!)

The place has a large example of something which it is claimed is the largest in Europe. It was named in honour of the wife of the Governor of the place. Name the Governor?s wife and indeed the object. Two words 4, 8 (first word begins in 'L' from Lucian)

Finally I am looking for the place's motto three words, 9,7,6

wombat- I was bracing myself for another obscure clue, but I guess not this time!

Isle of Man
Lady Isabella (largest water wheel)
Quocunque Jeceris Stabit

Indeed - am impressed by the speed - your turn

Wow. I'm impressed too -- I'm behind in work so no time to Google clues at the moment. :-)

"gobsmacked" came to mind

I'm sure this thread will go much slower if there weren't google.

Here's the next clue:
He is a very popular "product designer" of our times. Chances are you own objects which are designed by him. He is half-european, half-african (actual nationality withheld to make the clue less obvious). His brother, who is less famous, is an architect by trade. He and his partner named their company after a mathematical term describing a line that approaches a given curve without meeting it.

The designer brother: 5,6
The architect brother: 4,6
Obviously, they have the same last name. "a" is the 2nd letter of both their first names & their last name.
The architect brother's firm: one word, 9 letters starting with "A".
"A" taken from Isabella.

Karim Rashid
Hani Rashid
asymptote

Correct! Back to you, wombat!

I guessed the firm right away because of my training.

Asymptote

Karim + Hani Rashid

Looks very interesting -- will have to explore later because *I don't have time right now.* :-)

Oh well, too late.

For me no training. All down to Mr Google

Connect Thomas Page to Ullswater though this person two words 7, 10. last letter of last name H from Rashid.

Really? It was pretty easy for me because I started with "Asymptote architect." But I started much later, I guess. Oh well.