Enigmatic Variations 951

[AndrewG-S]

Finding this one tough going. Amendments to the clue entries makes this virtually a cold-solve in many respects. I am down to the last 5 clues, but have been stuck for a while. I guess the lack of posting means others are in a similar position.

[Christiana]

Hello Andrew. Certainly that applies to me. I set off at a great lick and thought I was going to sail through it, but really having to think about the last few. As you say, virtually a cold solve. Will keep on plodding, though

[AndrewG-S]

Hi, good to know I have some company with an unfinished grid! I have 2d, 18a, 22d, 25d and 13a left. Do you have a similar list?

[dr b]

I'm in the same boat; not helping that I'm trying to watch a football game while looking at this. I need 22, 25, 29d as well as 36a.

[Christiana]

Interesting! I have, like you, 25d and 13a to do, but have the others you mention (I think)
plus 1d, 11a, 28a, 30d. I've had a couple of hours away from it so will now return to the fray.

[AndrewG-S]

Anyone wanting to swap some answers drop me a mail on [email protected], I am done with trying to figure out the last few!

[dr b]

All sorted, Andrew, email me for some hints.

[Christiana]

Will persist for a while yet, but may yet come back to you. Bed now, maybe light will shine in the morning.

[devadolly]

Good Morning All. Why are we here instead of in Xwords under EV 951? Don't confuse me more than usual. I'm glad everyone else is finding it a bit taxing, like you Christina, set off well and then have got all confused by which and how many letters change - nasty little bracketed 's' in the preamble! We all seem to have some the same and some different, will plod for a bit longer, tho' I have to say the paper is getting a bit tatty with all the rubbing out. What's the definition of extreme arrogance?

Doing the EV in ink!

[slaney]

'Morning all.
I had to have a few attempts to finish this yesterday, as I kept on losing interest and wandering off.
Definitely one for the pencil!

[AndrewG-S]

Sorry DD for putting us in the wrong place - where are we Quizzes and Puzzles? Is there a Tedious EndGames section as this is where the puzzle should be. Changing letters without some thematic connection between the new letters or some hidden message is a bit lame, unless I have missed something?

[slaney]

I agree - not a lot of fun.
However, the weekend Inquisitor more than made up for it!

[copelander]

What a thoroughly annoying puzzle, and as you said, Slaney, in complete contrast to Saturday's Inquisitor. I think I will leave my impenetrable last three unsolved clues (18A, 2d, and25D ) and come back to it after work tomorrow.

[devadolly]

It's no good! Can someone give me a heavy hint (or even two+) 11a, 18a, 37a,2d & 5d are driving me potty! It'snot a very satisfying puzzle is it?

[bellabee]

11 ac of a disease passed from mad dogs - 18ac the espresso part is with milk

[bellabee]

37ac is a not very fast earth burrower - 2dn is very obscure on all levels but the vagrant part is 'landloper' [can't think of a way of hinting at this one i'm afraid it has to be this obvious]

[bellabee]

5dn is the usual old uncle with [rather than spenser's beast] the french beast on the outside.

[bellabee]

sorry - that last one is a spenserian word in its entirety.

[bellabee]

although i seem to be in a minority of 1 here i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed this - i thought it was the toughest xword this week [though inquisitor was a pretty good challenge too] - i liked the way there were always 2 or 3 options at least whenever you had to guess the modified word which i thought showed great skill in setting - so you had to crack every clue in the end. good xwording fun really but no deep theme that i can find - which is a pity because i'm sure one could have been 'manufactured'.

[DocHH]

Hello everyone,
Eventually found you here in Q&P after being redirected, courtesy of BigDave! I have been somewhat pre-occupied since the weekend, so didn't start until yesterday evening, and was recording today!
As did others, I found it quite tedious, and absolutely agree with AndrewG-S, it would have been more interesting if the exchanged letters actually meant something! I had to do some careful counting to resolve the possiblity of not having "half and half", particularly considering the intersection of 22d and 34a!
Somehow, not doing EV on a sunday seems, well, not quite right!
Devadolly, I liked your definition of extreme arrogance, but in actual fact have propelling pencil which is dedicated solely for use on EV and Speccie!

[Shoni70]

Can anybody please give me some very broad hints about the answer to 28a :

Elevated rope on east bell (8)