Enigmatic Variations - N0 1600 - Count By Proximal

[Matakari]

Good morning, an original approach here as far as reinstatement of letters are concerned. Juggling with letters is not my bag of tea, but I’m keen to learn the technique. Some assistance with the following would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

( A letter must be reinstated in each of 43 clues. The same letter that has been reinstated must replace one of the letters in the answer before entry. In clue order, the original letters which have been replaced spell out what should replace two entries. Word COUNT refers to answers; all entries are real words or phrases at every stage. Chambers Dictionary ( 2016 ) is recommended. )


30a Avid daughter of bodyguard one digs ( 5 ) : ???O?
42a Pug starts to ingest elastic and rubber ( 5 ): ????L?
1d Diving off short elevated platform having consumed French wine ( 7 ) : ?HA?A??
3d Perhaps like governess having primates ( 4 ) : ?LI?
29d Extreme nonsense about editor led to hatred ( 6 ): ???H?T
33d Frenchman with ails of particular type ( 5 ) : ??T?E

[ProfessorMaisie]

30a ''av(o)id'' - the 'd' from MINdER, then change a letter for the entry.

[ProfessorMaisie]

42a ''p(l)ug'' = BUNG+I+E - then change a letter...

[ProfessorMaisie]

1d ''d(r)iving off'' is the def for an obscure word - STAVING - (VIN inside STAG[e] = 'elevated platform') then change a letter...

[ProfessorMaisie]

3d ''ha(l)ving'' PRIM(ates) - then change...

[ProfessorMaisie]

29d ''le(a)d to'' 'H(atred)' [inside] ROT [around] ED = REDHOT - then change...

[ProfessorMaisie]

33d ''(t)ails'' of 'particulaR typE' after AND for 'with' - then change...

[ProfessorMaisie]

The letter in brackets in each double-quotes word [ie the 'o' in ''av(o)id''] is the letter that replaces the original answer (eg the grid entry is MINOR for 'miner').

[Matakari]

Many thanks, ProfessorMaisie, I was about to ask you for an example as to how to determine the letter that replaces the original answer for 29d (REDHOT) which I got. Your explanation for 30a helps a great deal. Now, according to the preamble, six clues are not affected by the letter replacement. Am I right in suggesting that they are the following? 13a ARIDNESS, 24a STENO, 40a THERIACA,
43a CORE TIMES, 21d ZINE, 31d ORACLE

[Neveracrossword]

No, Matakari, only two of those are correct - 13 A and 31 D.

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, Matakari, 'correct' as in 'not affected by the...'.

[Loki2034]

Anyone help me with 8d ? I have loa? And the letter to replace is an o. I can’t seem to work out the letter to be reinstated.Thanks.

[Neveracrossword]

Loaki, the A you have in your word is the one needed at the start of a word in the clue, so it's altered the answer to the clue itself. There's a six-letter 'shallow lake' which loses two letters to give a diving bird.

[Loki2034]

Thanks Neveracrossword.

[Neveracrossword]

Loki..., thanks. Because of the various things we have to do with each clue, it's tricky to give hints!

Matakari, I hope you're forging ahead now that you have understood the technique involved?

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW! What's wrong with the other answers? I assume now that 8d is one that is not affected by the letter change. If so, what are the other three clues that fall in this category? It's getting more and more intriguing!

[JJ109]

Matakari 8d is affected by the letter change. The answer changes an O to an A!

[JJ109]

24a Should read US tyist Kirsten on hol(d)s

[JJ109]

40a I reach at (s)pongy old antidote
43a Un(f)it cites more fixed working hours
21d E(v)ery head of zombieis nastily embellishing secialist publication

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I added the earlier correction straight away to clarify things. You asked if you were correct in the 6 answers that didn't involve changes- and I said no, you had only two. I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough for you!

[Matakari]

Many thanks, JJ109! This all looks like magic to me. Before I abandon, let’s take the example of 40a.
I got an anagram “I reach at”=THERIACA. Now, how do we know that ( S ) is the letter to be reinstated? And what word should now go into the grid?
40 I reach at pongy old antidote ( 8 ) THERIACA
40a I reach at (s)pongy old antidote