EV 953 Anniversary by Oxymoron

[DocHH]

Hello EV N&Cing Wine Clubbers,
No need to resort to searching for Anniversaries for this EV, it was "hidden in clear view"! The setter, MrO, aka as Devadolly's nemesis, has constructed some quite challenging, but clever clues. I always have trouble getting my head around clues that need either a letter or a word being removed before so;ving the clue! Time for a preprandial tipple!

[dr b]

Hola DocHH. An enjoyable grid fill, I daresay, with the 33 thematic letters in place and the anniversary identified. How to draw 12 lines through the 33 letters has yet to dawn on me, but I will set it aside for a few minutes.

Super Bowl Sunday here in the Hew Hess of Hay!! 5:30 pm is approaching very, very slowly. Does this event get any coverage in the UK?

[dr b]

And, the light dawns. Go Steelers!

[DocHH]

dr b,
I started by putting lines through the lights that contained the thematic letters which were contiguous, then it seemed to fall into place!
I don't have a TV here, herself does at the flat in London, but not something she would watch. Haviing consulted Seven, the ST mag, Superbowl, live, is on BBC 1 at 22.55, kick-off(?) at 23.25, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers!

[devadolly]

Hello Doc's HH & b, no Superbowl on ordinary TV (I don't think) drb, we are all glued to the 6 Nations for the next few weeks, a lot of shouting during the England/Wales match but we thought a good game and the score went down well in our house. Could be a few sharp words during the Calcutta Cup match though.................
Yes I did groan DocHH but have been very brave and had one go at it, have had to spend most of the day 'mucking out' under the stairs so they can come and put new 'smart' electric meters in tomorrow, just hope they are smart enough to work properly! As you say the Anniversary does rather grast one by the throat but the clues are not easy, I'll get the Ginger Mog and a suitable tincture and have another go later. How's your weather? It's been pouring down for two days and the sheep are not happy!

[DocHH]

Devadolly, Unless your copy of Seven is different to my Southern one Superbowl is on BBC 1. Weather here for the past few days have not been too rainy, drizzly at times, but quite windy/gusty with the wind howling down the chimney and trees clattering about!
dr b, Devadolly and I went to an "establishment" that had a section that had a strong leaning to rugby, which probably accounts for the shouting at the TV chez-DD.

[slaney]

Hello all - I did enjoy this one - not one of Oxymoron's more difficult ones Devadolly, so take heart. I've still a few outstanding wordplays to get though.

Managed to miss Ronan O'Gara's winning drop goal, as I had walked out of the room in despair!

[Jogler]

American Football (as we quaintly call it) has been fairly well covered as a minority sport for several decades over here. In fact our eldest (who is now approaching his middle thirties) used to know all the facts in his pre-teenage years. The only drawback is the time difference which has prevented it from becoming more widely appreciated. I am afraid that, on balance, we are Go Packers but only because himself used to work with a number of people from Green Bay. We are diehard Bills fans.... die being the appropriate part of this phrase (Best In League at Losing Superbowls). We will probably not catch the action tonight having been up in the early hours for the cricket (bah humbug); but I will be searching out the half time ads in due course! Oh, and Slaney, I missed it too having picked up the phone to exclaim to that same eldest... 'did you see that try'?

[devadolly]

Oh dear! Sorry folks didn't mean to offend, just have no knowledge of Am football, the rules defeat me even more than soccer. Was brought up on cricket and then developed a liking for RL in my teenage years which was then converted (sic) to RU whilst at the 'establishment' - did you go to the St Lukes matches Doc? You will have to run a seminar drb!
Am just going to order a new copy of the ODQ as am sick of not having the correct quotes in my very odd revised 4th ed. Will then tentetively advance on Mr O again.

[DocHH]

Devadolly, St Lukes? too busy in the Towers!

[Jogler]

oops! Didn't intend to tread on your toes Dd - just spouted out the product of living with a sports junkie :(. If you ask me whether there is anything else on the tv I would have to bow to your knowledge as there is certainly nothing else on ours!

[AndrewG-S]

Evening all. Don't think I will be watching the SB as I am a bit late night cricketed out - with not a lot to show for it since the end of the ashes. Grid filled and anniversary identified but don't have the lines yet - maybe some Rioja will help, although it never has in the past.

[AndrewG-S]

The Rioja worked a treat, nice finish (to both I suppose)

[AndrewG-S]

With the spectre of SuperBowl raised here I did put it on the radio (five live) when I turned in rather than my usual Radio 4. The only part I really felt I followed was an injury, for the rest of the time I was pretty unclear about which team had the ball. Unfortunately I dozed off before the end, even though at that time I think the Steelers had edged ahead of the Packers, having been well behind for some time. I never did hear the final result.

[devadolly]

I don't think there is anything on anybody's TV Jogler! Judging by the latest posts I think drb and others in the know neeed to give a seminar on the nuances of SB for those of us not. I've worked out why I didn't know about the showing on our TV....well past my bedtime. Have got on quite well (considering it's Mr O) but am totally confused about the line-drawing, I think the howling gale has blown the remaining brain-cells adrift.

[dr b]

Alas, it must have been a dream, Andrew, as the Packers led the entire way and won 31-25. It was an exciting (if not particularly well-played) game, anyway.

[kayakamina]

I stayed up and watched the first quarter which was so dull I switched off.

Although a lifelong Rugby Union fan, I briefly flirted with NFL in the early 80's when I was living in the Bay Area of San Francisco. The 49's then, (Joe Montana et al) swept all before them.

[AndrewG-S]

drb that is odd, I could have sworn someone was 14-0 down, but then turned it around to go ahead. As you say I must have either dreamt it or had an even worse understanding of the game than I thought.

[Jogler]

We watched the first quarter before succumbing to Lethe The Muse of Forgetfulness must have been upon us as we thought it pretty exciting, Kayakamina; but maybe watching years and years of Monday night football has blunted our ability to make judgements...

[dr b]

I would agree that the first quarter was poor, since Pittsburgh was using the rarely-successful "come out and play terribly" gambit. The second half had a bit more drama but there's no way you can turn the ball over three times, as the Steelers did, and hope to win.

(Apologies to those for whom "turn the ball over three times" is as meaningless as "He took the key wicket when he removed Jonathan Trott, England’s banker in this series, who went looking for third man but found slip instead" is to me.)

[dr b]

Also, I have decided to get an avatar. Isn't it grand?