EV1000 Dollars Also by Rustic

[Monkmonk]

A real disappointment for number 1000; the theme is trivial and the proof reading poor - the number of letters in 9 across is wrong and in 35 across the number of letters is missing. This is one of the easiest EV puzzles ever published, perhaps the editors hope it will encourage more entries.

[haggis58]

Monkmonk
Have to agree with you - a real disappointment! Just calling the crossword No. 1000 would have been sufficient as I can't see the significance of Dollars Also unless I'm missing somehting?

[novalis]

Totally agree. Was looking forward to much more of a challenge.

[Spreadman]

I agree as well. Been doing the EV since it started and this is one of the easiest published. Seems a shame for no. 1000.

[dr b]

agree x4. To add to the errors, isn't the wordplay in 16a missing an "N"?

[Christiana]

Hello everyone - haven't been on the thread for a long time - travelling, Christmas etc, then when I did settle down to it for number 1000, it was all over very quickly. I didn't even bother to think about the title until after I'd filled it all in, and then didn't exactly feel satisfied with it.
I agree, dr. b. I, too, thought the wordplay in 16a was missing an 'n'.
On a different note, I will be making a 'big trip' to celebrate a 'big birthday' end of February, just to prove I'm alive and kicking. I'm going, with a friend, to Hong Kong, Sydney, South and North Island of New Zealand, Cairns and Singapore, returning around 4th May, so may not put in much of an appearance during those dates. Any advice as to reasonably priced (and reasonably comfortable) accommodation in any of those places would be welcome. I'm surprised (horrified?) how expensive any accommodation other than hostels is in all those places - I always thought Britain was dear but .... Also any less obvious must see places ....

[Spreadman]

Yes it is dr b. The theme does seem a bit obscure as per Haggis58, but I 'm assuming abbreviations. Any other ideas?

[AndrewG-S]

Yup. Nothing more to add.

[Spreadman]

Figured the theme. It is abbreviations but for more than one thing - hence also. Why Rustic picked dollars though is not obvious. It could apply to many things.

[devadolly]

Hello, DocHH & I have got ourselves lost on another thread, but both saying the same, a big damp squid for the thousandth EV. I too have been attempting them since No 1 Spreadman......sad or what?
What a trip Christina, have you looked at the Lodges in NZ? I am told they are very good but can't help you on cost etc.

[bobbycollins]

What a letdown! I was expecting a beastie, and along comes this wee timorous thing

[Shoni70]

Happy New Year everyone. I have completed the grid and am wondering if therei s something else I should do, since I cannot believe that it was so easy. If I have missed something, perhaps someone would kindly lead me on the straight and narrow. I shall bve at aloss for the next few days.

[novalis]

Hi Shoni70!

No, nothing else for you to do. It really was a letdown.

[Shoni70]

Thank you Novalis for putting my mind at ease.
I just could not believe it to be so simple. I had set out my mind to expect a stinker. Best wishes with aLL YOUR SOLVING THIS YEAR.

[Jogler]

Better late than never.... the h-g was very disappointed, but on the plus side he did manage to catch up with his 'big three' (speccie, listener and ev) in one afternoon (sounds good but they were all as easy as each other). These days we are generally to be found under a pile of small people - they are now 10 months and are very cute but, boy, is it tiring! Looking forward to our annual ski trip - we will probably sleep through it...

On the subject of accommodation in NZ and Aus, Christiana, we used a lot of hostels. Many of them have double rooms, some even en suite; we joined the YHA (the Scottish version is even cheaper) and used both YHA affiliated and private hostles but you need to do some research to weed out the flea pits (literally) - anywhere that lets you use your own sleeping bag is a no but in some you might need your own sheets. The advantage is that you can do some cooking for yourself which makes the pennies stretch. We varied between hostels and rewards! My must see list is endless - depends rather on the time of year and what your interests are - we did enjoy the Bridge climb in Sydney - and there was a good hostel there near the railway station.

[Christiana]

Thanks for the info. Jogler. I may well do the austerity/reward route. Main problem is that the friend I'm going with will need some persuading that hostels can be good. I was in the YHA some years ago and took my three sons hostelling all round Scotland. We quite happily used dorms in those days but I think an en suite room is going to be essential. As you say, they are available at some hostels and Lonely Planet is pretty informative in that area

[TheBear69]

I finally got around to this expecting a tour de force like Listener 4000. What a wasted opportunity!

Re 16a: I suppose the missing N could through some sort of twisted logic be represented by the 'in' but I do not see how to do so legitimately.

Also while the missing letters all are legitimate for the generic value, I do not think they all are used for a stack of money. In fact one is more commonly used to indicate much, much more...