EV 1005

[x_word_fan]

In my opinion one of the hardest for a while - tough clues and a fun end game - one or two wordplays still escape me though.

[dr b]

Once the 4th word of the quote appeared the light dawned and the rest fell into place fairly quickly; what to highlight certainly jumps out of the grid. Still, another EV that was harder than the week's Listener.

[DocHH]

Hello x_word_fan and dr b,
What had to be highlighted leapt out quite quickly. The quote was a bit obscure in my opinion, and stumbled on it, or should that be deduced purely by chance. Thought the clues were fair and didn't have too many difficulties with them, although there weren't too many gifts. The snow of last weekend has yet to disappear from the garden, and in fact had another hour-long flurry this morning. It settled, but not for long!
Time for a preprandial methinks!

[AndrewG-S]

I thought this was tricky but very well constructed with a lovely ending. Spent quite a while heading off down a dead end on the quote but got there in the end. Many thanks Shark for a great puzzle. Agree with the comments on the challenges of EV v Listener so far this year.

[kayakamina]

I'm also of the opinion that this was a toughie. Like DocHH I went round the houses until I realised it was more a riddle than a quote - hence the title.

Some of the clueing was challenging but, on the whole, fair.

[Christiana]

Thought I'd pop in and just say 'hi' - probably for the last time before I go on my 'big trip', setting off Sunday and not back until 4th May, so doubt I'll be posting for a while.
Haven't had much time to spend on this one, as I had surprise birthday celebrations last weekend, with all three of my sons turning up as well as other relatives and friends. Overflowing house, overflowing wine and laughter. Have started now and populated much of the grid, though I have several I haven't worked out the extra letter for. But packing is looming. Will hope to finish in between times.

[DocHH]

Happy travels Christiana, and belated Birthday Greetings.

[devadolly]

Echo DocHH's good wishes Christina - send us a post card! After a slow start (grumpy farmer in the midst of lambing) but have done most of the grid and found the top & bottom cells but am having great trouble finishing it, is the quote in a foreign tongue and just where am I going wrong with 10d & 21a, am presuming (probably quite wrongly that these are the 'final two'.

[kayakamina]

DD

You are correct about 21a & 10d being the final two words in the quote.

If you already have the foreign number in the quote you need to highlight
the two words above & representations of Answer in the grid. The total number of highlighted cells will equal the 'foreign number'.

[devadolly]

Thank you for your input K. Am merely assuming that we have foreign words as my collection of letters is looking fairly gobble-de-gooky and I can find nothing to fit in with the said 10d/21a. As ever I am being very thick, and although I have searched ODQ for inspiration, have drawn a blank. I really think old age hads rotted my brain and I should give up the EV and confine myself to the DT quickie. Am very down-pin about my attempts this year.

[Christiana]

I failed to find the quote in ODQ but did discover it in a Google search. BUT perplexed by your comment K, as I thought only two sections needed to be highlighted. If I also highlight the two missing words, then total number is four short of the 'foreign number'.

[slaney]

First of all - another belated birthday good wish Christiana, and have a great trip!

The quote is under Anon in the ODQ, so try there DD, and I have only highlighted the two representations in the grid.

[devadolly]

A belated thank you to all. I did have a break-through moment last night about 11pm and trawled through the foreign Anons in the ODQ and finally found the right quote and all became clear.

[Christiana]

Oops, better late than never. K. I now see what you were saying and believe you're right. I do think the wording of what to highlight is rather weak, though.

[Christiana]

After consultation with Slaney I've once again revised what to highlight - must be all the other thoughts to do with our trip addling my brain. Only TWO lots of cells to be highlighted but not two straight lines.

Still think the wording is weak though.