EV 1029: Turning to Eccentricity, by Ifor

[DocHH]

Hello all Evers,
Well, I promise never to publicly state that an EV was easy! This was a struggle, only a couple of gifts on the first pass through. The title and grid numbering gave me a megaton hint as to how answers were to be entered. However I don't think the 9 letter phrase to be highlighted accurately reflects the 4 perimeter entries.
Oh well, time for a preprandial!

[kayakamina]

I've just downloaded my copy and was pleased to see that one of our little group, Slaney won EV 1026.

Well done Sheila.

[dr b]

It would have been much harder without the grid numbering, which pretty much gives away the method of entry. Doc, I believe the 9 letter phrase reflects what you do to the clues, not what you do to the perimeter entries. However, I had to read the preamble 3 or 4 times to get that straight.

Rain!! It's 72 degrees and has been raining steadily for about 3 hours. Back up to 103 by Tuesday, but what welcome relief!

[Twit-Who]

Much more of a challenge this week but strangely unsatisfying with no clear PDM - more of a muddling through to the end. I managed to fill the grid and only after the highlighting did I discover what I was doing with the across clues and I still have a couple of word plays that I am unsure of. However I'm not complaining as I have no real interest in the Olympics. I bet lots of you were expecting that theme this week.

[copelander]

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Well done , Slaney

[copelander]

Oops sorry

[kayakamina]

Although the puzzle is clever & well constructed I found it a bit laborious.
I recall a similar feeling with the 'Mind your P's & Q's' also set by IFOR in CAM 66
which caused debate here on AB, and elsewhere.
I do agree with dr b that the 9 letter phrase accurately describes the entry method.

[slaney]

Thanks all - just lucky with the draw. At least I now know email entry works!
Hello copelander - haven't seen you around for some time, although may have seen your name as an Inquisitor winner.

I had to read the preamble many times, but when I actually looked at the grid it was not at all as fearsome, thank goodness.

I agree K, CAM 65 was indeed very difficult, well too difficult for me - but this months by Schadenfreude CAM 66 is very worth while. Cruciverbalist has already given the link but here it is again (page 48)
http://www.alumni.cam.../File/CAM57/Cam57.pdf

[Christiana]

Congratulations Slaney. And useful to know it works sending it in by email. I, personally, am struggling somewhat with this one, having done all the right hand side of the puzzle but several unsolved on the left. Twit-who's comment is re-assuring as I don't know what I'm doing with the across clues either. Will battle on.

[ulysses100]

Slaney, that CAM crossword is dated Easter 2009 !

[mazie]

Really out of my depth here but I really wanted to congratulate slaney. Well Done xx

[Christiana]

Have now more or less finished, but found it a bit of a grind. One small query, though. 18a I have what I think must be the answer (concealed in the clue) and can construct various explanations, none very satisfactory, but cannot see a definition. Any comments?

[dr b]

C: the first word of the clue needs to be thematically treated, giving a word that provides part of the definition.

[slaney]

Hi Mazie - hope all is well with you.

Sorry ulysses, I'm glad someone is on the ball!
Correct link hopefully ..
http://alumni.cam.ac....m66/CAM_66_LO_RES.pdf

[dr b]

For what it's worth, the controversy over 1027 Checkmate by Shark (is CLOV standing on his head or not?) is resolved here:

http://fifteensquared...7-checkmate-by-shark/

Shark indicates that CLOV was intended to appear in 2d unCLOVen and not in20d VOLCano.

[Christiana]

Thanks dr b. I looked at it more carefully, and see what you mean. I had applied the 'across rule' somewhat haphazardly up until then.