Ev 1056 Winter Festival By Kcit

[dr b]

So tired of seeing this theme again and again and again............

1a revealed quickly, so I figured this would be a piece of cake, and the top was indeed quick; got bogged down in the bottom half until the penny dropped - Ha! Good one, Kcit.

Woke up to 3" of snow but it's supposed to be in the 50's by midweek. Go figure.

Super Bowl Sunday!!!!! Go 49ers!!

[DocHH]

Hello dr b,
I solved 6 and 7, followed by a few of the down clues from the top row. That lead me also to reveal 1a quite early on, so worked downwards. I also spent some while pondering before the PDM on the lower half, actually it occurred while washing up after lunch!
No sign of snow here, but it is very windy, with sporadic rain, and about 8°C. I have a Stamford Brook Merlot allocated to drink with dinner tonight!

[Twit-Who]

I progressed through this puzzle in the same way, dr b, but I haven't had the PDM yet unless............please tell me it's not as easy as again and again!!!

[DocHH]

Hello Twit-Who,
That was my line of thinking, but it does seem rather simplistic!

[Twit-Who]

Yes, it's me who's the Twit! I spent hours looking for something different! I think I am underwhelmed.

[devadolly]

With the greatest respect to drb.....I do wish UK compilers would use Candlemas Day instead! Cottoned on to 1a pretty quickly and then followed DocHH's train of thought, however, have a complete top half and a sketchy bottom half with no idea towrds a PDM.
Talking of Candlemas Day...."it was very fine and clear here, so it looks as tho' there are going to be two winters in this year" look out Nov/Dec?

[AHearer]

"With the greatest respect to drb.....I do wish UK compilers would use Candlemas Day instead!" -- ah, but they have!

[devadolly]

Oh dear! My grid is wrong on a monumental scale!

[Crackabilly]

I thought it was Plough Monday.
So I proceeded on this basis, with some initial success.
However, now I'm not so sure!

[Christiana]

Fear not Devadolly, it's as well as, not instead of ....
I have a couple to sort out in the lower half - have an obvious answer for the 17's but can't completely sort out the cryptic part as yet and struggling with the right hand 8d. Everything else in now.

[Christiana]

No, not Plough Monday, Crackabilly, but enough correct letters to give some success to start with.

[Christiana]

Now have 8d - just the query on first three letters of the answer to 17a left now.

[DocHH]

Christiana,
I prefer my "preparation of meat", frequently with cheese, on warm crusty bread!

[Christiana]

Thanks for the confirmation, DocHH - I took another look and thought perhaps that was what was meant.

[kayakamina]

With BT upgrading our local exchange it meant I have been without a consistent broadband connection resulting in my late appearance.
As with other solvers I got 1a quickly enough but I didn't twig the generous 'again & again' hints from dr b & Twit-who until much later.

Good puzzle Kcit.

[slaney]

Yes I agree K - good seasonal puzzle, but perhaps one can have too much
déjà vu!