Ev - Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations 1092 -Burnt Offering By Mynot

[Twit-Who]

All very enjoyable and many thanks to MynoT but what a cruel title!

[DocHH]

Hello Twit-Who,
Yes, a very crel title, but a very clever end-game! When I initially saw the grid I suspected that something would involve some of those lights.

[dr b]

I can't quite get the extra letters to correctly spell the third word of the instructions, but no matter. Nice construction, but agree the title is a sick joke!

[jim360]

Too soon? ...

Thanks MynoT, a nice finish.

[dr b]

I think a minimum waiting period of one millennium is considered the tasteful thing to do.

[devadolly]

Good Evening All! Haven't had a chance yet, but your comments rather sound as tho' we are burning the Martyrs at the stake!!.. I ait in trepidation to begin this one, think Ginger Mog will have to accompany me for protection!

[DocHH]

Hello devadolly,
Pleased to hear that Ginger Mog will be on standby with fire extinguisher! Also gratifying to hear he is still around! How old is he?

[kayakamina]

Once again this week it was a question of filling the grid first and
then identifying the extra letters and instruction.
I suppose it is a compliment to the setters that the extra letters
are so well disguised.
Thanks MynoT.

[Christiana]

Hi, just about to peer at the end game - with trepidation after the 'cruel' comments. dr b if you are 'out' on the last letter of the third word, you might want to look again as it would be easy to make a slight mistake on the word to be entered into the grid.

[devadolly]

Finished the grid but as usual am at a loss in picking out the correct letters so am peering without hope.
Ginger Mog is doing well DocHH not entirely sure how old as was a young cat when he arrived, about 8 we think. He's not in a good mood today (currently sitting on my lap trying to prevent me typing) as we are having a new boiler installed and the doors are open with strangers all over the place. What he doesn't realise is there wil;l be no heating until tomorrow! Oh dear!

[Christiana]

Hi DD - how are your apples going? I'm still inundated, but I think it's slowing now!
Re. peering at the grid - what you're looking for is a little longer than you might suppose, given the instruction.

[devadolly]

Christina, it's the instruction I'm short of! Huge apples on the 2 Howgate trees still to be collected but the fruit from the very old tree is allowed to fall and heaped up for the birds over the winter, I just cannoit face what looks like 30 tons of the things! Completely re-jigging the fruit garden this year so there will be fewer gooseberries & raspberries whilst they establish themselves.....but, planted an apricot last year............

[Christiana]

Immense fruits on my bramley and I was daft enough to plant an apricot last year too. I'm certainly leaving some of my apples for the birds. Youngest son is coming down next weekend and will, hopefully, take large quantities away to experiment with making cider.

I got into trouble gleaning the instruction, too. It was partially guesswork and then going back to the clues to check.

[dr b]

C: it was more the 3rd letter of the 3rd word, but I think I found a way to make it work - maybe not what the setter intended, but hey ho. Back to grading papers.

[Shoni70]

Hello everyone. I regret to say that i am lost once more. I am not quite certain about the last few words of the wordplay and where I go from there. The title means nothing at all to me and unfortunately I have one letter missing in both 26 ac and 24 down. Could someone please help me to sort my problems out. I am at the moment far from home and all my reference books, on holiday in North Wales and it is very frustrating not being able to complete this offering by MynoT. Thank you in advance.

[kayakamina]

Shoni the extra letters are-
26a E
24d N

One of the diagonals will give you a connection with the Title ( cruel as others have said). Changes to that diagonal should leave you with the composer
(last word in the instructions).

[novalis]

Managed to get to this today and found it entertaining. As others have commented a rather cruel EV title. Dr. B You have my best wishes with your grading. For the moment my house is scriptless but there is still the possibility of more arriving if any schools request a complete re-mark.

[Christiana]

Novalis, "Ah yes, I remember it well"

[Shoni70]

I am so sorry to trouble you again, but I am still in the dark. Having searched and looked everywhere along the left to right diagonal I am no wiser regarding the creation and I have not a clue who the creator is. Am I thick or am I suffering from loss of memory ? The burnt offering title leads me nowhere. Please please set my mind at rest and lead me onto the right path. Have I perhaps been wining too much on my holidays ?

[devadolly]

Shoni, think composer/creation and look at other works by said perp. I stared and stared and then groaned when it hit. Very cruel title

[Shoni70]

Many thanks DD. I had one letter incorrect in the diagonal and this caused the big problem. Have now sorted it out.