Enigmatic Variations 803

[cruciverbali]

The Easter Day puzzle is Substitution by Kea

[midazolam]

thanks once again cruciverbalist

[Rapparee]

Thanks for the link. Almost forgot about this one!

[novalis]

I am writing this on behalf of novalis because the doc won't let him use a computer or overtax his unbandaged but badly bruised eye at the moment. ( He was out running/jogging, swerved to avoid some dog muck and managed to almost blind himself on a tree branch as he skidded. --- He reckons it should be on "You've Been Framed" but knows he was lucky the eyeball of his bandaged eye wasn't pierced. ). Anyway, he's asked me to ask for a hint to 1 across and whether or not 1 down is "brown rat" because he cannot think where the fluorine fits in. He knows he won't finish it but he's like a bear with a sore head at the moment and is not allowed any wine either!!

[slaney]

So sorry to hear you've been through the wars novalis..best wishes for a quick recovery.
It sounds as if you may need the "healing cells" of 1d!
I wondered about a misprint in the clue-
Healing cells admit fluorine in black lab animal. (8, two words) -
if it were "heating cells" then the answer could be BROWN FAT, and the wordplay would fit.

[MatydaLover]

Best wishes to novalis for a quick return to form.

[midazolam]

yes it is brown fat

b = black, rat = lab animal
own = admit, f = flourine (both inside)

pretty sure it should be heating cells as well

[crofter]

Best wishes for a quick recovery novalis

As for EV803, I managed only four across clues and ten of the down clues before coming to a grinding halt!

[novalis]

Novalis has asked me to pass on his thanks for your good wishes and your help. He's at the hospital tomorrow and hopes to have both eyes in action then so he can manage more than five to ten minutes reading/solving at one go. The swelling and bruising round his unbandaged eye has gone down but it still looks a mess. Some might say that's a definite improvement in his case. He hopes, the doctor permitting, to be in a fit state to tackle EV805 properly. 804 would be nice but he can't see it somehow. ( That was an unfortunate choice of words given his present condition. )To be honest you all have my admiration for attempting it at any time.

[cruciverbali]

Hope your eye is soon better Novalis !

(The extra letter in 1 Across is the 'L' in fleet - think ballet)

[devadolly]

Hope you have a quick recovery Novalis - will no doubt welcome your expertise in future weeks.

You really should spend more time with the crosswords and wine rather than bounding about the countryside in inclement weather trying to demolish trees!

Regards

Devadolly

[cruciverbali]

Yes, all that dashing about could drive you dotty, which reminds me, I particularly liked the inclusion of the tribute at 29 Across in this one.

[MatydaLover]

Well, that's it then. Thursday morning and still not done. Just checked my old copies and this is the first that I've not submitted for almost a year.

Novalis, we need you back soon!

[novalis]

Dear all,

Many thanks for all your kind comments and concern. If there are mistakes in this it's because I'm typing ( against' doctor's orders ) with very swollen and bloodshot eyes. Hope to have a look at Sunday's but focusing and concentrating for more than five minutes at a time is still a bit difficult. Still, it was my own fault I got injured in the first place. If the council wants to sue me for damaging one of their trees let them try!!

Best wishes to you all.

[JMR27]

hi cruciverbalist and thanks for the link.

Best Wishes to novalis for a speedy recovery.