ev 841

[devadolly]

I was away for most of November and I have come back to find (sadly) the EV chatter seems to have disappeared. What has happened? Has it been banned or can everyone (apart from me) get it all finished in time for their Sunday elevenses?

It wasn't only the help (always very welcome) but the craik that was such fun - where is everyone?

Regards

[DocHH]

Hello Devadolly
I had also been away for a while, so I asked the same last week, Novalis told me there hasn't been a link to EV for some weeks now. Shame really as I am really struggling this week!

[atsgran]

I'm a bit lost - what is EV?

[devadolly]

Oh good, there is someone there! Hello DocHH, yes I am struggling this week too. It must be hard if you are finding it difficult, you and Novalis are my 'Mother's little helpers'!

Any ideas where everyone else is?

Atsgran -EV is the Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations crossword found in Seven magazine, it varies from quite hard, through fiendish and sometimes on tearing one's hair out and thinking murderous thoughts about compilers!

Regards

DD

[DocHH]

Hello Devadolly
I was rather preoccupied for most of this morning and afternoon, I couldn't maintain connection to the internet. Tried all sorts of things to regain connection before eventually calling my ISP, AOL. They told me they had server problems and it would be some time before they fixed it. Others may have had the same problem.
Have got the thematic part referred to in the Rubric, but having real trouble with solving clues!!

[devadolly]

Well you are doing better than me DocHH, randomly opening my beloved dictionary is having no effect! and the lack of daylight at this time of year seems to shut my brain down!

Regards

[copelander]

Hi Devadolly and DocHH, I have a fair bit of this cracked, but the gaps in my knowledge are shining through. I have one apparent anomaly. 5ac, I thought to be thematic, but its counterpart, 34ac looks normal. Any thoughts welcomed! Also 9d "By rearing cattle suppresses the Northern tare" (6,two words ) NE_T_ _

[DocHH]

I suspect (O)PEN is thematic, but can't see why. I.ve anagrammed PIMPLY TECHNO for 15d, and L and LECTURES for 21a. Both then contain a synonym. As do 2d and 4d. This then means 20d, 28a are thematic.
I agree with you about the darkness affecting brain power! Not assisted in my case by a couple of preprandial Glenmorangies, before roast beef and all the trimmings which will be washed down with a Cab Sauv! Might even go for an Armagnac with coffee!

[DocHH]

Hello Copelander
5a definitely not thematic, try an abbreviation, 2 letters, in a sultanate!

[novalis]

Hi everybody!

First and last chance to get on here today. Know where all the thematic elements are but am struggling with last five clues - all in bottom right corner ( 23 and 26a & 20, 24 and 25 down ). Will keep on trying.
Copelander - 9d is a four letter word for cattle written upwards round Northern form of "the" and the obvious abbreviation for "tare".
One final point ---- closing date is FRIDAY!!!!! Looks like the message may have got through.

[copelander]

Thanks DocHH, I had just worked that out., still leaving me with the problem of 9d and 19a and 28a. Any others I can give help with. Maybe a little libation is a good idea ... it might help to fill the hole between the synapses.

[copelander]

24 and 25d are both normal, 25 is an anagram and is an oath. 24d is a person who lives in a state in USA

[copelander]

20d is thematic and an anagram. Thank you for the pointers to 9d.

[DocHH]

Am I being particularlyy dense, which words constitute the anagram for 20d/

[copelander]

DocHH, To lie below

[DocHH]

Thanks Copelander, we seem to have lost Devadolly! Dinner was superb, relaxing now!

[copelander]

Devadolly, where are you?. DocHH seems to have this cracked. I'm still stuck on 28a, and am also not quite sure how to fill the blanks.

[slaney]

copelander...I had a complete blank on 28a before the penny dropped!

[DocHH]

Copelander, I can assure you I still have a fair way to go, just concerned we hadn't heard from Devadollly for a while, has she got to meet those deadlines again! I.m just relaxing after dinner!!

[midazolam]

Hi all

I am glad to hear novalis that the deadline has been changed to friday. So that letter might have had some persuasion together with others efforts (even if there was no reply)

in case anyone missed it... http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Crosswords/Question642601.html

shame i can no longer post the weekly link as it no longer exists. Has killed our weekly banter, but as previously mentioned - not everything in life is free

midazolam

[DocHH]

Excuse me, but it doesn't stop the weekly banter and help. It just means someone has to start an EV thread without link to the online Xword as Devadolly has done this week!