ev 853

[devadolly]

Hello everyone - as usual, am supposed to be doing something else, but as test cake now in the oven thought I would see if the N & C had begun...................No? Well it has now! Haven't had a chance to look at EV yet I'm saving it for a nice peaceful hour or two about 3pm when Himself goes out to start work.

Regards

[devadolly]

Oh Lord we have another conundrum here I see, and I am useless at dingbats!
Now DocHH, I'm feeling 'got at' here! I know I started the N & C (started when I was a very new-girl with novalis running into a tree! We all had comments and commiserations about that), however, if no-body wants to N & C we can be very formal and just give the answers and show no interest in anyone's highs and lows. Whatever, it's been great fun but am quite happy to commit Hari-Kari!

PS Not at all on the wavelength of what the correct answer is but as it is plural perhaps it should be "I Love youse!" (sic)

[BigDave44]

If ever you get hounded out of here, I would be more than happy to give you your own page in my blog. I could even give one of you editorial control to set up new pages and edit the existing ones of which you were the author.

Think about it!!

[DocHH]

Devadolly.
Please, we need you, do not commit Hara Kiri. Why should you feel "got at", I was praising you for getting us organised to both hint and N&C, and I would not wish to go the formal route!. I really enjoy the hints plus N&C, especially the friendly exchange, and if you go the Japanese exit so will I , as I would feel I have let you down. I hope I speak for others too.
I actually have no idea what a dingbat is!!

[Christiana]

Hi am now back after day out with my guests. No cork trees in sight, so only just getting back to fitting answers in grid. Speaking personally I love the mixture of hints and friendly comments and can't see that it impedes other site users, so I'm all for keeping it going.
I haven't really considered the possibilities for the three letter phrase yet but something popped into my mind - what you end letters with to your nearest and dearest, just before you sign your name - 3,2,4, the first word starting with 'a' and covering, to some extent, the plural hinted at. Covering, too, the suspicions I have regarding grid entry, which I am off to test out.

[devadolly]

Good Morning All.
Oh goody, goody, we are all anarchists at heart!
Doc - sword back on the wall, thank you! I'm one up on you there, I know what a dingbat is but am totally useless at them, on the same level as calculus to me.
Christina - Sorry you don't have a cork tree, I believe they are lovely. I've got your hint but does it match with Bananaboat et al?
Big Dave - was that directed at me? Very flattering if it was, but I'm not really au fait with blogs and things, my deadlines all head towards the grubby printshop and a computer is just a fancy type-writer!
Regards

[devadolly]

Sorry Big Dave that should have read "....at me among others?" !!

[crofter]

As I see it, we form a very select group tackling a very challenging Crossword. We are self supporting and take up only one posting per week (from the hundreds that are posted), so to say that we dominate AnswerBank is simply incorrect.

Personally, I welcome the less formal approach that has been introduced by devadolly, but it doesn't disguise the seriousness of our messages. I hope she continues with her single weekly posting.

Anyone reading this message has subscribed to it with the sole intention keeping in touch.

As for your dislike for Dingbats devadolly, ask yourself, "Would the puzzle carry the same impact, had the repeated letter been C"?

[copelander]

Hello again all. Devadolly, Don't even think of abandoning all your EV virtual friends......what a N & C you've got going this week!.I think I've a glimmer, thanks to Bananaboat, and I'm assuming the positioning of the 3 word phrase is vital. DocHH, Dingbats are where you say what you see (eg XMASCARA ) Answer later if anyone's interested.

[mad max]

Thanks to this thread and BananaBoat & crofter, I have at long last got the three words, which are in Chambers, under appropriate letter, thanks again

[Rollo]

Ah! Got it now thanks to mad max and copelander and crofter and BananaBoat.

And also thanks to the Chambers searchable CD ROM.

[BigDave44]

Devadolly
Yes, it was aimed at you, among others. The problem with having too many people is that each page can only belong to one person. Notwithstanding, only a basic stub page needs to be set up, and the rest are all added by anyone as comments. When I've got a moment, I'll set up a sample on a dummy site that I use for testing.
The advantages include:
* All visible on one page
* Disruptive comments can be deleted
* Persistent disrupters can have their id set to spam, and you never see them again!
* All new participants have to be approved, but once approved can post straightaway [e.g. Rollo's posts already get published immediately]
* Each week's entry can be indexed by both the calendar and by reference to a category
* Accidental revelation of answers can be edited out (I just use **** and post an explanation - much better than deletion)
* You may be able to set it up as an RSS feed, via WordPress, but I haven't tried that yet
Disadvantages:
* Difficult to find new "members" - but you could still post an entry saying "we've moved"
* You need to trust me
* I'm struggling to find any more

I would promise not to interfere, unless a post was "unsuitable" for legal or moral reasons - I can't think why anyone would want to do that!!

[copelander]

Devadolly, are you still there, or has my computer gone haywire? No replies on this site for about 2 hours.......... I find it a bit strange. Dave 44 your suggestion looks interesting but for a Luddite like me, v.v.difficult, but obviously it's up to someboby else to respond to your suggestion.

[Physicsgirl]

hello all! Greetings from wah-wah land. Not much time for EV this week since mini PG very demanding (babycold!), but have got a few answers and believe that the 9 letter word at the top is the "ladies clothes" clue. Please confirm - my time is so limited these days and I barely have time to find a hairbrush, let alone the tippex ....
BigDave - the suggestion sounds like a good one. Although I don't N&C as much as I'd like to, it sounds like it could work really well and I'd contribute sporadically

[devadolly]

Physicsgirl - will all all try to keep you sane for the next 18 years!!! Quite right ladies clothes is 1ac. Hope mini PG soon recovers, all needed for the immune system - doesn't do much for yours tho'!! Best advice, get your feet up when you can and don't worry if she eats the rest of Seven as long as the puzzle bits are saved.

Big Dave...................................................................Help!!!!!!!!!

Copelander - you have said it all!

[copelander]

well, I'm so glad somebody else is out there. Devadolly, where you go I might follow............maybe.

[DocHH]

Hello everyone,
Personally, I'm very happy with where we are. We have had just one "questionable" objection to our once a week thread, that hardly constitutes being hounded off this site. See you all on sunday

[Christiana]

Are you still there, Doc? Obviously a late bird like me. I am just about to climb the wooden hill, 'faint but pursuing' as they say. Have finally, in between cooking (meals) and entertaining (visitors) filled in the grid and the highlighted cells. Will wait til I am fresher tomorrow to attack the three words that my electronic copy fails to mention. Night all.

[DocHH]

Hello Devadolly and Copelander,
Whenever I chair a meeting, either UK or International and ask a question for an opinion and get silence, I tell the ensembled gathering "I take silence as "NO"" The silence from others has been resounding. So if it were another vote I'd say stay where we are.
Sorry to have been quiet, but have been at a Talking Newspaper Committee Meeing, discussing if we modernise and send out memory sticks to be played on MP3 players rather than cassette tapes on players that are becoming more difficult to purchase.

[Christiana]

Hi Devadolly, just to say at last staggered to a conclusion. Thanks to Bananaboat, Crofter et al for advice re. the three words. Now to look at the Speccie.
How are you doing?

[devadolly]

Hello Christina, no, haven't got anywhere at all with it, seem to get more confused with each helpful hint, afraid it has 'gone over the shoulder' now as have had a horrendously busy day and am just getting rid of the last few emails before I go and pack for our sleuthing trip tomorrow. Also have to remember where I have hidden Himself's pressy and hget that wrapped! Regards to all - what a great N & C this week have we reached the longest thread in history I ask?! Will check in on Sun night..................unless I have been murdered