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

[kayakamina]

The alphabetical puzzles are easier to solve as you only have to get the correct placement of the first 9 letter word.

[DocHH]

Hello Devadolly and Katakamina,
I was mislead for a while, until I realised that the bar above the last letter of 46ac was missing, look at the bars under and after the last letter of 1ac, and under first letter of 7ac, then apply symmetry. (That was in the paper copy, the online one may be correct.) I had put what is now 27d in the 26d position, as it was the only indicated word of 7 letters starting with that letter!! That made 26ac unplaceable.

[novalis]

Hi everybody!

Yes DocHH the lack of a bar threw me for a while. I've all the answers in but still looking to follow the instruction spelt out by the initial letters. At the moment I can't see the wood for the trees and am perhaps trying too hard.

[novalis]

Sorry -- should have asked

DocHH - How was Zurich?
Devadolly - How was Harrogate?

[DocHH]

Hello Novalis,
Zurich was most enjoyable, despite the rain and snow. Our host managed to arrange a tour of the Rathaus, which is 310 years old. Apparently Hilary Clinton was going to visit, but after 3 weeks of her security staff inspecting the facilities they decided that it was not safe for to do so. Only one entrance/exit door, and if she had to go out a window she would end up in the river. Food was superb, always did love those Rostis.
I am also at the stage of staring at the grid waiting for the obvious to jump out!

[devadolly]

Oh good, you are all there! Hello! Had an hour with IT and my coffee and test cake now in its last hour so am hovering, otherwise known as an excuse to 'play'
Did the same as you DocHH about the bar and you will all be so proud of me - have done almost all the clues and filled in the surrounds to the D 9 letter. BUT, the other 9 letter is giving me grief - is it an anagram, I just can't seem to work it out at all?
Haven't begun the search for instructions yet..........................
Rain & snow, oh that is no good DocHH, shall have to leave the inspection of my bank vaults until the summer!
Novalis, Harrogate is next week - haven't polished up my sluething magnifying glass yet!

[DocHH]

Hello Devadolly,
The test cake smells delicious! The other 9 letter word is indeed an anagram, they are probably what American business ladies would wear!
I think you need to practically complete the grid before you have enough information to find the instruction.
Have you got a deerstalker for next weekend?

[copelander]

Devadolly, It is indeed an anagram,and the aforementioned Hillary wears them all the time. I too am looking at a completed grid and waiting for inspiration to strike. I think I'll leave it for a while and then look with fresh eyes. Sometimes works.Zurich was not the only place to have sleet, snow and hail...we've had them all here in the past few days as well.

[devadolly]

Thank you Novalis, as soon as I went back to it, it leapt out and bit me, nasty Americanism, no wonder my brain rejected it! Am getting along very nicely, just a couple of bare patches to the NE & SW. As to the instruction, do you think one goes across and then down, or 1 - 47?
Test cake seems to be doing well, it is still 'talking' to me so not quite done, it is now 'topped off' with brown paper and on 15 minute obs!!

[DocHH]

Excuse me Devadolly, I thiought it was myself and copelander who steered you to the other 9 letter nasty Americanism!
The instruction is as the rubric says, conventional clue order, ie across then down.
Do you think you should you do 15 minute obs for EV as well as test cake?
I'm cooking my late sunday lunch, trying to counter overeating the past few days, although if you stick to BA in-flight meals it would not be neccessary!

[devadolly]

Oh Whoops! Sorry about that DocHH/Copelander, now don't get in a pet, the cake is taking priority of thinking (along with what I am supposed to be doing on this computer - deadline is tomorrow am), because, if I am not to incur No 1 niece's displeasure at Easter, that cake had better be perfect - it is all very worrying when testing an new oven!
EV is subject to sneaky looks as and when this week.
Abject apologies again!

PS No deerstalker!

[Rollo]

A very enjoyable puzzle.

I originally put the 9 letter answers in the wrong way round because I thought I could see where a few others would fit. But I came to grief and had to find my rubber.

I even managed to follow the instruction. Usually it is this last "bit" that causes me problems, but this time not so.

I wonder how long it took Kruger to compile it?

[novalis]

Hi folk!

Went to bed defeated ( by wine and a sore thoat et al ) but looked at it first thing. What needs to be shaded jumped out at me immediately. I would have been very annoyed if I'd let that "beat" me!! My finger certainly wasn't on the pulse yesterday.

[DocHH]

I had the same flash of inspiration as you Novalis. It was staring at me, given my name it should have been obvious yesterday.

[Rollo]

There were just too many of them in the grid for it not to be them.

[novalis]

Agree Rollo that there are just too many. The "problem" is that I was looking for words. As I posted yesterday it was a clear case of not seeing the ( very obvious ) woods for the trees.

Glad you enjoyed Zurich Doc HH.

[copelander]

I too have a very pretty picture but haven't yet figured out the three words to write under the grid. I'll have another look this evening. How's it going Devadolly.....crossword and/or cake?

[devadolly]

Hello All.
Am being dense as usual, grid all filled in and I have a large representation of one of the card suits staring at me care of a certain letter.......but, haven't found any instructions and as to what one is supposed to put below the grid......? I can only assume them to be those 3 words so beloved by Valentine balloon manufacturers? Words of wisdom anyone?

Regards

[devadolly]

Copelander, you must have been submitting at the same time - cake good but not perfect so am now in the process of test cake No2 under a different cooking method! Crossword seems to be at the same stage as yours.

Regards

[Rollo]

You are not asked to write anything under thre grid.

Or are you?

I don't think you have to do that.