ev 858

[BigDave44]

Could someone please tell me if the "SOLVING STRATEGIES" which are in the online version have been published in the newspaper version. Thankyou

[devadolly]

Yes Big Dave44, what is your (and the rest of the EVers) opinion about it? I think it smacks of the same syndrome of explaining the two/three word phrase used for the first clues of the DT quick crozzy.
Haven't actually begun to look at it yet - do the ss's help?
DD

[ladyalex]

What really puzzles me is how to enter both the Enigmatic Variations puzzle and the General Knowledge puzzle as one is printed on the back of the other.
Not much of a concern for me as I can never even get started on the ev, but maybe a problem for others.

[BigDave44]

Thanks to both of you for the info.

It will be at least tomorrow before I can look at it, but it does seem an unusual thing to do. I would have put it on the blog if it was for online solvers only.

As far as the phrase in the Quick crossword is concerned, every so often they do need explaining. Time was when they didn't even tell you how many answers made up the phrase (and still don't online).

I will try and find out if photocopies are allowed as entries, but it will probably take a few days due to the Bank Holiday.

[ladyalex]

Thank you , Big Dave44
I will , yet again, have a go at ev, but I really don't think th slving strategies are gooing to make a whole lot of difference to me...

The Telegraph has really gone downhill

[Rollo]

I have finished it.

A bit of a struggle until I stumbled on the THEME, so now I want a drink and some food.

[Physicsgirl]

well done Rollo! Have solved about 10 clues but only entered one in the grid. Still not finished 857, so feeling a bit put out. However, maybe things will calm down tomorrow and I'll get chance ....

Happy Easter everyone

[novalis]

Hi everybody!
Just stumbled on this thread. Agree with Ladyalex about the EV and GK clashing and a friend has already written to them on this subject.
As far as this week's offering is concerned the only group of 22 which I could think of was, by good fortune, the thematic one. Having 62a allowed only one possible way to enter 59d. After that, and armed with a list of the 22, it was relatively plain sailing. To continue the metaphor, I would have been sunk without trace had it not been that 22.

[BigDave44]

I'm not sure what has happened to DocHH's usual EV thread, but feel free to chat away on this one!

[novalis]

Hi BigDave44!

I'm not sure if DocHH was going to be around this weekend. As for N & C plus EV wine club, I resisted temptation yesterday. I had a bottle of Hungarian red and a St. Emilion Grand Cru in he house. The latter is intended for the guy who put abother 512MB of RAM on my computer last week. ( It's just been done for "speeding". ) I kept my hands off the St. Emilion.

[BigDave44]

I have always been partial to a nice claret, so perhaps we could share it!

And less of the BigDave44 - I'm just Dave to my friends!

[devadolly]

Hello everyone, didn't realise this was a private thread Dave, just thought it was first up began! Sorry. Still haven't looked at it, too busy trawling through the Proms programme to decide which concerts this year. Have read your hint 22 novalis (you know how slow I am on the thematic bits) and will bear that in mind when I do get a look at it - coffee this pm definately, everything else will have to go hang!
Regards to all

[BigDave44]

Nothing to apologise for, devadolly - I was just trying to encourage people to contribute as usually you have more posts by this time.

[DocHH]

Hello everyone,
I hadn't resigned from EV N&C Wine Club, it's just that I have been somewhat occupied since wednesday till just an hour ago with visitors, including 2 children, aged 12 and 13. So no time for even the regular Telegraph crosswords let alone EV! Evenings have required something stronger than wine!!!!
About to sit in the sunshine and have an attempt at EV.

[Physicsgirl]

Okay, think I'm going to need a few hints here as I have only managed to solve 19. 23, 62 (ac) and 4,5,6,7,16,18,24,28,45,54,55,58,59 (down). Hmm. Now that I've typed that in it looks like a lot but I can't put any of the down clues in the grid, and the theme is just a few ideas for me at the moment. Help please! Sleep deprivation not aiding my solving ability either ....

[dr b]

Haven't had much time to spend on it yet, but can someone tell me if 14d is a misprint? Clue says (7) but the grid only has 4 spaces for 14d.

[Rollo]

Yes, it is a misprint. The correct length is (4).

[Rollo]

Physicsgirl, I suggest that you follow the solving strategy given at the bottom of the page. Deducing 21 ac, 10 ac and possibly also 1 ac - althought that one is a a not an easy one - should help.

Once you get the theme, the relevant Brewer entry makes things easier because you are able to just fill in quite a few of the across entries, given that you have solved that number of the down clues.

[novalis]

Hi Physicsgirl!
Rollo is right in what he says but what doesn't help for 1a and 63a is that they have alternative names as you'll discover once you get the theme.
As you've got 62a and 59d you should be able to put the latter in because it's jumbled and there can be only one way to enter it. That plus a lucky guess at the theme enabled me to start and advance quite rapidly. If stuck, try Googling 22. You should then find the theme.
When my friend wrote to The Sunday Telegraph re the clash with the GK crossword he suggested that they print the grid for the EV at the bottom of the page and teh clues above it. Whether or not they'll listen is a different matter.
Dave, have just delivered the St. Emilion but I must admit that a nice claret always goes down well.

[devadolly]

Oh, please tell me it is not football........................totally lost cause..........................Help!

[novalis]

Hi Devadolly!

No, it's not football!