EV 860 Hellish Rate

[DocHH]

Hello EV N&Cing Wine Clubbers,
That was somewhat more challenging. A few words I'd never heard of didn't help! After I'd spotted a possibility in the perimeter it all fell into place.
Pleased to see that the SS had been put upside down, perhaps a mirror image would be better.

[r.antioch]

Well DocHH - Roast on Sunday - great.
I hope the M.B CD was 'Lazy Day' from Threshold - despite the fact that it should be 'must be lamb today 'cause beef was last week.'
But washing the roast down with Tempranillo - that killed the whole dream for me - what happened to a good pint of ale?

[dr b]

Was able to get back to it this evening; finally caught the theme (only to get back here & find all these helpful hints!)

Still missing one pair of intersecting clues, but everything else is done. However, as for the relation between the title and the theme, I will have to say I am nun the wiser.

[ringer]

Morning all Evers
Started this one late last night and returned to it at 8am but only about a quarter of the grid populated so far. No BBQ here today - complete wash-out - so might curl up in a corner (not the dunce's one yet) with a heartwarming bottle of je ne sais quoi to inspire me. Hints, helpful or otherwise, have not as yet dawned in my befuddled brain.

[DocHH]

Hello dr b, that link had me puzzled, but this morning, having descended the wooden hill and feeling more "alive" it came to me!
Welcome r.antioch, hope you found the hints useful too, the MB CD was the Ballads one. Have seen them 3 times, first time they were a support group for an up-and-coming group, The Beatles!
Keep working those clues ringer, regret to inform you that there are very few clouds in the sky here, but a colish breeze, but early yet!

[novalis]

Hi Ringer!

Weather here not brilliant either. As I type this I've a bevy of goldfinches perched on the telephone wires outside my window. That makes up for the dullness.

As DocHH says, keep working on the clues. There are enough hints in all the above posts to get you there. To borrow one of dr b's, there will be nun of that going to the dunces' corner this week.

[ringer]

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone" - well in my head anyway. Still drizzling outside. Many thanks for the encouragement DocHH and novalis. Still lots of blank cells but at least I now know what to look for. :-)

[devadolly]

Novalis - we have comfy sofas in the dunces corner, and footstools + a fridge for the chilling of the light wines and keeping the smoked salmon etc. BUT all you lot are far too clever for it so you are banned this week.
As to the SOM can't see any connection at all - just came from 'pick something silly from the ether'.
Doc surely it has to be Days of Future Past for the MB? Didn't you see them at the 196? Rag Ball at the Establishment? I think I still have the poster for that gig somewhere in the attic!
Welcome r.antioch we all seem to be wine fans (as well as mad - and yes, I do include you all in that statement) here but am sure we can provide storage somewhere for some decent beer.
Have a long and extremely tedious report to do + a load of price-lists to print so probably won't get to the EV or the half finished Speccie until tomorrow.

[Tichfield]

I have completed the grid for this one but I just cannot fathom the wordplay for 13a.

[DocHH]

Titchfield, it's an anagram of the first 2 words, minus the abbreviation for the 4th word, and minus the extra letter.

Devadolly, the corner seems to be too comfortable, perhaps it should be more austere to deter entrants! Didn't see MB at the Establishment, saw Free though!

[Tichfield]

Many thanks DocHH.

I read the subsidiary indications this way, that way and the other way - but not the correct way.

[novalis]

Hi Devadolly!

Definitely too comfortable in the dunces' corner for my Spartan nature. ( Sounds more comfortable than my house!! ).
You should note the last part of the top row of the perimeter and regard that as part of the foothills for what comes next. ( Careful with the spelling ). That leads me to a pet subject - the S.African Cabernet Sauvignon Pinotage I had yesyerday was delicious.

Sorry R. Antioch, should have said "Hello" earlier. Devadolly has it in one, we are all mad here, but in the nicest sense.

[ringer]

Grid now complete:-)
Why have they stopped drawing lines for us to write subsidiary answers under the grid? Is this to test our ability to read instructions? ....and what colour to use for highlighting? Decisions!!!!
For me - MB must be Every Good Boy - happy memories sigh!!!

[dr b]

Re the title - aha! Here I was looking for something clever in the mode of the 6 "missing word" clues, when it was merely a lowly anagram. It's a pig in pond! Sorry, sorry. (13)

[dr b]

whoops "its a pig in pond." This is why I don't create the puzzles.

[dr b]

well, that's what I typed in the first place. Never mind.

[novalis]

Good point about the line Ringer. As for highlighting, I tend to do the crossword on a photocopy then use a red ball-point pen for what needs highlighting and complete the rest in black.
Like your anagram dr b.

[devadolly]

Hello - well I've done most of the report and had a rest from it by looking at that EV. Mine bears no resemblence to the SOM at all, apart from being able to make three words from the title it all ends there.
I cannot even work out what on earth they are rabbiting about with the 6 non-definition clues or even do them. I am far too tired, I have too much to do and am too far gone for the dunces corner so I have chucked it in the bin - it's that or slit my wrists.
Bye

[DocHH]

Devadolly, PUT THAT knife down immediately, it was Hara Kiri before, I'll not have anyone from the Establishment entering the now rather austere corner, all settees, fridges, and luxury refreshments have been removed, and the corner is now even more Spartan than chez Novalis, merely water and the odd bowl of gruel with wooden seats, no beds or tables now! We are trying to rescue you from an uncomfortable week in the refurbished dunces corner.
BTW am also happy to help with hints, if you want them for last week's Speccie.
Your SoM was correct, who were being rescued, and the grid entries are examples of Ss o M. Novalis hinted at the Eastern vertical column being significant, but with bad spelling as indicated in the rubric. Look also at my hint to dr b about the link between title and theme! A simple anagram followed by a reference to SoM!
Perhaps Himself would sing the important perimeter items to you!

[novalis]

Hi Devadolly!

To add to Doc HH's splendid hints --- think of certain appendages on a young Ginger Mog!! They, together with others, go across the bottom and up the left-hand side.

[Physicsgirl]

Hello all
Well, I don't care if the dunce's corner is devoid of home comforts - I will still go there if needs be. Maybe not this week though ...... have managed about 10 clues before checking the thread! Devadolly, don't throw in the towel - I feel out of my depth frequently but the thread keeps me going. Besides, the food in the corner wouldn't be half as nice without you. I'm thinking of installing some hammocks for the nice weather....