Enigmatic Variations

[Aquagility]

CONGRATULATIONS to CROFTER. on his win in this prestigidious puzzle.
Best wishes for continued success ean enjoyment in 2010. Aq.

[kayakamina]

Yes congratulations Crofter.

When I did my EV this morning I saw a Dr D and wondered if it was our friend.

Well done

[JoolsTwo]

Very well done crofter. I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to start with this puzzle. :-/

[gen2]

Congratulations . . . and may you win many more of the Crofter.

[ulysses100]

May I also add my pat on the back to crofter. It's always good to see another ABer winning such a crossword.

As to today's effort the quotation is rather apt -- it is easy to find.

[Christiana]

Congratulations Crofter, well deserved and a just return for all the behind the scenes tuition you've given in helping others to get going on EV's

[DocHH]

My sentiments are echoed for Crofter and this weeks theme!

[korkythekat]

congratulations crofter xx :)

[novalis]

Can only repeat what has been already said. Many congratualtions to Crofter and best wishes and happy solving to everybody for the coming year.

[Alibobs]

Well done Crofter and boy, has this site changed since I last visited!

[crofter]

Many thanks to all my well-wishers. I have been hooked on EV for almost three years ~ ever since the puzzle went on about a caravan and speed limits. It appeared to stump many EV regulars. It took me nearly three weeks to complete, but I finally did it before the solution was published.

At that point, I made the pledge that I would win the prize one day and since then I have submitted all but ten grids, I have posted off two copies each week and used only eye-catching commemorative stamps. (How sad!) Today, my perseverance has paid off ~ and I am delighted!

[rogerr]

Well done Crofter ;o))

[teacher1]

Nice one ............... or, nice won ! ;o)

[MatydaLover]

My congratulations too! And a great MMX to all.

[copelander]

Congrats. Crofter, and may I reiterate 13/36 to all EV &NCers

[DocHH]

Just a thought, as we normally use this as the EV N&C Wine Clubbers posting point, we seem to be off the point, so how are we alll toasting Crofters first win? For me it will be with my nornal Tempranillo.
I have a set of 8 pens, and therefore have not submitted completed grids for ages, the challenge of completing EV is enough. My first win was on EV 353, achieved after about 2 years submissions and I stopped submitting after EV 745 when the pen I won for that entry had changed from the elegant stainless steel pen to a cheap plastic thing! Crofter, I didn't even resort to your double entry and commemorative stamp tactics! Perhaps there were fewer of us submitting then, additionally there were 3 pens on offer per week! Far better odds!
Crofter, enjoy your pen, the nibs do write well, mine make even my illegible signature look elegant! It is a very rewarding sound as the pen in its jiffy bag makes a resounding thump on the mat after the postman puts it through the letterbox, unless you get the " You were Out" card, when you were in!!

[paulineward]

Well done...and so very well deserved! You are such ai inspiration to many on here.
Made my day that Christiana let me know. xx

[Jogler]

Many congratulations Crofter. What a fantastic start to the New Year :).

[Christiana]

Doc H H I'm afraid my toasting is in cough medicine at present, but as I'm much better today may well change all that tonight. I find most of the {Portuguese reds from the Alentejo region very palatable. Unfortunately they don't seem to travel very well, so probably not a good bet outside of the Alentejo/Algarve regions of Portugal

[novalis]

DocHH!.

My toasting was done in a very palatable S. African red.

Christiana,

Hope you are soon fully receovered.

[DocHH]

Christiana, I hope you soon shake off the bugs, in my experience some of the cough mixtures are more than last week's 9d than wine! Take care! I wish you a speedy recovery.
Novalis, in my humble opinion even the pen's packaging, the cardboard sleeve and "furry" box, and even the presentation inside the furry box have been, in the current, but abhorrent idiom, been dumbed down! How low can the Telegraph descend!