guardian genius

[foxygirl]

help please with 14 ac
I thought knows the ropes but not sure.

also

17 ac. end hugging pine, a retrograde tree. (8) ?n?a???o

24 ac salt in article consumed by bird (8) t?t?????

[johnalex]

24a Titanate . . . . tit AN ate

[foxygirl]

ah thanx johnalex

[johnalex]

Cheers foxygirl - so what's the clue for Q14a ?!

[foxygirl]

sorry
presumably has played work before and is on the ball.
(5,3,5) only letters i have for sure are K???? ?h? ?????

[johnalex]

14a Knows the score . . . . on the ball, eg footie

[foxygirl]

ooo i think this xword is beyond me.
thanks again

[johnalex]

. . . . also 'played work' / score (music). Does this have any effect on 17a ?

[foxygirl]

unfortunately know but it helps with forms dismissed, given punishment (8) o?t???n?

[johnalex]

Apologies for daft question - both clues are across!
Are your existing letters for 17a guaranteed ? ja

[foxygirl]

the K & O definitely are but the A is not a cert

[johnalex]

Outlines . . . . out / dismissed, lines / punishment

[foxygirl]

i had that but the n is in the wrong place because of titanate it is o?t???n?

[johnalex]

Have to log off foxygirl but will check progress later, after Budweisser injections. ☺ja

[foxygirl]

Kewl johnalex enjoy the buds :)

[Quizmonster]

It is 'outlines, Foxy. As regards letter positioning, remember that you have to 'fiddle' the letters according to the instructions given. As a result, the 8-letter answers look nonsensical in the end.

[Quizmonster]

I could tell you what the encoding system is, if you haven't worked it out, but that would just spoil the fun of the thing for you.

[johnalex]

Thanks for clarification QM2 & Good Luck Foxygirl! ja

[Quizmonster]

QM1, John...QM1! That was established some time ago, certainly on the basis of AnswerBank longevity..

[johnalex]

Yikes!! No excuses, I should have remembered that QM1. Please accept respectful apologies! Regards, ja

[Quizmonster]

No problem, John. I tend just to smile nowadays when, for example, I'm thanked for a response in the name of Quizmonkey or Quizmaster.
I've never really understood why AnswerBank ever allowed such similar user-names, though other members have had a much worse time of it than I've ever had.
The QM1/QM2 issue hasn't raised its head for ages and - if that's all I have to worry about - things can't be too bad, eh? Cheers