ev 778

[ulysses100]

I have completed the grid (bar one letter -- the first to 42ac ?SSES, which I presume is Asses, but cannot derive it from the clue (with an extra word -- Judge having Alzheimer's lost seven gold coins).
I can see the departure and arrival points and getting there by (?) Britain's favourite airline, but I cannot see the two letters to be taken from each redundant word that make any sense. Any hints or clues would be most welcome.

[MatydaLover]

e - S is a sovereign, a gold coin. Starts from assess.

Look at a map of the US. Then think post office.

[slaney]

42a I thought was, to judge=asses(s)
lost seven "s"

[ulysses100]

Thank you for the hint MatyadaLover --- I think that the penny (or dime) has dropped. Still a bit of working out to do though !

[crofter]

Somewhat strangely, Asses is the plural of As.

"Alzheimer's" is the redundant word, from which we extract AZ which I can confidently state is a well-known abbreviation!

[MatydaLover]

Thank you crofter, please ignore my first line of rambling.

[novalis]

Serendipity this week! I set a quiz round earlier this year in which all the answers ( 20 ) were abbreviations featuring among the 47 here. All easy questions like "Which two letters go in front of Alkmaar to make the name of a Dutch football club?" Never as lucky in winning though.

[Physicsgirl]

I have finished my grid!!! Without asking for hints!!
This is a bit of a first for me. Must have had good mentors. Now got to find my other letter pairs, but at least I know what I'm doing. Might even enter this week....

[Christiana]

Finished the grid apart from one light and answered the various questions re. the journey, but still puzzling over 7d. which appears to be 'chosen' or possibly 'closen'. Must be missing something obvious. Any explanations please?

[cruciverbali]

Ignore naming
Well-nigh acceptable = Coo(l)
without = sen
Definition gives an obsolete word for a relation

Cruciverbalist

[Christiana]

Thanks very much C. for your prompt and early reply. I had worked out the 'naming' omission based on the two letter combinations and actually looked up the correct word but couldn't find it . Have now looked again and it is there (!) - just didn't look carefully enough.

[Physicsgirl]

Have posted my entry. Obviously, will win. Planning how to spend my �15.......
Hope everyone is well, and thanks again for all tuition received!