EV 899 Transported by Charybdis

[Jogler]

I don't think anyone has started the thread on this yet, so bid good evening to all N & Cers. We have not progressed terribly far in this week's offering and although have some idea of the subject are still very much on a work in progress. I hope you are all faring better!

[dr b]

Hi Jogler(s). Even though 1a and 14d revealed themselves pretty quickly, I had a harder time on the "clashes" and am not entirely satisfied with what might fit in 10d. also don't get the wordplay on 32a. interested to see what the rest of the crew thinks.

[turnerjmw]

Evening all. I think it all works ok. Re the "transformation" of 14 at 10, it is a standard crossword device that is used, so there are very few options. The indefinite article is omitted in the appeal As for 32a, if you look up a "caution", one meaning also appears under the grid entry.

[Jogler]

So glad to hear that you have a few problems dr b :). The h-g tells me that he thinks that for 32a you have to consider various meanings of caution and one of these, when translated, will meet the other definition. Our clashes are still partly formed and 10d is currently a mystery - belay that, the h-g has had a pdm but it does not sound very appealing to me! Looking forward to hearing other views tomorrow.

[novalis]

Agree with the caution definition. Felt this was a rags to riches crossword.
Jogler, clashes - when you have them all - will soon resolve themselves. As Turnerjmw says, the transformation of 14 to 10 is a standard crossword device and is cleverly used here.

[dr b]

Yes, I was so concerned that 14d seemed to be coming from the mouth of one of my kids rather than 10d that I failed to notice the rather basic relation between them. Re 32, I assume by "look up" you mean "go to Chambers", which I do not own. I found the "Caution in Australia" reference but don't understand the part about scallops.

[turnerjmw]

Sorry, dr b, assumed you did. Among the noun meanings listed under the word in question are:

A tag, scallop or laciniation (obsolete)
A dirt-clotted tuft of wool on a sheep
A scruffy, untidy, slovenly person (Aust informal)
A person, esp an adolescent, who is or feels socially awkward or graceless (Aust informal)
A person who is rather eccentric or comically entertaining
A heavy pistol of the 15c and 16c

[novalis]

As nobody else is N & C'ing at the moment I'll just make a bid for worst pun of the year.

Given the compiler of 899 it's to be hoped that the compiler of 900 ( and those ending .00 are always a monster ) is not Scylla.....or else we'll be well and truly sunk.

[ulysses100]

I filled the grid fairly quickly, although the three and a half words threw me for a little while. I have eight clashing letters -- 2 in 26a, 3 in 29a , 1 in 31a and 2 in 34a. - but the pdm isn't happening for me yet. Are we looking for a vehicle ? Any gentle hint gratefully received. (And I do not understand the phrase "adding 26 to values where appropriate" ).

[novalis]

Hi Ulysses100!

Looking for a vehicle + its "power" x 2. You need to look at the positions of the clashing letters in the alphabet and make your deductions from those ( hence the reference to 26 ). Trial and error should show you which one ( across or down ) should go first. It is the same for all eight.

[devadolly]

Good evening N & C'ers, as usual I am miles behind you all and just thankful that ulysses100 is also a little confused. To date I have only traced one clashing letter (but most of the work on my grid is to the N of the offensive clues) and the preamble is making no sense at all, all is definately not revealed but will plod on.

[Christiana]

Good evening. Started later on today. As with last week the preamble seemed to make no sense, but having quickly filled in a lot of the grid magically much became revealed. Haven't quite finished and still have Q10 and the 8 squares to crack, not to mention the highlighting to do, but going well so far.

[ulysses100]

Thank you so much novalis. The pdm has happened !!! Very clever. I was going through the fairy tale and looking for apt names, but I was only looking within the range of the clashing letters.
P.S. I found The Listener easier than this one this week !

[Jogler]

Yes, Ulysses - the h-g says he found the Listener easier too! As there are two of us we tend to fall into him who does the cold solving and me who deciphers the codey bit. So it was with this EV - although I have to admit that despite having a good idea of what I was meant to do I was lazy and didn't put pen to paper to double-check on workings. When I did, it all fell into place - doh. I was never very good at checking through my answers at school either! We do have one query: 23a has one unchecked letter and there are several answers that could be shoe-horned in there but a definite winner is not obvious to us. If anyone has a gentle nudge it would be appreciated.

[MLN:RUGBY]

Jogler:
23ac = Double definition
1= first word of clue (verb)
2= Three-letter abbreviation for a child's disorder

[Jogler]

Thank you MLN. Was working on that being the answer but it always niggles when the ends aren't tied!