EV 999 All Change by Loda

[ringer]

Happy New Year to all EVers. My New Year resolution - to try and find time to tackle every EV - and so far I have kept to that! A gratifying puzzle to start 2012. Must apologise for my non-appearance in recent weeks - singing in 3 choirs over the festive season left very little time for any other diversions. I trust you are all keeping well and I wish you every success in the coming year.
PS Congrats to Slaney!

[novalis]

Happy New Year to all EVers. A nice puzzle to start the year. Next week's will be a real goodie I hope!!

[dr b]

Hi all, happy new year and congrats to Slaney as well.

Nice puzzle to start the year. Even though what to do became apparent early on, it was still some work to dot all the t's and cross all the i's........ so to speak.

Let's hope 2012 is not both a birthday and a funeral for the thematic item!!

[AndrewG-S]

Happy new year everyone. A fine start to the new year this one, quite tricky to finish off I thought.

[DocHH]

Hello everyone,
Have been away for the New Year weekend, so have yet to even start this EV, but would like to add my best wishes to all EV contributors and lurkers for a prosperous and healthy 2012. I'm recording tomorrow, so might not actually get to grips with 999 until wednesday!
I'm anticipating something out of the ordinary for next week's offering!

[devadolly]

A belated Happy New Year to all EV'ers, may we all N & C happily and peacefully all year! Not had a chance to do more than glance as away having far too good a time away from the Grindstone for New Year, managed to win the Treasure Hunt which was quite fiendish as set by a crossword expert (in fact some of the clues were couched in terms the EV compilers would be pleased with).
You are as bad as Himself ringer, he was out every nioght for a week carolling away with one mob or another!

[slaney]

Another late Happy New Year to all from me.

I got to grips to this one yesterday, and as others have said , even with the theme grasped early, a bit of painstaking work was needed to complete.

Pleased to have won, (even though they have managed to misspell my name!)

[AndrewG-S]

slaney, congratulations on your win, good to have an AB regular's name in lights. I still await my turn with patience....

[DocHH]

Cogratulations Slaney! A topical theme given the current situation!

[slaney]

Indeed DocHH! Let's hope, as dr b says, demise is not imminent.

The Telegraph is rather miserly, only giving one winner per week. The Inquisitor is a far better bet AG-S, as it's not online and the entry is small - I must have had at least 5 bottles of champagne in the last two years or so.

[haggis58]

I'm nearly there with completion but have come to a standstill. Can anyone hepl me with 9d and 11ac?

[ulysses100]

9d pun ctures
11a cholic (bile)

[devadolly]

A belated congratulations to Slaney.
Where does one get the Inquisitor? Not that I am likely to do very well at that either! Am blundering through the grid but feel very brain dead about it all, can someoine give my another hob-nailed hint about the title please. I know there have been a couple in previous posts but they haven't hit the spot. Thanks.

[haggis58]

Thanks Ulysses - just have one more clash to find which must be at intersection of 4d and 12ac. Any hints?

[haggis58]

Forget my last post. Found the last clash at 35a. Now finished.

[AndrewG-S]

devadolly, you may have many of the clashes rattling around in drawers as people are reluctant to throw them away. There is a course a chance if the current financial crisis continues that some may become useful again, particularly if you are planning a holiday to Athens

[devadolly]

Thank you Andrew G-S, the 'penny' has at last dropped and progress made.