ev 860

[devadolly]

Good afternoon EVers. I know I am early but have been in need of light relief from the boring piece I am trying to finish so just thought I would check and see how difficult this week's is considered to be. Haven't got mine yet as the papers hadn't arrived when Himself went to get them this am. and no-body has had time since, so, what is it like?
Caught a complaint about the layout in Q & P so have added my two-pennoth, seems 'they' have really boobed this week!

Regards

[copelander]

Devadolly, check the dreaded Solv. Strats., they give the most obvious "doctored" clue, 20 something down....it's an anagram with only one of the 2 word answer to be entered. You will immediately mentally pair the unentered word with another word which is in turn an example of an unclued light. ( 4 or 5 D maybe ). That makes it sound far more complicated than it actually is; but I would suggest makes it worth another look. More rain again here today DocHH, but a terrific high of nearly 14. Guests (6 in all ) arriving this evening for the weekend, so I foresee a busy but enjoyable few days. Perhaps a glass or two of sparkling tonight !

[novalis]

Hi PG!
To add to Copelander's advice
29d is the two word anagram and it is paired with the unclued entry at 2d.
Hi Copelander!
Enjoy the weekend.

[devadolly]

UUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! You are all making me finish this aren't you? You are the horridist set of friends a girl could have......................
Have got the garden of Eden bit of 29d and I presume the second word morphs into the 5d but is that a t or a d? I HATE THIS CROSSWORD! I presume that 6a also has a great deal missing from it's interior to leave us with a season - or am I way off?
Have a lovely time this weekend Copelander but make sure you kick them out before they begin to rot!

Oh dear, I have just seen Novalis's entry, doesn't fit in at all - totally out of it now IHTC.

In my defense, I have managed to track down the Speccie and used it to make a usually very hard session with a client pass very quickly by convincing them that doing xwords was good for the innner man - I lied!!!!!! IHTC

[novalis]

Hi Devadolly!
It is 29d with 2d as you've observed. Hope you are no longer lost there.
6a is a season ( to be entered ) + three letters at the end.
That fits with the diagonally opposite unclued answer.
6d is d rather than t.

[novalis]

Sorry, that should have been 5d ( not 6d ) ends with d rather than t.

[Physicsgirl]

No time again today! Took mini PG swimming for the first time which was good for the soul. I second DD's sentiments about the crossword, but intend to finish. Have the theme, know what to do, just need to make the grid look a little less sparse .... have a good weekend, all!

[ringer]

Evening all
What a week - long term illness with two of my department means loads of extra work. No time for garden parties ( no weather for them either here) and daren't indulge in a much longed-for bottle of red mid week. Is everyone celebrating the bank holiday? I'm just hoping that on Sunday EV goes back into the mag so i can also do the sudokus without my pen showing through that flimsy paper
Enjoy the weekend everyone!!

[dr b]

Re 8d, can someone educate me as to the wordplay involving "east anglian girl"? is there a UK-ism I need to learn there?

[ringer]

mor (under mauther) is in Chambers meaning a girl - term used especially in East Anglia - v obscure. I wonder how long it takes to compile each EV?

[dr b]

yeesh - v v obscure, I'd say. The only def. of MOR I could find was "Humus which forms a discrete layer on top of the soil." Unless East Anglian girls are exceptionally unattractive, I did not think that could be it! Thanks.

[Physicsgirl]

Oh, I hang my head in shame. In a sudden flurry of activity, filled in much of the grid. I feel I must explain myself - it was all wrong due to misinterpretation of the wordplay on 6d - I had MARIAN (main+ar from tear) or MARINA (same reasoning) or even MARTINA (in case it was one of those pesky clues). 6a puzzled me exceedingly as I didn't realise there were two ways to spell somersault - please could you explain the wordplay on that one? Nothing would fit! I'd also tippexed out my 11a - which was the first clue I got. Aaaargh. Thank you all so much for your patience.

Ringer - which subject do you teach? Hope the exam season is kind to you - ahh, the mystical time "once my exam classes have gone" ....... always plan to do a million things then and manage about half!

[DocHH]

Physicsgirl, To tot is to do the first three letters of the entry to 6a, and the 3 letters that link to 38a are defined in Chambers as a complete apparatus!
Have had a pleasant day in the subshine, probably 22�C, walking along the seafront, enjoying the French market there and also the Classic car event. Gardening this afternoon, now sitting in the Conservatory reading ahead of the M&S Dine in for �10.00 deal, Haddock Mornay with roasting summer vegetables, followed by Tiramisu and washed down with Dolphin Bay Chardonnay!! Relaxing to ready myself for tomorrows EV!

[devadolly]

Snap Doc - well almost, got the Le Froglet for a change because neither of us like Chardonnay + the Belgian Choc Mousse - excellent value isn't it? Also, we had it last night, tonight it is smoked salmon/egg salad with Jersey Royals and a Chilean SB. PS. those are home-grown free range eggs and home smoked salmon straight from the river + rocket, lettuce, onion and watercress from the garden-cannot grow radishes, the soil is too rich!
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to all who have pushed me to the edge of oblivion on this damned Xword.............I finished it and prompty screwed it up and threw it in the shredder! So there! Thank you all for the help, you really did take me from no-where this week.
Physicsgirl, well done for getting the miniPG into her waterwings so soon, they learn so quickly as baby's (used to teach Ma and baby classes in the olden days) just be prepared that she might, just might, suddenly become very fearful when she learns to walk, something to do with the gravity/terra firma thing I believe, they seem to soon get over it if you persevere with a couple of weeks of screaming and howling and then they are off like little fishes!

[DocHH]

So we aren't the horridest friends after all!!
Asta Manuana