A Birthday -A-B-C(E-F) By Kevgar

[AHearer]

I enjoyed that (I had a slight sense of deja vu over the theme, but if I'm right I hope nobody will give the details until after the closing date). I did it in rather an odd order. With about half the clues done I made a stab at the theme, did the arithmetic from which I got a member of the second series I'd not yet guessed and the initial letters of the extra words (by coincidence I had solved hardly any of the clues with superfluous words by then), and then it was an easy trot to the end. Thanks to KevGar for an entertaining puzzle.

[Mysterons]

Agreed - the problem with this sort of puzzle is that it's often possible to solve the second stage before the first which then makes the whole thing rather easy. Initially wondered why we weren't asked to work out the correct order of the letters in the first series, but that would presumably have been too difficult without knowledge of some of the "answers" for the second series. Seem to recall the theme appeared elsewhere a few years ago for a different anniversary.

[BlackHugh]

Great puzzle I thought

IainGrace - Was there any notice that stats were available?

[tenflags]

Blackhugh .. notice has been given on the bottom of the the last two or three weeks crosswords I think

[BlackHugh]

hmm - cannot seem to see that on the on-line version. But I'll request mine now in the usual way.

[BlackHugh]

Err - sorry ignore that!

[freiheid]

I feel there's an inconsistency with the preamble. The 'second series' is explicitly defined as a sequence of numbers to be determined, although the grid entry is of course different. Yet we are asked to find another member of that series in the grid (I know what is meant, but that isn't what it says).

[Scorpius]

I'm a bit concerned about what to write below the grid. I have an arithmetical expression using all the letters in sequence, but it uses only 2 basic arithmetic operations. The preamble seems to imply that all four operations should be used. Do I have to some more calculations?

[jim360]

I think it's a case of "only the four basic operations [can] be used [though not necessarily all of them]".

In answer to an earlier comment -- I must have missed that option. But then again, one wonders if KevGar missed it too. I'd suspect the answer is "no", given the presumed grid entry in question. Wonder why it wasn't included, then?

[Cagey]

Maybe as potential trap for unwary? But maybe not as preamble blurb specifies 3

[s_pugh]

Great fun and a lovely PDM if not perhaps as difficult as some like. After the recent run of posthumous puzzles it's a good job that KevGar is still with us or I guess this might have been titled -D+E+F - in more ways than one ;¬) I don't think that gives anything away before anyone complains other than on taste grounds! Thanks for a neat puzzle.

[crosswhit99]

I'd echo that suggestion Cagey, I'm sure the setter can't have overlooked it.

[Bobbibunny]

This was my first Listener crossword. Having seen several references to it in EV threads, I decided to give it a go. Really good fun and the arithmetic at the end was rewarding! The theme did seem vaguely familiar - I suspect it's been used in EV.

[jim360]

Welcome to the Listener, then, Bobbi! Glad you found it pleasant and hope you enjoy many more Listeners to come.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, great to have you with us Bobbibunny. We are a slightly different thread from the EV one where real help is given sometimes. Here, there is a lot of muttering if anyone actually spells out any significant information about the crossword on-line. We tend to come, as you did, to share our pleasure in the crossword and breathe our sigh of relief. See you next week (we are bound to have a tough one soon, I think!)

[petefoxes]

I enjoyed this though like others I solved the second series first before working backwards.

Delighted to have won the Now You See It puzzle as well!

[bambi123]

Spent an enjoyable few hours completing this puzzle. Was not familiar with theme so used google after guessing 5 of the 7 theme entries. Spent longer than I should have working out the expression which was much simpler than expected as explained above. Thank you Kevgar.

[jim360]

Congratulations on the prize win Pete!

[sunny-dave]

Catching up after my hols - 'easy but enjoyable' sums this up for me.

Thanks KevGar