EV 968 - Four Ways set by Owzat

[kayakamina]

Hi all EVers.

A straight forward puzzle more like a Spectator crossword than an EV.

This was probably just as well as my head couldn't had coped with anything too difficult following the wonderful news that my daughter has given me another handsome Grandson.

Three weeks early caught us on the hop a bit.

Cheers - hic.

[WuTang]

mazel tov - kayakamina

[geo0939]

Congratulations K. Hope he has a full and fruitful life.

[DocHH]

Congratulations Kayakamina on the new family member, definitely a reason to crack open a bottle of something decent!
Like you I didn't find this week's EV too taxing. Even finding the author's middle name was more straightforward than finding what needed to be highlighted in last sunday's EV.

[Mampara]

Congratulations K. I hope that Mum and baby are well.

I agree that this was a very easy EV which makes a change after a couple of 'stiffies'.

[novalis]

Many congratualtions K.

Totally agree about this offering. Allowed myself a couple of hours away from marking and admin. this morning for the three S.T. crosswords but didn't need it all.

[devadolly]

Good Afternoon Everyone. Many congratulations K on the safe arrival, must be something about this site and grandchildren.
As you all say a very simple EV this week, hardly strained the brain at all. Not so with last week's, admittedly I only began it on Friday but it is taxing me somewhat. I have only three of the determinates and only two of the 11 lettered clues although I think I have the 16 letters to be highlighted (tho' to where they are to fit I am clueless). I am at a loss to explain why so many of the clues are fairly obvious but I'm finding the rest of them so difficult.

[Christiana]

Congratulations K. DD, I'm with you. Have romped through this week's offering though I have to admit the reasoning behind the answer to 25a is still eluding me, but like you started last week's late and found some clues very easy and others much trickier. I'm returning to the fray now, both crossword and a return to 'normal' life on Tuesday, when I go home. Am hoping to make more progress when I have access to the BRB etc.

[novalis]

Christiana, 25 across is a word for a game minus one letter which gives the American name for a school subject. We normally have S on the end.

[devadolly]

Hi Christina, news of the Ground Elder, have attacked it on all fronts....Round-up then Weedone (specialist lawn weed-killer with a specific that will kill violets - oh, believe me, when they get into the lawn NOTHING slows then down) topped it with a spray of Gramoxone and the cocktail seems to be working! We have yet to attack the nettles in the fields but when we do I am going to try anpother patch to see the effect that has. I know digging it up is the real answer but I just don't have the time to spend in Ma-in-law's garden as well as my 1/2 acre patch.
Does anyone have knowledge of good restaurants in Winchester or Andover as Himself is singing down there in a week or so and a few 'groupies' have muscled in on the trip.

[slaney]

Wonderful news indeed K - congratulations!

A good crossword with lots of thematic material - I think it would have been better if the latter had not been spelled out so precisely in the preamble.

[gordonia]

Many congratulations K,and my very best wishes to you all!! :-))

[Christiana]

Novalis - thanks for the explanation. Guessed that was the answer but couldn't see the game part.
DD Will try your 'ground elder cocktail' as soon as I get home. (And perhaps something more flavoursome for myself!) I fly later today to Birmingham, then spend the night in Coventry at a friend's house, before motoring home. Let me know if you hear of any effective solutions to my horsetail problem.

[kayakamina]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Mother & baby are both well and going home tomorrow.

Another excuse to re-charge my glass!

[novalis]

Hi Kayakamina!

Just before I go back to work.....Do you really need an excuse to re-charge your glass? I never do! Best wishes.

[Euphemia]

Congratulations!

[turast]

The lamp man had one letter too many
Of "Es" there are not any
Or was the entry on Wicki
Just taking the Mick(e)y?

P.S. Did anyone else, like me, forget to drop the aitch in "The Road to Wigan Pier"?

[novalis]

Turast!

I've had some looks in my big books and this is what I've found there;
OQD has an E but other books don't give one;.
It matters not that I'm a swot and often called a square,
The extra letter is from the setter and this EV was fun.

I dropped my aitch but still didn't win;
I never do, so just sit and grin.

[turast]

Novalis

Thank you for the response, and you might want to check your rhyme scheme. I also did some digging in my big books.

Hutchinson's Encylopaedia, The Chambers Crossword dictionary, The Chambers Dictionary (BRB), Chambers Crossword Lists, all give the first name without an E

The Chambers Dictionary of Science & Technology with an E.

Bradford's gives Crockett & Jones.

Novalis was cool, but Turast was frantic
The former no fool, the latter pedantic.
Owzat spells it with an "E" then a "Y"
So, if that's all that matters, we wish you "Goodbye".

[novalis]

Hi Turast!

Terza rima, pentameter
Never were my forte;
I'm just an unskilled amateur
And must admit it's naughty
To muse on this without a muse
To guide my thoughts to light my fuse.
So please forgive my heinous crime
Of offering such a paltry rhyme.

I wonder how the lampman himself spelt his name.

[AndrewG-S]

I have been on hols, so a late post.
Congrats K you must be the most
happy solver to write
on the AB site.

An easy fill
Off to swill
Another fine
Glass of wine