EV 1023 Phoenix byRasputin

[Twit-Who]

This puzzle was just the right degree of difficulty for me - some have been far too easy of late. Last few clues took a while before all fell into place. However there were four wrong word lengths - sloppy editing again. Although in this case it didn't really matter it does occasionally make a big difference.

[devadolly]

Good Morning All! Many congratulations Novalis, I keep sending that oine off and hoping............
Very late starting this one and like everyone am getting very irritated by the poor editing, in this case the letter lengths didn't matter but sometimes they do and it is very hard for those of us who find the EV a challenge.
Got the theme quite early and am only stuck with the 6a/10d cross as I want 6 to be one thing which makes what I want for 10 totally impossible???? Have the bottom line of the shading but as I can never decide which letters to leave out from the subs indications I never get the instructions - lateral thinking tends to get me there rather than logic.

[Christiana]

Congratulations Novalis. Devadolly I am exactly the same regarding subs indications and extra letters, but seem to get there with an intuitive leap. Have been meandering on and soon got thematic answers and eventually the over-riding instruction, but like Novalis became stuck on 19 and 21a, plus also 27a, so would welcome clues for these but not answers please.

[novalis]

Many thanks to everybody for their kind words. Had an unexpected but more than welcome visitor on Tuesday who didn't leave until earlier today which meant I got behind with work and this. Now have the grey area complete but still cannot get 29 across. Any hints would be more than welcome please.

[novalis]

Christiana.

21a a word for judge reversed round a word for the moral of a story and think what a U.S. meaning of story is as well.
27a a word for object + abbreviations of last two words of clue.

[dr b]

novalis, the man is from the north of Eastern Europe; East performs its usual function but South is abbreviated in a somewhat unusual way for a cryptic.

[novalis]

Many thanks Dr. B.

[devadolly]

Do you think some kind person could give me a clue about the 6a/10d problem I have please? I am now thinking my 31a must be wrong, I have the back-end of a particular insect as the answer????

[novalis]

Hi DD!

6a - Common Latin name for a dog + 3 letter word for trick ( criminal ) reversed. The letter latent is from the second part.
10d - Abbreviation of constant + first letter ( beginning ) of retirement + four letter word for rest from work or, in fact, any form of rest.

[Christiana]

Thanks, Novalis, for earlier hints. Have all but done now and wondered why I didn't see 27a before - it was ever thus.

But, despite having the proposal sussed I still haven't really come to grips with 19a. I have a possible answer but it doesn't really satisfy me. Am I right in thinking that the 7th letter is not a clash but the other shaded parts of 19a are?

[novalis]

Christiana, Re 19 across The clashes are 4th, 5th and 7th letters.

[devadolly]

Thanks for the help novalis, always there for us aren't you? Much appreciated. That not withstanding, your construction of 10d is what I have, but I just cannot marry it with the 6a, now whether my 8d or/and my 13a are wrong I just don't know but what with those two and 27a (despite your sterling efforts to tip me the right way) I am floundering. I suspect it is the thought of 20 lambs bearing down on me on Mon and the prospect of sorting out all the orders and the appearance of some ripe red-currants & raspberries I can feel a panic attack coming on!

[Christiana]

Whoops, sorry Novalis, I meant to say 6th not a clash, which agrees with what you're saying, but still can't totally sort out the cryptic bit of the clue.

Devadolly, you've given me the horrors. I don't have redcurrants, but I do have lots of raspberries, and I haven't looked at them for a couple of days - too busy on the pesky weeds and dodging the rain. I will peer through my fingers at them tomorrow. At least I won't see any lambs "bearing down".

[novalis]

Christiana - For 19 across think of an old word used by sailors for those unfamiliar with the sea or sailing. Part of that will give you the first part of the answer. There is a double consonant ( 3rd and 4th letters ).

DD - 6 across The dog's name is the Latin for "I trust".

[Christiana]

Hi Novalis - yes, it seems to be the word I had in mind and I have some idea of how the cryptic part works. It just seemed rather vague to me - perhaps I'm missing something. Anyway thanks for the help and the confirmation. I can put it to bed now (where I'm going, as well)