Ev Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations 1080 By Owzat

[Twit-Who]

I think I've finished this puzzle but not totally sure ..... I think I must have either made a mistake or missed the point. I have 2 of the 7 additional letters out of order and this makes for an unsatisfactory ending. Any other EVers feeling the same? Clues and grid fill easier than of late or perhaps they just suited my mind set.

[DocHH]

Hello Twit-Who,
I agree with you an easy population of the grid. And, like you I have 2 of the extra letters out of order, and feel it is an unsatisfactory ending! I missed last week's EV, we were celebrating Herself's milestone birthday.

[dr b]

An easy gridfill but as yet no idea of the theme or which 7 letters complete the grid. Will pick it up later.

[slaney]

Went back to double check - they are in the right order for me.
It took some time for the theme to come apparent, and I'm still not clear about the title. Enjoyable though.

[dr b]

Is the theme particularly UK-centric, or is it accessible to people of all nations?

[slaney]

Accessible to all dr b...

[DocHH]

Slaney, look at the lights before and after the sequence of 7 letters. It would be more appropriate if there had been more letters in the sequence. Definitely a "U" EV, dr b!

[slaney]

Not sure I get that DocHH - but that might just be the unaccustomed heat!
My sequence consists of the 7 letters + 2 to make a total of 9 (the specific 10d) which seems complete.

[Twit-Who]

It's as I suspected - I must have something wrong if your letters are in sequence, Slaney. I must look again, although DocHH seems to have the same answers as me.

[dr b]

I think I have the theme (which is not much of a theme if I am correct) but my problem is I cannot find a left-most letter for the grid which makes a real word (either in Chambers or Chambers Word Wizard) which would make a sensible sequence. Or am I totally off track?

[stephen53]

There are no letters out of order and the extra letters all make real words apart from one surname as per the preamble.

[Christiana]

Quick grid fill for me, too, after having only just completed last week's offering, but not yet identified the 7 (or 9) letters for the end game. Still, early days, will look again later.

[Cloverjo]

Well, I've finished and have what I assume is the correct sequence to fill the spaces. If my word that is not in Chambers is a surname, I've never heard it before, so I don't feel completely satisfied.

[slaney]

The surname is that of a famous painter - "Highway and Byways" was one of his.

[Cloverjo]

Oh dear, that wasn't what I thought must be the surname. I have a problem word at the other end, then.
Thank you for the info, though.

[dr b]

So, does the final grid entry at 22A appear in Chambers Word Wizard? I am still unsure of what's going on, obviously, and more confused by different posts that say the 7 letters either are or are not in order.

[stephen53]

22a is a common word found in any dictionary.

[Malcolmd]

I am in the same position as dr b. For the sequence to be in the right order my added letter to 22a does not form a word that is in Chambers. I am very confused by this.

[Crackabilly]

I have a full grid and the 7 additional letters plus their location, but not clear on what to do next. 22a I have ALAE = side petal

[stephen53]

I get the impression that most of the difficulty people are having with this is derived from the assumption that the nine-letter sequence has to be alphabetical. It doesn't and it isn't!

[slaney]

Wondering where I've gone right!
Looking again at my grid, I suspect that we are talking about different sequences; as it says in the preamble it is a specific 10d.