Ev 1129

[devadolly]

No, I haven't posted to say "Wow, I've finished it", I am as usual blundering along wondering what on earth is going on.
What I have posted to say is "Where has everyone gone?" This used to be such an active friendly site which not only gave obscure and friendly hints (sometimes more imaginative than the actual clues) to we lesser mortals. Not only that, there was a really good craik about life in general in our various areas, weather, jokes, amusements, family, advice, all of which made doing the EV even more of a pleasure. Has fun been banned here too?
All the old N & Cers, Docs b & HH, Joglers, copelander, novalis, ruthrobin, christina + anyone I have left out - where are you?

[Jogler]

Here! Really struggling on the Bang - this one will be more than just a p when the dropping moment comes.... (as in a bang for your buck or some such awful pun). We are well; just back from a four generational holiday. The twins are now over 3 and our daily duties have shrunk to 1.5 days per fortnight which leaves plenty of time for the h-g to get down to crosswords again - not that that is helping on this occasion. We are looking forward to moving back nearer you in the Autumn but in the meantime are walking the footpaths of the south (just completed the South Downs Way). Hopefully more time to chat here and thank you for starting the post Dd. I trust that some of our more capable crew will come up with a few well disguised hints - we have finished filling in the grid but have no idea on the next step yet.

[jim360]

The "Bang!" in question has turned out to be rather louder than I expected. Someone else had the PDM for me, though, so I wasn't sure I should start up the thread. AB threads on EVs do seem to be rather quiet these days, sadly -- but then so do other regular crossword discussions (when I joined the Listener thread was often topping 100 posts, these days it's lucky to reach 40-odd. I think this is a coincidence!)

[Jogler]

I am sure it is a coincidence, Jim! I wonder whether the (small) number of sharply critical posts changed the tenor of the Listener thread; I also note that the number of explicit posts on the Crossword Solver site seems to have risen. As to the Ev, I can't see why it would have become less active but these things go up and down; hopefully we have reached our nadir. I will go and stare a bit at the grid and see if it gives me the answer to life etc.

[devadolly]

Hello Joglers! Lovely to see you back. Can't believe the twins are 3! I remember how excited you were on their arrival. Here's hoping some more of our 'old' regulars turn up too.
As to the EV, am plodding as ever with no hope of a PDM on my own but ill have another look later with the help of the now senior Ginger Mog.

[toalisi]

A long time EVer Kayakamina hasn't been well, but even though
he is in his 80's still does his ration of barred themed puzzles.

[jim360]

On the subject, not heard from you EV-wise in a while toalisi. Things been going OK?

[toalisi]

Hi James

Thanks for asking. There has just been so much going on that
I haven't had time for crosswords.
You can be sure I'll be seeking your help soon.
A

[devadolly]

Great to hear Kayakamina is still crosswording, he was always so helpful with heavy hints, do hope he is feeling better and is well soon....best wishes to him.

[ringer]

Hi All
Good to see some N&C again. Change of leadership at work together with increased commitments with orchestra and choirs means I seem to be always playing "catch-up" as far as EVs are concerned. Just started populating this week's - it's slow going!

[devadolly]

Whoops sorry ringer! Forgot you on the 'old' regulars list! Not another singer............. have enough trouble with Himself and choirs. Have had some help from a brain-box crosswording whizz but still doesn't really make sense, Mr Kcit has a very devious brain!.

[ringer]

Only singing in 3 choirs at the moment lol!!
Now have grid populated except 6D which I can't somehow get to work. Staring at grid but nothing obvious. Got theme tune to "Big Bang Theory" going round in my brain.

[Cagey]

I have not finished yet. About 2/3 way through grid fill and distracted by a little bird (This months Magpie).
AS there is above request for family comments Mine (other half 37, does not do crosswords, and 2 little boys 5 and 1, who dont do them either) wrote me a cryptic crossword for fathers day.

Will try to reproduce here.

1ac: Many lost, lost (4)
3ac: Raised enemy? (2)
4ac: Head of headless beetles (4)
2dn: Excuse me, can you help me? (3)

You will have to draw grid, but 1 and 4 end at ends of 2 down, and 3 begins in middle of it.

They do not do crosswords and have no real basis for clue writing, so some clues contain only cryptic parts. There is a spelling mistake in one answer that they have tried to excuse with a question mark. But still doable.
Good luck...
Stu

[copelander]

Hi all and especially DD. I'm still around and about some of the time. I ground to a halt a couple of days ago with this EV and have no idea where the relevant square is. I keep thinking of an event 100years ago but can't tie it in. I have an almost full grid apart from 17a and 29a. Am getting ready to come to the dunces corner with some wine if someone else brings nibbles and inspiration. Ps the queen in 6d is of the feline variety.

[devadolly]

Hello copelander, how's the wather with you? No doubt it will be coming our way soon and we have 15 acres waiting for the contractor, so if it is raining don't blow it west. Thank goodness the DC is about to be resumed, have just made a Victoria Sandwich, can bruing that.
Welcome to the mad house (at least I am very hopeful we can get the mad house back on track) I think you may have a budding EV compiler there.

[jim360]

It's nothing to do with an event 100 years ago -- devious scheduling again, I think!

[turast]

I'm not a regular contributor, but I am a regular reader. I thought I'd add a post, because I agree with devadolly, the EV comments have been dwindling. Perhaps its because of the holiday season, the World Cup, or, this week, Wimbledon. Incidentally, the other day, they showed actor Jim Parsons sitting in the crowd. He seemed to be applauding a particularly tricky slice.

[copelander]

Glorious weather here for the past few days, but gloomier today, so there may be rain heading eastwards. Victoria sponge sound good but need some inspiration as well!! I was encouraged to have another look at the EV and now only have 17a to solve, but no further with the grid stare.

[turast]

Hi copelander from not far up the road from you. I found 17 Across and 1 down somewhat iffy in terms of definitions. Good luck with your grid staring, because, when you are RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of the endgame, it will become obvious that one of your clashes has to be located at the end of both words.

[devadolly]

Meant East copelander! Happily all is well the rain hasn't arrived and all the black parcels are just waiting to be collected and put in the stack-yard, a great relief all round and great hopes for Himself's temper to improve.
Have to say it's great to have all the N & Cing again (for our new friends, that is nattering & chattering) as well as the help on the grid etc. Talking of which, many thanks for that HH (heavy hint) Turest and I too found the 1d/17a a bit odd, but then, I'm always half a mile behind everyone else.

[Christiana]

Hello devadolly et al. I do look in from time to time, dd, but am usually an EV, or even two, behind these days and too out of date to post. Needless to say am becoming swamped with raspberries and blackcurrants, with plums and apples threatening to follow suit shortly. Still trying to sell the house, too, with several false alarms, and journey's to Cheshire to view property.
However have an almost complete grid for this one, but at the moment, for me, no bang is happening. Will go away and check out turast's hint.