ev 880

[MatydaLover]

Anyone else wondering why the clue to 11 Across begins with the letter "B" ?

[dr b]

Beally, I would have to say that was quite an ebbob. Almost buined the puzzle fob me.

[DocHH]

Hello MatydsLover and dr b,
Certainly more challenging than of late, had me off "balance" for a while, the "B" at 11ac didn't help!

[Christiana]

Thanks for the warning. Haven't got far enough to worry about it yet, but had got a large B against the clue number.

[ulysses100]

I am now just getting into this particular puzzle having been busy over the weekend. It was thus a pleasnt surprise to see that I am the winner of EV 877, the one about Procrustes and his bed. I've been trying for ages and ages to win this particular crossword (haven't we all ?)so it fills me with great pleasure. Let us hope that another ABer is the winner soon. (just to boast it was great to win the Inquisitor one the other weekend with all of those hidden poets). Happy solving !

[slaney]

Well done ulysses - I thought I saw a familiar name!

And the "Swirling Poets" Inquisitor one too - a good one to win.
I managed to get one of the bottles of champagne for the next one - are these Inquisitors getting more difficult or is it just me?

[DocHH]

Christiana, no doubt you spotted dr b's hint at the correct letter! I thought his post was superb! BTW I quite agree with you about your currency speculation, in your situation it's probably best if the pound loses strength against the €. Are you going back to be near family?
Congratulaions ulysses100. I know I'm not going to win, as I don't send it in anymore!

[MatydaLover]

Great news ulysses100, congratulations from me too!

[copelander]

Well done Ulysses( and Slaney for next week ) . I thought I recognised the name as a previous Inquisitor winner.This EV took me quite a while yesterday and the wbong didn't help.

[devadolly]

Many congrats Ulysses100 - another quack (forgive levity friends!) - a DocHH or a copelander (drb unknown)? Haven't even looked at this week's EV as am definately chasing a deadline, sobs and pleading to the Ed. Will retire soon to DC with a bottle of VG fizz (care of the No 1 niece) and wedding cake to regain equilibrium after a most splendid 'Bit of a Do'. Will try and regain control of the intellectual side of the brain and get it done - have to say, don't have great hopes this week as have arrived home from the 5* luxury to a half ton of damsons on the doorstep and a washing up bowl full of shrimps in the fridge! Can't do with waste..........................................

Regards to all

[Christiana]

Hello all. Busy day so haven't opened EV but 'got' the hint, thank you, Doc H. H. I'm hoping to have the best of both worlds' and spend part of my time in an apartment owned by two of my three sons. It's in a lovely spot in a little Algarvean fishing village. For the rest I'm probably going to Lincolnshire, where I have friends and property is relatively inexpensive. Two of my sons (different combination) live in the Isle of Man and I worked there for a long time, so I can spend time there, but property and also travel to and fro is expensive, so I'm unlikely to actually buy anything there, at least for the while.

[crofter]

Sincere Congratulations to ulysses100 and slaney for recent wins with difficult crosswords.
I note that only BED was highlighted (and not IRON BED).
Both are regular contributors to MM Link Games!

I continue to submit EV (over 100 submissions so far) but without success.

As long as the actual winners are those I respect, it doesn't sting so much!

I note that this week's three declared winners of The Spectator contained two entries from Switzerland. So much for "random selection"!

[dr b]

I wonder, if I had sent in my answers, how the EV folks would have handled my highlighted "IRON"? It would hard to argue that it was wrong - perhaps it would be rejected as "overly right." We shall neveb know. Anyway, congrats to Ulysses, or "Dr Stephen Clarkson," (as if *that* is your real name).

DD, I am not a medical doctor, I just have a doctoral degree (in Finance). I like to make that clear in case someone needs CPR. "Is there a doctorate in the house??"

[Christiana]

Sorry Ulysses and Slaney, meant to include my congratulations in my last post. As Crofter says, it doesn't hurt too much as long as the winner is someone you respect. In fact I won EV very early on in my attempts to solve it, at least partly as a result of a couple of hints and some tuition from Crofter, who was very noble about the upstart then going on to get the prize. I've still got the Speccie in my sights but no look so far.

[Christiana]

No look? oops, meant 'no luck'

[MatydaLover]

The chances of winning a prize used to be greater because there were 3 prizes each week. That changed somewhere between ev 700 and ev 734 (my means of scanning a copy did not include the winners' list between those). In the really early days the prize included a book token as well as a pen.
Last time I enquired there were about 500 entries each week ... so from 3 in 500 it is now a 1 in 500 chance of being the first opened. Still, a lot bettter than Euromillions!
Am I the saddest EVer ever for keeping all those copies?

[DocHH]

I won my first pen for EV 343

[ringer]

Hi all
Incredibly busy, so have not managed to get to grasps with this week's EV. Have populated about half the grid and got the general idea but still loads more to do. I've never won EV :-( but did get a pen years ago for the Saturday cryptic :-) Ah well, back to the marking!!!
Ooo, nearly forgot- well done ulysses

[DocHH]

Dr b,
For tis weeks Speccie try

http://www.spectator.co.uk/article_assets/articledir_10674/5337026/crossword.pdf

or even
http://www.ayh875.btinternet.co.uk/crossword.pdf

A word of warning though it is notexactly demanding! That is not a hint. BTW my investments need CPR!

[dr b]

thanks docHH.

For a while last fall, my best advice would have been to stock up on canned goods and bottled water. We seem have stepped back from the financial abyss, anyway.

[DocHH]

Hope the links work OK, my Financial Advisor descibed a portfolio of investments as a kitchen. Freezer, long term, fridge medium term and larder/pantry as use soon! As I don't need extra income am taking a 3 to 5 year view! Only concern is "will annuity rates slide any further! Although my remaining pension funds have GARs!