EV 883 Knocker by MynoT

[DocHH]

Hello EV N&C Wine Clubbers,
Another grim subject for EV, let's hope it doesn't occur in the future! Enough of that, it was quite doable this week without being tedious.

[novalis]

Hi DiocHH!

I''ll reply on your thread. Very enjoyable this week. I wasn't po(e)-faced when I'd finished it.

[copelander]

Sorry DocHH, Iwas quite unaware you had already posted.

[DocHH]

Thanks Novalis,
Glad you're back, missed your chirpy ri"post"es. Another EV for you Classicists! Enjoying my normal Tempranillo now. I didn't connect with everyone last week as I spent too much time in the Metropolis at the flat and away from the Internet, the Big Red Book was of great assistance however!
Hope everyone, apart from me checked in OK!
Interesting concept this week to have 2 EV threads, wouldn't happen if Search was working OK!

[turnerjmw]

A terrific puzzle. Shows they don't have to be too difficult to be enjoyable. A very well executed theme.

[crucifernz]

Difficult enough for a first timer. Thanks Novalis, your post gave me the hint I needed to nearly complete.
However, I'm stuck on two final solutions.

9 DOWN Scottish lawyer bagging a duke marries in Gretna Green (4)
I have _ADS
AD is 'a Duke', I think, but I need the first letter. Is a '_. S.' one of those uniquely Scottish legal eagles like the Procurator Fiscal. Or hints to the final answer - an actual Scots word or just a Scottish pronunciation?

Having cracked the theme, I was able to find all of the thematic answers except one. The letters I have are
HO_A_S (6). I have tried many possibilities, inserting the 4 LETTER WORD at various places, but can't come up with a viable 10 letter word meaning 'Snake'.

Would appreciate hints, or referral to an appropriate website - Chambers and One Word have been no help. Unless I've got a letter wrong somewhere...

[MatydaLover]

9D is well-hidden. You are right in that you need _S to refer to a Scottish lawyer ... it is in Chambers but when you have the two-lettered abbreviation, you'll still need to confirm it by referring to the full set of words. A tip is to look for the two letters starting from the back of the book.

The snake (in 2008) does not have its own entry ... it appears under a very, very common 4 letter prefix starting with the HO.

[novalis]

Hi Crucifernz!

Glad I was able to point you in the right direction. As a shortcut and last resort I tend to use Chambers Word Wizard. I have it on my computer's favourites menu. It's where I was able to find your snake in the grass very quickly. Echo MatydaLover's comment re the other clue. The abbreviation is for a Scottish legal official. The last two years in our quiz league we've been asked the meaning of that particular abbreviation and the same question used to be used on most series of 15-To-1.
DocHH!
Thanks for your kind words. As I explained on last wek's thread family concerns kept me away from EV for a while. ( Have just caught up them now. ) About 8 weeks ago though I fluked a win on Sunday's GK crossword. Glad you are still enjoying the wine. I've grown very partial to a few S. African reds recently.

[ringer]

Well this must be an all-time record. Have finished EV in less than one day. I agree it was a very satisfying puzzle, although I did stumble with one or two. I too, like Novalis, am celebrating a success - a quiz based on London Underground stations. The winnings might stretch to a few bottles of a decent red, supposing the cheque ever arrives!

[DocHH]

They were good hints for crucifernz, MatydaLover. I'll add my twopennorth!
Crucifernz, as far as the snake is concerned, my version of the big red book then refers me to a dedicated reference, albeit much shorter synonym, which starts with the last letter of the offending 4 letter word. Cryptically the shorter synonym could be clued as "a short passing", or "a naked backslide". In terms of 9d, I made an assumption about that, based on the "English" equivalent, which then checked out in the big red book.
Novalis, congratulations on the GK win, I have never even bothered sending that in, the odds were too long for my liking, had calculated that it would cost more in postage than the value of the prize. And as for the Saturday!
Sorry to hear you had family concerns, hope they are successfully resolved now.
Where is Devadolly, Ringer et al?

[DocHH]

Congratulations Ringer on your win, we overlapped in our postings. Will you buy something to lay down or just go for something drinkable now?

[ringer]

Mmmm - perhaps one or two for now, but I'd like to choose something special for Christmas. Any suggestions for chicken and beef roasts? I prefer a medium dry to a very dry red, no real preference for white.

[crucifernz]

Thanks very much for your help MatydaLover and Novalis. I don't have the Red Book and do rely on Chambers Word Wizard, OneLook and Google. Googling confirmed the Scottish legal abbreviation and the final solution to which I was heading anyway. As a New Zealander who has never had to use the Scottish legal system, it was new to me...
Chambers Word Wizard gave me the snake - don't know why my previous searches didn't turn it up (it must have been hiding under a stone!). Your hints confirm... and it does ring a bell now.
Well, that's my first EV ready to post. The Listener is still giving me problems ... more of that to come on the appropriate thread.

[crucifernz]

P.S. I also have the Online Scots Dictionary bookmarked at
http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/engscots.asp
Although I've learnt a lot of Scots words in the course of doing advanced cryptics of late, this EV had a definite Scots bent, so the online resource was useful.

[Christiana]

Hello everyone. Making good progress with this one. Haven't tackled the thematic clues yet but worked out the 'knocker' and what I'll have to do with them, so, hopefully will complete it later.

[devadolly]

Hello everyone. Many thanks for those kind comments last week about the demise of our lovely senior dog. The young dog is somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility as she is now in sole charge and has no mentor to turn to when things get a bit difficult.
Began the EV late last night and have about half finished it, have no idea about the Knocker bit and am wondering if I really care! Hopefully will be somewhat more optimistic after a rest on hols but a lot to do before then including getting another beast away before we go so that it will be ready about a week after we get back....cutting/pricing lists, orders (anybody know of a 16 ribbed variety of beef cattle?), turkey orders and thinking of what to take.................................................................
Will read the posts later and try and make further head(ugh)way.

Regards

[novalis]

Well done on your win Ringer.
DocHH -- family problems virtually resolved so ( touch wood - my head ) I'll be able to focus on EVs properly.
I think Christiana is more or less finished now.
Devadolly --- The Knocker does not come in by the door.
Glad you've managed to finish Crucifernz. As a Brit I don't think I'd like to be attempting a New Zealand crossword of this standard. With Christmas coming up you should drop a few ( not so ) subtle hints that a certain big red book wouldn't go amiss as a present. By the way, can you please suggest any New Zealand red wines which are available over here?

[Aloysius535]

All completed except for the african village clue - and I have four of the five letters. I believe that the first letter will be "U" - can anyone explain the clue to make it all fit please?

[novalis]

Hi Aloysius535!

Re African city clue
First two letters are a syllable representing the first note of the scale ( superseded by Do[h] )
Third letter is a standard abbreviation for "in"
Last two letters are an abbreviation for a type of qualified accountant.

[DocHH]

Devadolly, I didn't connect with last week's thread, so please accept my belated sympathy about your senior dog. When I lost mine, which wasn't a working dog, it left a big hole in my life. The Knocker could cryptically be clued as "your sullen Himself when on his tractor gathering in the crops!

Aloysius535, you are correct with the U, now look in the big Red Book for the definition first 2 letters of your grid entry. MynoT set out to deceive with the first word of the clue! Try looking that word up in the Big Red Book.

Novalis, pleased that you can devote more time to EV, family can really get in the way of enjoyment! Seriously though, it can be a tryng time when you are distracted by problems, especially when it concerns nearest and dearest.

Ringer, how about Gamay for a light red to go with the chicken or perhaps a Roussillon. How about a St Emilion for the beef, or try some of the S African reds Novalis is enjoying. Chilean reds are full bodied and not too dry! Xmas day we normally go for a Cava, we prefer the Co-op's own brand. Have however got some well known brands of champane that are quite a few years old. They have stored well and when poured are a lovely golden colour, with a well rounded flavour!

[Christiana]

Hi all,

Yes, you're right Novalis, more or less finished, more rather than less! Only one small query remains. I have 3d but can't see the connection with 'Stalky' - anyone care to enlighten me?