EV 904

[AndrewG-S]

The answer fell out very quickly this week, particularly the theme from the down clues. I am turning my hand to The Listener for the first time, but it seems to be all numbers, not quite what I was expecting! Anyway nothing better to do on a filthy rainy day.

[dr b]

Hi Andrew. Yes, this week's EV was more like an easyish Spectator. Perhaps it is compensation for the brain-busting Listener. Warm up the calculator (or, preferably, spreadsheet).

[DocHH]

Hello everyone,
Quite agree, this was an easy EV, although as my father was a Cabinet Maker I was initially mislead.

Dr b, how did "mrs dr b" enjoy her sojourn here? Have you any plans to visit?

AndrewG-S, there is a school of thought that you should not attempt the Listener without medical supervision!

[dr b]

By the way this week's Listener thread is here and might prove useful.

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question867225.html

[dr b]

Well, howdy Doc, we crossed each other. Mrs dr b and daughter had a grand time. My daughter is blogging during her semester there (or here, depending on your vantage point) so you can read all about it:

http://mushypeas.blog.co.uk/

[Christiana]

Hello all, for once was able to start early - this p.m - and romped through it. Enjoyed it nevertheless. Have not tried the Listener, but don't have access to it at the moment. Probably just as well as EV and The Spectator are usually all I can fit in to a week, though it looks like I might be twiddling my thumbs for a day or so, at least as far as crosswords are concerned.

[novalis]

Hi everybody!

Composed myself and completed it before I went shoppin.

[kayakamina]

As others have said it was fairly easy going, but my weekend was spoiled by the Listener offering.

If there is anything that can put a stop to a mini run of completed puzzles this is it. I must have a hole in the part of my brain for numbers.

[Jogler]

Well there you are... do you know I searched every combination of ev/EV/name/number etc etc.... how silly! Not going to write all my comments again

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question868136.html

but they seemed to feature the Listener also!

[DocHH]

Nice blog from your daughter, dr b, have bookmarked it and will keep track. Pleased she is being made as welcome here as I was in Georgia Tech. She might even meet a potential son-in-law! Let me know via an EV thread if you intend visiting, I'd be happy to meet and buy you a warm beer or even lunch! I kept the detail you sent to allow Jogler(s) to receive pdfs of EV while they were here/there dependant on your perspective.

Christiana, I hope you have resolved your property dealings and are now settled and not needing to transport our big red friend everywhere!

Novalis, I did wonder if you might be out cutin wood for the fire!

[novalis]

DocHH!

Enough of these impromptu comments!

[DocHH]

Novalis,
I hate orchestrating these things!

[AndrewG-S]

Thank you for the listener thread, I have not really got far enough for it to help yet. Have got the 2s, a couple of the 4s and some ideas on the 3s, but I fear it is hours to progress much from here...

[novalis]

Hi DocHH!

Just come back on after fortifying the inner man with a couple of glasses of S. African red. It's nice to see you're at concert pitch.

[DocHH]

Novalis, I hope we have provided the appropriate prelude for Devadolly and Copelander to join our Polish Dance!

[copelander]

I'm waltzing my way into this thread, thanks DocHH, not having spent too long on the crossword. There was a similar theme on a recent puzzle. It must have been an Inquisitor as no-one else has alluded to it. I had a peek at your daughter's blog. Drb....what a good time she seems to be having! I would echo everything she says about Warhorse, a wonderful production. I'm back to London again in 2 weeks time,and this time it's a first for me, a trip to Covent Garden Opera House to see Romeo and Juliet.

[dr b]

Overtime in Vancouver! 2-2 USA/Canada for the last gold medal.

Copelander - yes, she does get around. I think trips to Seville, Prague, Rome and Athens (should the latter still exist in a few months) are in the works.

Doc - no plans to visit for me, I'm afraid. And her boyfriend back in Boston might object to any son-in-law hunting.

[AndrewG-S]

A weary AGS this morning, finished the Listener at 1am, with a rather unhappy wife. dr b I think a spreadsheet was essential, could not see how anyone could solve without, unless I missed some elegant trick. Back to EV for me

[slaney]

Well done AGS - I absolve myself from even attempting a numerical Listener, as I know it will all end in tears.
You will have found EV 904 a bit of light relief.
Copelander you are right - this EV has the same title as a recent Inquisitor- the "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius" one.

[cruciverbali]

Well done Andrew - the numerical Listeners are all solvable using calculator alone (albeit one with a long display in this case !), though others have also mentioned the use of spreadsheets, a skill I have yet to acquire ! I must confess I stayed up late on Friday night to do this one, and also had to face the music domestically !

I didn't manage to get hold of the ST yesterday and would be most grateful if someone could please e-mail me a copy:

[email protected]