Ev N0 1592- Warning- By Gaston

[Matakari]

Bonjour, and I will speak in English to say that I hope this is the final hurdle for me. I am happy to have discovered much of the French references. I have learned much from this puzzle though I was tempted to abandon. Having reached so far, I’ve decided to come back and give it a final shot. I am up against an added difficulty. I can no longer access the link to the puzzle supplied by Rick and two clues are affected by this for which I extend my apologies. Thanks in advance for seeing me through the following:

20a Arm British prince ( 4 ): B?ES
29a Nautical cut short for Scottish island ( 4 ): EH?M
31a Further trouble around Mexican city (7) : ??R?L??
15a ASS?N ( Sorry, I can no longer access the clue..)
27a REE?E?T ( Sorry, I can no longer access the clue, and don’t follow the hint. )

28d Soars around like cooks (6 ) ??A?TS ( ROASTS- with hints? )
9d ?U?C? ( OUNCE ) - Sorry, I can no longer access the clue..)

[Neveracrossword]

20 Themaric - so your language skills should helo!
31 A four --letter 'further' with a usual three-letter trouble, verb, reversed
15 Abbreviation - your n is wrong
27 There's no point in yet another hint - Re-erect,from Re-elect.
28 The change is in the first word, If you took As, like, from the answer, you'd have...

[Calibax]

31a Morelia

[Neveracrossword]

9 Yucca, plant.

PS Matakari, didn't you print off a copy when you accessed the link?

[Matakari]

Many thanks, all! I do not have a printer, so I’ve been copying the clues from the link, but have omitted to save all of them and now the link is no longer functioning. It’s probably a problem from my end again. I have now reached the end of the line with two suspicious answers. Thanks again for guiding me along!
29a Nautical cut short for Scottish island ( 4 ): RH?M
( I suspect it’s a thematic and I hope I’m not too drunk to think so!)
36d LOOR

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. It'd be beyond my capabilities, but maybe not yours - take a screenshot of the link?
29 Rhum(b)

36 D Lair - so you'be obviously got an error..

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, a rare word is GRIG! Just for the future if luck smiles on me and I complete an EV, do you have to be a subscriber to submit?

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. After all my years of hard work and scouring Chambers, it's not 'luck' that sees me finishing an EV! No, you don't have to be a subscriber.

[Matakari]

Hahaha, I'm beginning to get muscles from lifting the BRB, but I'm probably not always looking in the right direction. In any case, I'm learning a lot and I'll persevere. Could you give me the e-mail for submitting to the EV for the future? Thanks!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, have you got the proper copy of the blank grid with the name and address box underneath? That's what I have always sent off - and that's what still there with Rick's link. (And I think the paper ued to refer to sending off or ending in the 'coupon'.) I haven't got the email address to hand, but I'll make a point of looking out for it at the weekend - and next week's puzzle might be more Matakari-friendly!

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I only see Rick's link when it functions, but no address. I'll look out for it at the week-end. Cheers!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari - I mentioned the copy of the grid because I wasn't sure what you were planning to send in...it'd be quite time-consuming to construct a nice neat copy of it, with bars and numbers (and I'd hope that would be acceptable, but who knows?) It'd be so much better if you could print off Rick's link- maybe you should work on doing that, getting your computer to do that?

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I'm back on my own computer, so was able to access the address. Puzzles go to [email protected] - the puzzle name and number must be entered in the subject box.

[Matakari]

Merci beaucoup, NACW, for your advice on accessing the grid for the EV. Hope that this week's will not be too taxing. And thanks very much for the e-mail. Looking forward to a warm Speccie tomorrow!

[Neveracrossword]

Morning, Matakari. I don't think 'warm' is the word I'd use to describe today's Spectator puzzle! It is certainly very Matakari- friendly and Doc's doing his bit for the environment, more recycling (of the theme this time)but...

[Matakari]

Good afternoon, got an offer to try my hand at "Full of beans" by Road Gamer from the Crossword centre. One glance at the preamble deters me Have a look and tell us what you think. Thanks in advance!
www.crossword.org.uk/beans.html

[ProfessorMaisie]

The puzzle was made available early with a couple of errors in the preamble (these were corrected over the next couple of days). The correct version should read - 'Finally, solvers should highlight five cells in an across entry... and six cells in a down entry' (originally 'across' and 'down' were swapped and it was 'seven', not 'six').
The preamble could have been more helpful regarding the 'thematically clued' element of the thematic answers, so it might help to know that there is a common (usually multi-word) definition of a 5 letter word in all eight thematic clues.
Piecing together the scattered clues is particularly difficult - definitions and wordplay are separated, no answer lengths are given and some clues are pretty obscure (and then you've got to guess which seven of the eight thematic answers to change).
On the plus side, filling the grid to begin with isn't too difficult (if you can guess the theme).

[Matakari]

Very interesting and informative information for "Full of Beans" ( I almost wrote "Spill the beans"), ProfessorMaisie! If, to fill the grid, you need to guess the theme, then I'm certainly out of my league here! It is tempting, though, to give it a try for the thrill of it, and while awaiting this week's EV. Thanks!