The Enigmatic Variations - 1623

[Matakari]

Good morning, highlighting the answer here was quite amusing.
One little hesitation, I am not sure that I coloured the correct”a”
within the grid ( “ a yellow………tree” ). Many thanks in advance!
 

[Neveracrossword]

You need to colour A Hundred...

[Matakari]

Sorry, but I do not follow what you mean by"You need to colour A Hundred"

[Neveracrossword]

I coloured in from 'A Hundred' ... all the way to  'Tree'. I have 34 squares coloured.

[TheFrogman]

The 'A' is in the square numbered 36 and is part of the section which should be coloured yellow. The entire coloured area shows vertical symmetry.

[Neveracrossword]

Have you got it now, Matakari?

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW and Thefrogman! 

Thanks, NACW and Thefrogman!  I was off track as I was trying to place the answer “Tie a ribbon 'round the ole oak tree”
into the grid and could not adequately fit the “a”. Now “A hundred yellow ribbons round the ole oak tree” works better, but the “the” eludes me. Perhaps, I’ve got a wrong answer somewhere?

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari - I was really puzzled about the colouring you'd done! The 'the' is exactly where it should be, above the 'ole' so that they lyric, verse runs smoothly - as you'd expect from Chalicea. The Frogman's note about the symmetry might have helped you...

[Matakari]

Thank you, NACW, it's done now. I had 16a and 16d wrong and that's why
I could not find the missing "THE" in the answer. I can now have a look at
the Private Eye and reserve the "knotty" Spectator for the weekend.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. I expect Private Eye to be a much calmer, more productive solving experience. Many people have found this week's Spectator puzzle tough -  but that means there are lots of answers around...

PS There was a new Genius puzzle at the start of the week.

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW, I should enjoy the Private Eye, then. And thanks for inviting me to the Genius, hoping it's much calmer than the Spectator.