ev764

[crofter]

So far, so good; HOWEVER I appear to have SEVEN "clashing" cells (rather than SIX). Is anyone else facing the same problem?

Any ideas about the Quotation (is it in English even)?

[cruciverbali]

Can you give 'coordinates' for your 7 (eg D5) so I can check please ?

Cruciverbalist

[crofter]

Using (Row, Column)-notation from top-left corner, my clashes appear at B11, E4, E8, I10, J4, J12 and K12

[cruciverbali]

I have no clash at J12 ( SOM and RE-ROOF)

Cruciverbalist

[crofter]

Thanks for that. I had SUM and RE-ROOF!

I fancy the quotation being in Latin and being the LINES from a church SERVICE?

[cruciverbali]

...on the other hand, the preamble doesn't specify a clockwise direction for the quotation.

[MLN:RUGBY]

got all answers, clashes and quotation, any ideas of the code & what the 15 cells are?

[novalis]

Spent all yesterday working and didn't get chance to look at EV until this morning while waiting for the postman and the next lot of work. Fortunately Robert Service has always been one of my favourite poets and the first guess at the cryptic title proved right ( for once! ). Still can't figure out the code or even the block of 15 letters to be adjusted. Any pointers in that direction would be appreciated. ( Just hope that the postman is late tomorrow as well so I can finish it , i.e. EV. before earning my corn!! )

[crofter]

I'm in the same boat I'm afraid in that I have completed the grid and no further. I was thinking that the clashes provide a straight "substitution" code, viz O for A (and vice versa), N for M etc. Change the letters in a block according to these switches to make NEW words, then go back and reconcile the clashes!

That's as far as my thinking goes!

Hope it helps some-one

[cruciverbali]

You have done the hard part crofter, you just need to look again for that 3x5 rectangle appropriate to the subject matter of the poem. Given that it lies symmetrically within the grid and cannot contain certain letters (eg the P of HELICOPTER) there are not too many possibilities.

Cruciverbalist

[crofter]

Is this 3x5 rectangle a compact set with all cells touching or are they spaced out with gaps between?

[cruciverbali]

It's a compact set, the outer letters aptly surrounding a 3-letter name appropriate to the subject of the poem.

Cruciverbalist

[mad max]

following this thread I have been able to complete , many thanks mm

[crofter]

Well done, mad max. Very satisfying!

Cruciverbalist and I are well named. I live in a croft and he (?) is a helluva good crossword solver!

The week before, I did manage to complete EV 763 unaided and even got all the elements to the "mean" words if anyone wants them?

crofter

[ulysses100]

Hi regulars.
I have only one clue left to solve :
Artist, the first to go GAGA (possibly) = T ? ILL ?

For the rest , I've managed the substitution (I think !) and have the celebrant in the centre running vertically, but what to do with the remaining six clashing letters -- and do they make nonsense words as well ?

[mad max]

ulyssess100
8a (u)trillo

[crofter]

Start 8a looking for an 7-lettered artist whose first will go!

When you find your block and begin the substitution, you will destroy the original words. Don't worry about that!

[ulysses100]

Thank you... now I understand why GAGA is in capitals !!!