EV 958

[DocHH]

Hello EV N&C Wine Clubbers,
This took me longer than normal. How the 7 cells from 14 clashing answers were to be treated hit me with a glimmer rather than a blinding flash. How elegant that the possible solutions to the undefined clue, gave both the words, one defining how the clashes were entered and the other what it featured! Time for a preprandial!

[haggis58]

Thanks Kayakamina - still cant see 4a. Maybe I have some down answers incorrect as I now have ?i?par??. Help also with 18a, 32a and 31d

[DocHH]

Hello Haggis58,
You do not have any incorrect letters in 4d. K gave you a really good hint for the first 3 letters of 4a, an alternative for those three letters would be "joint"!
8a is thematic, what are lorries fitted with in order to stop, they used to carry a warning about what was fitted to allow them to stop quite quickly!
32a is thematic, but clued quite openly.
31d is again openly clued and not thematic, gorge relates to what a glutton does rather than a geological feature!

[haggis58]

Thanks DocHH and Kayakamina - without your help I wouldn't have come this close to finishing. You are stars!
Have now got all misprints and the author. Also have the shape! Still have 3 thematics to solve 20a, 25d and 33a. The title, interestingly, could be one of two: The 'p and the s' or the 's turns red' and needs highlighting in that colour.

[DocHH]

The title has to be the first one you hinted at. One form of 27d is the way in which the clash is resolved and the other gives the generic word for a collection of how the clashes are resolved. If you consider the letters that are at each clash, that will give you guidance to solving the other thematics. BTW, 33a is not thematic.

[haggis58]

Thanks DocHH - never thought to consider the actual letters displaced. Just shows my inexperience. All completed thanks to you. Yes I was aware of 33ac not being thematic - just a typo error on my previous message. Can now get on with some business - I work from home and get distracted easily, especially when I have an unfinished crossword. Will have some lunch first: cheese, bread and pickles (don't they call it a ploughman's lunch!)

[Shoni70]

Dear All,
I am flabbergasted at the brilliance of all of you who have solved this latest crossword and i can only think that I must be very thick or blind. I have managed to do most of the clues except 24 , 29, 32,( trowel ?) 33 and 35 across and 29 and 34 down. Any help on these would be much appreciated.
I have also found 6 of the 10 misprints, ( 15, 46, 47 ac and 1, 2 , and 36d ) no idea where the other four are or who the author mentioned could be. Having found the answer to 27d i presume this is something to do with the clashes. The clash at 13ac and 9d is a complete mystery to me and I have no idea how to resolve it.
Since I have completed the last 49 enigmas successfully I would like to chalk up my half - century with your help please.

[devadolly]

Good afternoon all regular N & C'ers (Natterers and Chatterers for our new-comers) and a very warm welcome to our new 'pals'. Having trouble (think the DC should become a going concern again) and some very heavy hints about the clashes, the author and the thematic treatments would be much appreciated. Not been a good week, leg fine, now healed without so much as mark but have developed an internal ulcer in my right eye which is very painful and worrying, not had a good effect on the temper and regular visits to Opthalmics v time consuming, not happy!
Saw all the references to Pi Day (All you scientists again!) so looked it up, how appropriate for Albert's birthday, less appropriate as it's also Himself's birthday! Naturally when he was informed of the fact, he took it to mean Pie and promptly suggested a list of his favourites. It has been suggested that all future Pi Day's are celebrated in style with at least two different pies at each meal - the statement "Well it will always be my Birthday too" did not improve my mood.

[DocHH]

Hello Shoni70 and welcome to the madhouse, 32a is thematic, as is 20d, (thus giving you a clashed light). Chambers gives the etymology as French for hopper! I hope the rest of this post will nudge help you to achieve your half century! Why have you lurked in the past, come and join the fun!

Devadolly, I am pleased to hear your leg has healed so quickly, but am disquetened to hear about your eye problems. I hope it is resolved soon. Keep us posted.

In this thread there are already many hints twinkling! If you have both solutions to 27d, you will have made astronomical progress! They appear in the BRB one above the other.

If you have all the letters in just 1 of the 7 cells where the clashes occur, try a search for them. You might need to enter the across first or the down first to get a result! The rest of the clashes are where you would expect them to be! I hope this is a good pointer for you both.
I am not sure if is purely by chance or if it is intended, but one of the words in the clue 36d is germane!

[devadolly]

Hello DocHH have read all the posts and am no nearer, I think my brain is awash with all the drops, anti-biotic, steroid & local anaesthetic I think they have leaked out of the eye-ball into the brain! Next appointment Friday. 27d isn't just not speaking to me, it has sent me to Coventry and as all cat owners will recognise - is giving me the back view. I only have 2 of the possible letters and they are in on the plot too. Worst thing is I am sure this is all known to me but just isn't there - bit down pin about it all.

[DocHH]

Devadolly,
Given that the past few EVs have pandered to both Classicists and "Word Smiths" I think it's about time we humble Scientists had a crack of the whip, so to speak. (No hints there, just a statement of fact!) I had no idea about Pi day, I'm not a mathematician!
27d is an anagram, (as clued by "in rebellion") or rather 2 anagrams, A+RESIST+thousand. because thousand can be represented by 2 different letters, both are relevant!
Just out of interest, how is Ginger Mog?

[devadolly]

Hi Doc, thank you for the tonlike hint, will persue that tomorrow, really must finish Grumps as I am a day late (nice Ed let me off as I am usually a Good Girl!) For your info. Ginger Mog is on top form, totally ratting mad during the night and comatose during the day. Have just opened up the sheep barn as lambing has finished and he is honour bound to clean the place up to make it safe for his humans to muck out. The work dog is also keen and takes on the larger specimens which is great because the rats seem to get the message and move off down the fields - horrible things!

[DocHH]

Devadolly, perhaps you could have got a good price for Ginger Mog from Dave in Number 10!

[devadolly]

I don't think so Do0c, how would they manage the odd one he brings in that isn't oven-ready, ie. running wild? Also, don't think he would like the lack of live-stock buildings, he likes a large expanse to roam about in and could cause chaos in Horseguards .............................................
.................................!

[turast]

The best EV I've tackled. Would easily have graced The Listener spot. It had an almost gripping quality for me. The final twist when you had a good look at all the letters in each clashing square was a real PDM worthy of, and getting my applause. Entertaining, brilliantly constructed and educational.

[DocHH]

Turast,
I quite agree, not only are all the 7 there, but are also appropriately positioned.

[Shoni70]

Thank you so much DocHH for your kind words of welcome and also for all your help.
Also thanks to everyone else because of all their suggestions in their comments. I found the latest EV very tough and without all your help I am doubtful whether I would have completed ny fiftieth consecutive successful completion. Onwards now towards the century hopefully. No wins for years but I did succeed about 5 or more years ago when they were offering more than one prize.

Have celebrated with a tipple of my favourite but extremely expensive wine these days = Barsac. Perhaps some of you do not like a sweet wine but I enjoy it.

[DocHH]

Shoni70,
Sauterne and Barsac were wines that my parents enjoyed with Christmas dinner, wine was not a popular drink then. They both had sweet palates. For me, those wines are more dessert wines. My parents would never have considered having a different wine with each course of a meal! Actually there would probably only have been 1 course anyway!
Pleased you completed EV! Not giving straight answers is more challenging, and hopefully results in a bit more fun, especially when we add some N&C!
See you sunday?