Sunday Telegraph Enigmatic Variations 1002 Sunday January 22nd 2012

[x_word_fan]

I thought that was an excellent puzzle - the best EV for quite a while.

[DocHH]

Hello x_word_fan,
I enjoyed solving this EV, thought Sherlock would have something to say about it!

[slaney]

Afternoon everyone..
... I agree an enjoyable solve - more difficult than of late with some elegant clues.
I managed to get one wrong letter, and had to plough back and change a couple of unclued entries to fit.

[AndrewG-S]

Agreed, a thoroughly enjoyable challenge with a fairly tough final step which needed me to revisit many of the clues. Very apt.

[dr b]

I guess I'll wear the curmudgeon's cap this week as I thought this was merely OK. The method of entry for the unclued lights was apparent early on; and, the extra letters in the clues were completely unecessary for solving. I know this because I had a complete grid and my 10,10 phrase and had not yet sorted out where the extra letters all were. I didn't bother to go back and figure it out; perhaps as Doc suggests a Sherlock Holmes connection from the extra letters might have made it more interesting.

While I am in full curmudgeon dudgeon, let me remind all that the agreed-upon convention for this thread is to title it "EV 1002 Title by Setter", which I think is what folks search on to find us.

All irrelevant in light of the fact that this is conference championship weekend for the NFL! New England v Baltimore, NY Giants v San Francisco, winners face off in the Super Bowl in two weeks! Ye-ahhhhh!

[ringer]

I tend to agree with dr b - once I had solved a few ordinary clues, light dawned very quickly and I populated the grid with only a few hesitations. Must admit it was quite satisfying and enjoyable though.

[kayakamina]

After two successive easy EV's this was more of a challenge & certainly more enjoyable.

Like Dr b I'm in for a late night with my 49 ers only kicking off at 11.15 in the UK . My time in San Francisco corresponded with Joe Montana, Jerry Rice etc and after several years in the doldrums this current team is looking good for the Superbowl!

[dr b]

k, it should be a great game, I wonder if we can get Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells to come back and coach it. The wild card is that the weather forecast is for heavy rain; I do enjoy a good Mud Bowl.

[devadolly]

Hello......Oh, you are all here again. Can I join drb and ask that we 'do' the short route of EV Number & title so twits like me can get to it easily. Haven't really got started but just felt like having a chat and 'touching base' whoops, sorry chaps, is that the wrong game.....................?I think the weather (certainly around here) is making us all a bit grumpy......roll on summer. How is everyone anyway?

[DocHH]

Absolutely Devadolly, roll on summer! Weather is certainly strange here on the south coast. My neighbours have daffodils in flower, yet my snowdrops are only just starting to appear. We are starting to think about holidays. Herself has indicated Aruba is on her wish-list! I don't care, just as long as we can enjoy some sunshine! Not sure if that is for summer or late winter holiday! We will have to decide which and where to go for the other holiday. To be honest we are both in the best of health, except Herself has to keep taking the tablets.
Am slurping some shiraz cabernet sauvignon tonight!

[AndrewG-S]

We had snowdrops at Chirstmas! No sign of any daffs yet though, despite the mild weather

[devadolly]

Our snowdrops are behaving strangely! We have had a few bunches from one area of the garden in the house since Boxing Day, but other clumps in the same area are only just poking thro' - must be different varieties but I'm blowed if I can tell the difference. Another strange thing, the daffs in the garden are further up than the ones in the green house....same variety, next to greenhouse??????

[novalis]

Hi Everybody!

Weekend visitors ( most welcome!! + the bottle of Chateau Neuf Du Pape which they brought was an added bonus ) meant that I started this very late ( today ). I've still 5 clues to solve ( 32, 36 across and 24, 33 and 38 down ) and understand what needs to be done with the unclued answers. I'm also
convinced that one of the two words to be written under the grid begins with E and ends with Y. However, I've hit a brick wall and would appreciate any hints to move me on. Also, am I right in thinking that the letters to be removed are not necessarily consecutive as in 2 down?

[DocHH]

Hello Novalis
Greatly impressed with the C-N-de-P, a generous gift, albeit shared! I have few bottles tucked away for special occasions! They beckon from time to time! You are correct in assuming not neccessarily consecutive depletions, viz 2d and 42a. As far as the first word is concerned, that was part of my Sherlock reference in a previous post! What have you removed, the phrase is a little "Dohh-ish!"

[novalis]

Ho DocHH.

Apologies for not replying earlier. Many thanks for your help. Unless I've got something ( or the second word of the phrase ) wrong Im struggling with 34 across and 26 down. The main problem is that I can't account for what I assume is one of four Es.

[DocHH]

Hello Novalis,
How's the marking these days?
As far as 34a is concerned, you should have "no" difficulty! That should make the removal in 26d a little more obvious, but it appears in my BRB as an alternative spelling of the 7th note in the sol-fa notation. That should resolve your problem with the 4th E. The second word of the phrase is often what is described as the money taken from income, but also equals, in plural, subtraction.
hope these hints were not too hobnailish!

[novalis]

Many thanks DocHH. I hadn't considered alternative spellings.

[Christiana]

Belated greetings - finally got round to this, having been delayed by Gen2s flowers of Scotland quiz - due in end of January and left it until the last minute as usual.
Didn't give much of a problem but was enjoyable and certainly more challenging than the last two weeks. Got the wrong word for 6 across to start with which slowed up discovering the two words. Like dr b have not gone back to find out the extra letters. I usually manage to make a hash of extra letters anyway, so not needed, didn't bother.
Devadolly, like you I'm surprised at the garden situation - snowdrops in drifts, others, of the same sort in adjacent beds, barely showing. Roses and a couple of wallflowers in bloom. No sign yet of the chionodoxa (Is that how you spell it, you know Glory of the Snow)
I have had very bad sciatica for the past couple of weeks so feeling frustrated where the garden is concerned.