Cryptic clue

[crosswordfan]

One throws a party just now, but not like this (5)

?E?T?

[pquinlan]

Hi, this has driven me bananas too! PELTS is the closest I can get, PELTS = THROWS but don't know the PARTY connection, and the JUST NOW bit is particularly annoying.

What did you put for 23A? ABBOTS? Not his best ever clue.

Haven't got the grid in front of me, can't recall what the L of PELTS(?) is but I was fairly sure of that.

Any others you haven't got?

[crosswordfan]

I have sent it in with PELTS (although not quite sure of why) and ABBOTS. The L from PELTS was from LEAGUES (associations).

Thanks...I'm happy with the rest.

Are you doing the Tribune Sports Quiz - I'm missing two pictures?

[pquinlan]

No, not doing that, but my Da's neighbour does every single xmas sports quiz there is, and usually gets them out. What are picture numbers if I see him, and what is deadline?

[crosswordfan]

Question no 51 (someone smiling) and no 57 (girl with head in hands). Has to be in by this Friday.

Any help appreciated - pity to finish with 98 out of a hundred!

[pquinlan]

I contacted Sun Trib to see if I could access the quiz online. Can't, however, they are sending a copy of it to my house and they told me that they will accept entries up until tomorrow week. So if you can hold out a few days I'll see what I can do when I get it...

[crosswordfan]

Thanks very much P - good news that the entry date is extended.

[pquinlan]

Crosswordfan: FYI, contacted Irish Times re PELTS and their explanation s below (I never saw anything like it before in this xword):

Cheers,

PQ

One throws a party just now, but not like this

Party = someone else
Just now, but not like this = snow (now - without the s is not like this)
So to rewrite the clue - one throws just snow at someone else
Finally, throws in the context of throwing snow at someone else = pelts.