Comments on: Enigmatic Variations 847: Fields of Action by Dysart

By: deejay

deejay — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:35:57 +0000

Big Dave

Thanks for the follow-up. I too was a bit surprised to see the solution given our previous comments, and was wondering how to update the blog (again). Anyway, I decided to go straight to the horse’s mouth (forgive the continuing hunting theme), and emailed Dysart. Although he feels that it would probably have been better to specify the total number of cells to be highlighted, he points out that, with the “lurking” phrase within commas, it should be read as something else thematic (REYNARD) that is uninvolved in the main action. I hope you agree.

Anyway, please don’t let this minor niggle stop you from doing EVs regularly; they are normally great fun. And given the number mistakes I’ve made over the years, I’m sure you’ve got every chance, just like “Edgar” this week!

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:23:37 +0000

Deejay

I would be interested to know what you think of the solution, now that it has been published – you would have been right, but for the wrong reason.

“Extra letters gave UNSPEAKABLE and UNEATABLE, taken from a quotation in A Woman of No Importance by OSCAR WILDE,16D. The full sentence is, “The English country gentleman galloping after a fox—the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable.” The SE-NW diagonal revealed LOWRIE (a fox) followed by E(nglish) SQUIRE and was to be highlighted. Another fox, REYNARD, located at the NE end of HEDGE was also to be highlighted. Highlighting of HEDGE was not required”

With reasoning like that, it’s no wonder I have no chance!!

By: deejay

deejay — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:36:52 +0000

Very astute of him (and you) if that’s why, although I’d have probably just changed ENDED to ENDEW to avoid this. BTW, no point in completing it in 2 hours if it’s wrong!

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:01:55 +0000

I think if I could complete them in two hours rather than two days, I might try them more often!!

One other small point, Dysart was very precise about the length of “something else thematic”. Could this be because there were two other Scottish foxes (tods) lurking in the right hand field?

By: deejay

deejay — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:16:25 +0000

Absolutely right, Big Dave. I suspected I was missing something since I hadn’t satisfied myself about the phrase “uninvolved in the main action”. I’m glad you enjoyed the puzzle and hope you give more Evs a go as they can be real gems.

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:34:02 +0000

This was the first of these puzzles that I ever tackled seriously, and was hugely satisfied to complete. I feel that I must take issue with you on one point. I took the two words as LOWRIE and SQUIRE, each six letters and either side of the HEDGE, with the “E” that you used for ESQUIRE being part of the barrier. I would be interested to know your thoughts on this.