Monthly Prize Puzzle (July 2015)
A Puzzle by Alchemi
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Why not have a go at our latest Monthly Prize Puzzle?
The winner will receive their choice of any of the Telegraph Crossword Books published by Hamlyn.
Please note that, due to punitive postal charges, while the competition is open to all, the prize is only available to UK solvers.
A review will follow after the closing date (18th July 2015).
The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
I’ve left this post open for comments, but if you don’t want your comment to be deleted then avoid asking for or giving help with the clues.
Right up my alley! Lovely stuff, Alchemi! I have the answer but still two clues to solve. Persevering…
All done now.
I spotted what the question was going to be when I’d solved less than half the clues. Amongst the solved clues was the all-important one so Hey Presto – the answer became clear. At least this time I did continue with the puzzle to completion – Alchemi will probably remember what I mean.
Nice one Alchemi – I enjoyed it. Ta muchly.
It all went together smoothly for me. There was only one answer that was unfamiliar to me but it was very gettable from the wordplay and checkers. The level of difficulty should mean that there are heaps of entries this month. I hope there are as I found it an enjoyable puzzle to solve.
Thanks Alchemi.
OK – I’ll be first to admit that I didn’t find this easy. NW corner went in smoothly but then it became a bit of a battle.
Worst of it is that I now have a completed grid and can only find the first line of the question.
Maybe I’ll try the NTSPP and come back to this one later………..
Thanks for the challenge, Alchemi.
Oh for goodness sake – stupid, stupid woman.
You’d all have a really good laugh if I could tell you how difficult I was making it for myself!
Do tell.
Think of the actual word used in the second part of the question and then assume that it must be the name of an institution you just haven’t heard of before. Actually, I did come up with a rather nice sounding restaurant.
Brilliant, many thanks alchemi. Enjoyed solving the whole puzzle, then remembered afterwards to look for the competition answer, now entered. Very clever.
One thing I particularly like about this puzzle is that there are quite a few answers I have never heard of before, but the wordplay is so fair that I managed to get them but I have also learnt some new things. Thanks Alchemi
I will never learn my own lesson. Could someone please pop out to the corner shop and buy me another box of tissues. I’ll be in the cupboard under the stairs when you get back.
Think I’ve got about half a box left after my own battle with this one. I’ll send them over for you.
Finished this quite easily, but for the life of me can’t see the question!…….I think I must be looking too hard…. Lateral thinking or what? Or maybe I’m just a bit …. Well… Dim! Perhaps I’ll have another look tomorrow.
Yes, at last! Got it…..I must have looked at this a dozen times today without seeing the question, then changed tack and…there it was staring me in the face….how stupid is that? Good puzzle. Thanks Alchemi I really enjoyed it!
Well Liz,
You can put me in the stupid box too.
I still can’t see it.
Mind you I don’t have 17a and 18d yet. But it won’t make much difference would it?
Great puzzle.
Thanks to Alchemi.
Keep going, JL – it’s SO obvious once you find it and you certainly should be able to with only two clues left to solve!
It’s occurred to me that since I will be in the UK in September so can furnish a local mailing address, for once I can enter the competition for more than H and G. Not that I expect my name to be drawn, mind you, but it’s nice to have a chance!
Excellent! I found parts of this tough but it was extremely enjoyable throughout. Finally I only have to parse 29a fully and will wait with bated breath for the review.
Many thanks to Alchemi.
Thanks for all the nice comments. Glad you liked it.
All throughout I enjoyed solving the puzzle today and my thanks to Alchemi for the same. 29a, with brilliant clue, was fairly difficult but ultimately the word that was cracked appeared to be rarely used in English. I particularly liked 1a, 10a, 11a, 16d, 18d and 20d, but my favourite was 2d. I spotted the question, but was left guessing whether to choose *******, through which I came across a city having **********, or ********, which landed me in another city ********. Finally, as I had to give an answer, I just opted for the latter.