Merry Christmas – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Merry Christmas

by Big Dave  

Merry Christmas to all our readers

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Big Dave and the team of bloggers would once again like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A special thank you to all the crossword setters, especially to those who have taken the time to leave comments on the blog, and to Phil McNeill and his team at Telegraph Puzzles.

If you are one of several thousand lurkers that visit the site every day - why not break cover and say hello!

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Although the Daily Telegraph is not published today, online subscribers have been treated to not two but three web-only cryptic puzzles – a standard puzzle, a Toughie by Shamus and finally an extra-beastly Double Toughie from Elgar.  The reviews of the standard puzzle and the Toughie by Shamus will be published later today, but the review of Elgar’s Double Toughie will not be published until Sunday, 27th December.

37 comments on “Merry Christmas”

  1. Thanks to Big Dave & all the reviewers. Merry Christmas to you all. I really appreciate all your hard work. The best thing is, that by people reading the blog, their solving standard has been improved. Happy New Year.

  2. Thank you Big Dave for your good wishes and also huge thanks to you and your team for a year of good fun, great help and camaraderie – here’s to more of the same. Best wishes to all bloggers for a very Happy Christmas from a balmy Vienna, a city full of great seasonal music and the festive spirit in spite of a lack of snow. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_whistle3.gif

      1. Giant General Knowledge would have been the last place I would have thought of looking. Cheers, and Merry Christmas!

  4. Merry Christmas from Chicago and I am definitely a better solver for all the good things I learn here.

  5. Merry Christmas to you all – I hope you all have a super day without too much stress. Special thanks to BD and his excellent team of reviewers who have given up the most precious of things – time. Time, to help every cruciverbalist, enjoy, gain experience and share that experience with other commenters.

    I’ve said it before – well done BD http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_good.gif

  6. Thanks so much to all for the hints and the comments that brighten my life. Merry Christmas to all.

  8. Merry Christmas to everybody.It will be a bit stressful at times, but that’s life !http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_bye.gif
    I really appreciate this blog, it makes the crosswords so much more fun and gives the helping hand .
    I lift my glass of M+S best Brut Cave to the reviewers and Big Dave. Cheers !

  9. Adding my thanks and appreciation to Big Dave (and the lovely Mrs. BD) and all the blogging crew. Have a wonderful Christmas. Stay safe, everyone.

  12. As several people have already said my crossword skills and enjoyment have increased by leaps and bounds since finding this fabulous place so a million thank yous to all involved but especially Big Dave not forgetting Mrs BD as well.http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_yahoo.gif http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_yahoo.gif

  13. Thanks to all the solves and happy christmas to all
    Now to today’s offering with a mince pie and coffee

    1. Welcome to the blog. Happy Christmas to you too.

      I’m going to do today’s crosswords with tea and croissants with home made apricot jam.

        1. The review will be available at 11:00, when you will be able to kick yourself! Remember that it is a Christmas puzzle – that should help.

          1. 32 down was the last we slotted in. Think who gets dragged up at Xmas time for kids. Happy Xmas to all on this site and thanks for all the hints over the year.

  14. Merry Christmas, everyone – especially to BD and all the team who have given us so much help and encouragement throughout the year. Thank you all and long may the BD site flourish. http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_bye.gif

  15. Merry Christmas everyone!
    I finished worl yesterday and Santa kindly brought me a cold just in time!

  17. Merry Christmas to everyone, especially BD and his hard working team. I’ve been busy the last few months settling the children into a new life in Spain, and crosswords have taken second place to grammar books. Normal crossword service will resume in January :)

  19. Merry Christmas to you all and a huge ‘thank you’ to Big Dave and all of the team for a wonderful site. I do visit every day but don’t comment because I won’t allow myself on here until I’ve solved the puzzle which often goes into the following day so it seems a bit pointless by then.

    However I always read and really appreciate the explanations when sometimes I can’t entirely parse my answer.

    I love the camaraderie and kindness on here, so once again – a massive thank you.

    Mustn’t forget the hard work of the setters so thanks to them too (even when they’re being devilish – or perhaps especially then) . A special thank you to today’s setter for not keeping us too long on Christmas Day!

    Now back to what I should actually be getting on with today……

    1. It doesn’t matter if you comment on the following day (or even afterwards). The blogger always gets an email for every comment made on one of their reviews and nosy people (like me) always look at comments as they appear in the comments list on the rh side of the page too.

      Happy Christmas. I’m keeping well clear while Mr CS sorts out all the veg every vegetarian needs for Christmas Dinner while their meat eating spouse enjoys the turkey and trimmings.

  20. I would like to add my thanks to BD and and his excellent team of reviewers who make this site part of my daily ritual. Of course, it wouldn’t work without the many solvers of whatever ability who come on to add their thoughts, likes, dislikes and tangential comments.

    Happy Christmas one and, and a healthy and peaceful new year. Now where did I put that bottle opener?

    http://bigdave44.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-monalisa/icons/wpml_wacko.gif

  21. Thank you BD and the rest of you puzzle loving gentlefolk. I wish you a happy Christmas and I hope we can all exchange greetings again next year.

  22. I am one of those several thousand “lurkers” who visit the site frequently but don’t leave a comment! Thank you to all for a wonderful site. It has greatly improved my solving skills and I greatly enjoy reading the reviews and the comments of your regular contributors. Merry Christmas to you all.

  23. 32d was my last one in and the penny got well stuck before it dropped heavily! It was also my favourite.
    Thanks to the setter.
    Thanks also to everybody involved in keeping this marvelous site ticking over nicely. And that means you BD, especially! Thank you.

  24. Well I hope all have had or are having a wonderful day. Many thanks BD and your merry men and women for all the useful hints and tips you give us throughout the year. My new year resolution for 2016 is to tackle the toughie!! Optimism rules.

  25. SO many thanks to BD, setters, reviewers and blog contributors, for adding immeasurable to cryptic enjoyment.
    Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all.

  26. Many thanks to BD and all the contributors. Although I rarely leave comments, you have all been part of my Saturday routine for the last 10 years.

    Best wishes to all

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