Monthly Prize Puzzle (November 2016)
Desperately Seeking Nina by Phibs
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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 (19th November 2016).
The competition is now closed
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.
After a very unproductive initial couple of passes I was tempted to give this one a miss, but I eventually managed to tune in to the setter’s wavelength and perseverance finally paid off. Having said that, a couple of clues are still defiantly holding out in the NW corner.
Tricky certainly, but excellently clued with numerous sparkling and amusing surfaces.
Many thanks, Phibs.
I managed to get half way through last night and another serious effort this morning and I have finally cracked it. Very clever indeed. Now the challenge is going to be submitting my answer.
Thanks Phibs.
Having managed to spill a full glass of Valpolicella over my print-out at lunch-time, I was finally able to access the puzzle again at 6;45 pm EST and reprint (thanks, BD, you musty have been working overtime today). So starting anew. Still cant print the NTSPP though.
Goodness, I’m struggling with this one! Eight answers in so far and not feeling hopeful about getting any further.
Could be a light post bag for Mrs. BD!
Perservate – I struggled with parts of it for a long time, then waited for the large penny to drop to the floor and have just submitted my entry.
Still perservating, CS, up to 15 now!
:good:
Perservation paid off!
:phew:
That was tough, tough, tough. It was a real start stop exercise, with Mr Google helping me a lot along the way. It took so many sessions that I lost count, but a few clues gave in with each sitting and eventually I ended up with a full grid. I’ve still got seven answers left to parse fully but I was delighted in the end to be able to identify the two names.
As Silvanus says there were lots of amusing and sparkling surfaces to enjoy. Given how hard this was to solve, it is mind-blowing to think how difficult it must have been to set.
Respect and many thanks to Phibs.
I’ve only just gotten around to this one, very nice Phibs. Lots of nice clues. At the moment I’m left with 13a and 29a to parse, but I can submit what I think is the answer.
It’s taken me over a week of almost every spare moment trying to complete this. To be honest I’m still short of two 4-letter answers but I’m just about to post my effort. Thanks to Phibs for a real snorter!