Sloop John Bee – Page 23 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Toughie 7 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 7 by Robyn (Hints)

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Hello from Yorkshire,

Fluffy clouds and the odd patch of blue today. I think I have got most of this today. I had to think about 8d for a while. The answer was easier to see than the why’s and wherefore’s.

27a and 18d were my favourites today but I will stick to 18d as it reminded me to go read/watch an old favourite again.

I have hinted at least half of the clues but as a bit of a bonus today 21d is a UK brand of a proprietary pain relief drug useful in treating 14d’s lumbago.

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 7 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 5

Sunday Toughie No 5 by Zandio

Review by Sloop John Bee

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This puzzle was published on 27th February 2022

Across

1    This cyclist may be in bottom position (6,4)
SADDLE SORE: A problem a cyclist may suffer from and where he may suffer it.… Continue reading

Sunday Toughie 6 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 6 by ProXimal (Hints)

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Hello from Yorkshire,

The dead tree has just arrived and I can confirm that this is a ProXimal.
I had to give it a good coat of looking at before it revealed itself but I got there in the end.

I would like to have hinted 11d as that was my trickiest solve but it remains only partially parsed. I will be lenient in the wielding of the naughty step about that clue.

I have hinted half of the clues and that should give enough checkers but if the gap created by 11d is causing problems I will toss in 27a as an anagram of first two words and the last word is the definition.

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 6 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 4

Sunday Toughie No 4 by Robyn

A full review by John Bee

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This puzzle was published on 20th Feb 2022

Across

1   Manufactured sham fur and case of Chanel No. 9 (5,4)
SCRUM HALF;  An anagram of (manufactured) SHAM FUR and the outer letters (case of) ChaneL to give the rugby player who wears the number 9.… Continue reading

Sunday Toughie 5 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 5 by Zandio (Hints)

Hints and Tips by John Bee

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Hello from deepest wettest  sunny but breezy Yorkshire,

I am beginning to get the hang of these new Sunday toughies. I think they are settling down to a comfortable Tuesday or Wednesday toughie level. I am not sure I will cope if they ramp up to Thursday or Friday difficulty. Zandio said he was responsible for today’s toughie and a fine example it is. The dreaded Reverend Spooner appears but I managed to overcome my nemesis today.

I have given you hints for half the clues and hope you have enough checkers to winkle out the rest. Remember the Miffypops maxim “When in doubt look for a lurker” both of today’s are unhinted and reversed (21 and 26a). Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 5 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 3

  • Sunday Toughie No 3 by proXimal

A full review by John Bee

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This puzzle was published on 13th Feb 2022

I found this a bit harder than #1 and #2 but still managed to get answers in the grid but a few parsings almost beat me.… Continue reading

Sunday Toughie 4 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 4 by Robyn (Hints)

Hints and Tips by John Bee

Hello from deepest Yorkshire,

This is my first go at providing the hints and I have had a lot of help from many others, Senf, Gazza, Miffs and BD to name just a few. If I have made any errors they are mine alone. Halcyon’s sterling work providing hints for Fridays toughie while Dutch was otherwise engaged is a great example of what this fine blog can do. I hope this works as well as that did.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 4 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 2

Sunday Toughie No 2 by Robyn

A full review by John Bee

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This puzzle was published on 6th Feb 2022

BD Rating – Difficulty Enjoyment

John Bee’s review was sent to a now-defunct email address – here it is, replacing my earlier effort.  BD

This is the second of a new series of Sunday Toughies. Unlike other Toughie crosswords this is a Prize puzzle. I found this a little trickier than proXimal’s No.1 but I am a poor judge of difficulty but still enjoyed the tussle. I will leave the rating for others to assess. Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 2”