Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30468
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where we are continuing with wall-to-wall sunshine but it’s noticeably cooler than last week. We haven’t had a drop of rain since May which is most unusual as Sept to Nov is usually the wettest part of the year.
I’m guessing that this puzzle is a Campbell production as there are two puns in the quickie but somehow I thought it was a bit different from his usual style. Oh well, perhaps that’s just me. Anyway, it certainly didn’t frighten the horses very much but was quite enjoyable while it lasted.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30462
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where autumn has finally arrived. Temps in now in low twenties and it cools off very rapidly as soon as the sun goes down.
Thanks to Falcon for stepping in last week at short notice as I was otherwise engaged taking pommette to the hospital for a check-up on her arm and shoulder, which fortunately appear to be healing well. The down side is that you now have me this week and next!
As to the crossword I thought it was a tricky little rascal, as pommette might say, but a lot of fun to solve. I’ll be interested to see who agrees.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30444
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where autumn is slowly arriving. I had to get my long trousers out last Saturday but yesterday was back to shorts. Today’s looking like shorts as well!
I think this puzzle must be a Campbell production, because of the two puns in the quickie, but I thought it was definitely at the tricky end of his spectrum. Perhaps that’s just me having an off day but I did enjoy the tussle. I’ll be interested to see who agrees and who doesn’t.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30432
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from Almoradí where summer still lingers on. I’ve heard it said that we’re having the warmest October on record and I can quite believe it! 32°C last Saturday which is silly hot for mid-October.
As to the crossword it wasn’t my favourite, but I can’t put my finger on exactly why. I don’t know who the setter is but it’s X Type’s turn, but there are three puns in the quickie so it could be Campbell I suppose, although it didn’t feel like one of his. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30426
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from Almoradí where today we have a public holiday. It’s “Dia de la Comunitat Valenciana” or Valencia Day which commemorates the liberation of Valencia from Muslim rule back in 1238 and the founding of the Kingdom of Valencia under the Crown of Aragon.… Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30408
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from Almoradí where the long, hot summer is finally drawing to a close. Temps most afternoons now are only 32°C at most and some days haven’t topped 30.… Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30396
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from Almoradí where we have an orange sky! It happens occasionally when Saharan dust is blown northwards. Even though I know what it is it seems a bit spooky!
As for the crossword I’m not 100% this is the work of Campbell. It didn’t have the right feel and I can only see one pun in the Quickie. Also there are too many anagrams. I count it as six straight anagrams but there are another five clues that involve an anagram as some part of the answer. However, I’m the world’s worst at spotting setters and I suppose someone will point out the second pun so perhaps it will turn out to be Campbell after all!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30384
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where another heatwave is forecast for later this week. At least when we get to September it may start to cool off a bit.
I thought today’s puzzle was a bit on the tricky side but maybe that’s just me. I’m in a bit of a rush today due to oversleeping so perhaps it just looked a by trickier than it actually is. I’ll be interested to see what you all think of it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30360
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí where the heatwave seems to be abating. It was never as bad as was reported on UK TV though. Our highest temperature was about a week ago when it got up to 38°C one afternoon but most days it’s been 35 or 36 which is a bit above normal but a far cry from the 40+ reported by Auntie Beeb! Scaremongering I reckon.
Today’s puzzle is pretty normal Monday fare in that it’s not too hard but very enjoyable. There are a couple of slightly tricky clues to keep us on our toes but there are seven clues involving anagrams so I know many of you will be pleased about that.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30348
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from Almoradí where summer is continuing with temps in the low to mid-thirties every day. The trouble is that the overnight low is around 25°C so our air conditioners are getting a bit of a beating!
I thought this crossword was a little odd in that there were quite a few gimmes but then a few really tricky ones. Overall I’ve gone for *** but I’ll be interested to see what you all think about it.
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