Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Notabilis is Roger Phillips. He is also Kea of the Listener and Nestor of the Independent
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
A fine example of what a Toughie, especially a Friday Toughie, should be. I did wonder whether it was “just me”, being the stand-in blogger’s stand-in, doing my first ‘on the day’ blog for a very long time – but decided that it is definitely Notabilis being as cleverly tricky as only he knows how.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment *****
Great stuff from Notabilis as always. The Nina helped me with several answers, e.g. 3d & 28a.
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Many thanks BD for covering for me while I was away.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
What a great way to start this glorious long weekend – a brilliant puzzle by Notabilis. (And there should be something to keep you amused on Sunday in the Independent) Today we have a pangram and a little Nina, as well as plenty of original trickery to keep us amused.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Well, who else swore at the puzzle for stupidly including the same clue twice? All is explained by the Nina. Notabilis is being rather clever again, making for a top quality and highly enjoyable puzzle.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment *****
Lots of fun from Notabilis today. 6a was almost my first one in but I delayed, suddenly doubting the plural. I then bunged in SAILOR for 23a, soon corrected.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hello and Happy Friday! Dutch’s generosity means I have the pleasure today of blogging a lovely puzzle by one of my favourite setters. I don’t know if this was Notabilis in gentler mode or if I’ve just regained the ability to solve crosswords at a little faster than a slow snail’s pace, but I didn’t have too much trouble at all. Most unusual. I did have all the expected fun along the way.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
Notabilis has some wonderful definitions in this somewhat harder than usual puzzle (or maybe I’m just off-wavelength). It took me a while to find some of the parsings.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Hello everyone! KateR here — I really wanted to chat with you again and in this way I can help Dutch while he is having laptop issues. … Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Another top quality puzzle from Notabilis. I was able to complete before the school run. First one in was 3d, which helpfully gave me the long clues early on.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I always enjoy a Notabilis – everything is so tidy and accurate, with precise definitions nicely worked into the surfaces. The pangram helped to correct the answer I’d originally bunged in for 25a.… Continue reading