Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
It is with deep sadness that we have to let you know that Big Dave died peacefully on Wednesday evening. He had been in ill health for some time and was still grieving the death of his wife Pam earlier this year.
Big Dave set up this blog in January 2009 blogging first the Toughie Crossword and soon after the other Telegraph Cryptic Crosswords. … Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Hello everyone from a blustery but gloriously sunny South Devon coast.
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
A dull & slightly chilly start to the day here in Harpenden that looks like it threatens a drop of rain, much needed by the golf courses, but there is none in the forecast .… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa, where conditions have moderated considerably after a week of temperatures reaching the low 30s °C. Senf seems to be no longer sharing his hot weather with us and hording it all in Manitoba.… Continue reading
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A not too toughie today, if you liked Zandio’s offering on Friday I commend this puzzle to the house.
I have hinted half of 14a and 14d clues but as ever some tricky ones remain unhinted and only partially parsed. To be a bit petty, I think I need a trichologist to attend to my frizzy locks caused by 8d today (Correction I have just seen the Cockney rhyming slang required) not obvious to this northerner.
A drink or two for the boozers and a snack for the 20d, I hope you find enough checkers to fill in the 11a’s lights
Here we go…
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When I provided hints for her last EV, Skylark was kind enough to explain the origin of her pseudonym, chosen because as a youngster she was entranced by Errol Garner’s rendition of the Johnny Mercer / Hoagy Carmichael song of that name. Since we will be searching for names in the completed grid, Mercer’s closing couplet may well be relevant: “So if you see them anywhere / Won’t you lead me there?”
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is exceedingly warm – highs of 32 degrees feels like 38 – accompanied by, sometimes heavy, afternoon/evening thunder showers!
For me, etc, Dada continues to be not so ‘friendly’ – with three anagrams (one partial), one lurker, and one homophone, all in a slightly asymmetric 27 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.… Continue reading
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I wonder how many people know why Big Dave called the Saturday Hints post “The Saturday Crossword Club”. He used to listen to Saturday Club, the music programme on the BBC Light Programme/Radio 2, now known as Sounds of the Sixties, while he was solving the Saturday Prize Puzzle and then preparing the hints and at the same time enjoying some of his favourite music.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Such very sad news. Condolences to Dave’s son Richard. I offered to blog for Dave in 2015 and he said he only had the Friday toughie slot. He has been massively supportive throughout.… Continue reading