Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the forty first in our series of weekly puzzles.
This week we have a special treat – a debut puzzle from our very own Gazza. After a string of wins in the DIY COW clue writing competition, Gazza has been persuaded to set a whole puzzle – and it’s a cracker!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
I’m announcing this rather later than usual, for which I apologise. For two reasons, an S & B meeting will take place on Wednesday 1st December.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
A puzzle that I found very easy , finishing in the kind of time I can’t quite seem to manage for the Times puzzles any more. I enjoyed 3D in particular, as a lover of the rich orchestral music of “first-class second-rate composer” Richard Strauss. I also enjoyed the reference to slightly more recent music at 23A.
Apologies for this being late – there’s lots going on at the Times xwd website at the moment, including leaderboards done rather better than at the Telegraph.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Tilsit has sneaked back to hospital for a few days – you just can’t keep him away from those nurses! The good news is that he has already lost five stones in weight. The bad news, for Tilsit, is that he has missed out on reviewing this puzzle.
Once again Notabilis has given us an excellent Toughie. This time it’s not as difficult as some of his earlier puzzles, but the quality shines through.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
I have mentioned the excellent puzzles in the Church Times before. These are edited by Don “Giovanni” Manley, and I am delighted to be able to tell you that this week’s puzzle, #1086, is by Revd Michael Callaghan and can be accessed here. So what is so special? Well, the Revd Michael is actually our very own Prolixic and I’m sure you will all join me in congratulating him on his first puzzle to be published in a newspaper.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Today’s puzzle by Giovanni is very entertaining and, in my view, a bit less difficult than we have come to expect from him. I was torn between giving it two or three stars for difficulty – what do you think?
To reveal an answer drag your cursor through the space between the brackets under the related clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I found this harder than average. There are a few answers that might be unfamiliar to some but it was a perfectly fair puzzle.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. I must confess to not having fully read the Saturday review on account of being held up on a Valle Romane Golf Course on the Costa Del Sol. Having said that I detected a certain polarisation in the Love it/Hate it camps from scanning the comments. Personally I found it fairly straightforward but fun.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I realised that this was a Ray T puzzle very early on, but still peeked at the Quick crossword to make sure (all one-word clues!).