Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This great puzzle from Beam is laced with innuendo. Tuesday has not been a good day for Toughies recently, but this has been the best since Beam’s last offering four weeks ago.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
I found this pretty straightforward today except for two plants that I’d never heard of and those two are the reason for the third difficulty star. Let us know what you thought of it in a comment.
If you need to see an answer just highlight the space between the brackets under the clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Not an overly complicated crossword today, although I haven’t seen the phrase at 8d since I was in the Navy CCF at school and I don’t think 5d works very well. Otherwise as entertaining as ever. Favourite clue 22a.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
For the uninitiated, Sloggers and Betters (a spoonerism of Bloggers and Setters) is a convivial evening involving lots of alcohol and a meal when setters of crosswords, bloggers and solvers meet in a pub and then a nearby restaurant. It usually, but not exclusively, follows the lunch given by the Times for its crossword setters.
The 8th Sloggers and Betters meeting took place at the Ship & Shovell (whose address and other London landmarks appear in the crossword). Ignoring the first and last letters, the top left to bottom right diagonal of grid features the name of the pub.
It was a pleasure to meet many familiar setters this year including Cephas, Giovanni, Shamus, Notabalis, Micawber and many others including John Henderson (Elgar) who with his wife Jane organised this year’s meeting. In honour of the occasion, Elgar prepared this crossword for those attending which he kindly allowed to be published as a NTSPP.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Welcome to the latest in our series of weekly puzzles.
This puzzle was distributed by Elgar at the S&B 8 meeting on 24th May 2011 and he has kindly given permission for it to be reproduced here.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Feeling rather under the weather, suffering a nasty dose of cellulitis in my left leg. However, I was cheered when I found that today’s Friday challenge came from Notabilis. We are presented with the usual elegant and mind-bending clues with clever and witty surface readings.
I thought we were in for another Friday pangram but I think we are two letters short.
I’d like to thank everyone who came to the Sloggers and Betters do in London on Tuesday evening. It was an absolutely splendid evening and it was so nice to see so many both from the Blog and the world of crosswords in general. Thanks to the lovely Jane T, John H and Big Dave for their work in organising it. Gossip will be revealed in return for the usual plain brown envelope payments.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Crypticsue is sunning herself in foreign climes so I have the honour the blogging a Virgilius crossword for the first time. This was not Virgilius at his most devious but even with his more straightforward crosswords there are the usual penny drop moments, supreme craftsmanship in the clues and all round enjoyment. Many thanks to him for the Sunday morning treat.
After last week’s triple letter solutions, I was on the look out for any similar themes or devices in the grid but was not able to spot any.
I have highlighted my favourite clues in blue, top of which were the wonderfully misleading 4d and great all in one clue in 11d.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
It’s Friday so, as usual, we have an entertaining puzzle from Giovanni. Let us know your opinion of it in a comment.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the space between the brackets under the relevant clue.