Toughie 834 by Elgar
Where did those years go???
Brought to you by Fred and Ginger
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The fiendish Vlad obviously donned his fluffier footwear today in order to mark an event that happened fifteen years ago today. Elgar’s puzzles often divide opinions and we imagine that this one will do so too. However, if you want to be able to say that you managed to defeat the great man, this may well be the puzzle to try. As Ginger is having an awayday today, we had to wait up until just after midnight to tackle this little gem.
Being old, Fred had forgotten about the date, but from the last across clue, things suddenly fell into place. It has to be said that Fred has an acute aversion to this song, much preferring the original version which was haunting and memorable.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26959
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This is a fairly standard Friday Giovanni with a number of entertaining clues (and one excellent one). Let us know how you fared with it.
To reveal an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the clue.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26954
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment *
Having turned to the back page of the paper expecting to solve a Cephas puzzle, it was doubly disappointing to find that the puzzle was on the inside of the back page again, and that the crossword was a lacklustre puzzle from the ‘occasional Saturday Mysteron’ (as opposed to the regular Saturday Mysteron who alternates with Cephas).
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51.3807220.529774
Toughie No 833 by Warbler
Hints and tips by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This was a pleasant but extremely gentle puzzle. My only problem came after I had carelessly entered the answer to 25 down into the space for 23 down (where it fits). I then spent some time trying to find an answer to 23 down that fitted in the space for 25 down. I blame senility. This is my first blog since underlining the definition became the fashion. I’ve given it a go although it can’t be used for any of the clues that refer to “17”. The definition in each of these clues is provided by the second word of the answer to 17 across.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26958
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from the Vega Baja. I’m actually doing the review on the right day this week – it is Thursday isn’t it?
Not sure about the setter of this one. There is a Queen clue but it didn’t feel like a RayT to me but perhaps he’ll drop by and let us know. Plenty of American flavouring scattered through the puzzle so beware! I quite enjoyed it but found it a tad tricky in places, but there are enough ‘gimmes’ and a few anagrams to get you going.
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Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2653
A full review by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Another Sunday treat –not that difficult but very entertaining. I have indicated both definitions and top favourites.
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Toughie No 832 by Osmosis
Vlad gets a Mention
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I proceeded steadily through this puzzle (a pangram) but never really got into top gear and ended up spending some time trying to work out a synonym for sooty at 23d. It has a number of entertaining clues, but perhaps too many of the type ‘x contains y’.
What do you think? Leave us a comment and please click on one of the stars below to rate the puzzle for enjoyment.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26957
Hints and tips by scchua
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I rate this as a 2.5 in difficulty and about a 3 in enjoyment. Begun in fits and starts, getting an answer here and there without being able to use checking letters. However, it became much smoother after a while, and didn’t prove too difficult. Thanks to setter.
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Toughie No 831 by Busman
Sweet doing nothing
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This pleasant Toughie came to life, and won an extra star, when I solved 1 down.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26956
Hints and tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
The other day someone commented that some of BD’s blogging team seem more human than others. Well no-one has ever actually seen Gazza, but whichever planet he comes from, his powers of both observation, deduction and persuasion are second to none, as once again, when I have a day off, he is the one having the lie-in while I go off to the local shop at the usual time, today returning home to blog the crossword.
One of the Tuesday Mysterons has given us with a fairly straightforward puzzle with a nice mix of clues, which was enjoyable both to solve and blog.
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