Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Whilst Crypticsue recuperates following her recent eye surgery, it falls to me to bring you the review of our Saturday Mysteron’s prize crossword that was published in the Daily Telegraph on 12 January. I am pleased to report that Crypticsue is well on the mend and will be back in harness to review tomorrow’s prize crossword in a week’s time.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I got the four perimeter answers very quickly. Thereafter it was a steady solve though it was slightly trickier than I thought it was going to be.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
I received, in the middle of the night UK time, the following email from Tantalus.
“Finally we decided to do the crossword at night so that we could contribute to the hints – hope that you can publish as a small token of our thanks for the entertainment over the years. Mr & Mrs Tantalus, Boston.”
Our first opportunity to contribute, with a little humor (American humour). Snowy here in Boston, but at 34F it is thawing fast, normally temps are around 10F. Two stars twice it seems – some simple, some subtle. Favorites were 15 across and 16 down.”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ****
Another superb Virgilius Sunday puzzle – hidden words, clever definitions and lots to make you smile along the way. Quite a few anagrams but even the anagram ‘haters’ would have to admit that they appear in such clever convolutions. My top favourites are marked in blue.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
In the past I’ve felt that there hasn’t been that much differentiation between Beam’s Toughies and the back-page puzzles of his alter ego Ray T but today’s is definitely a step up in difficulty and very enjoyable it is. There are no anagrams and no mention of Queen.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Enjoyable crossword today, about a 2-2.5* for difficulty and 3* for enjoyment. Thanks to setter.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *
Everything you expect from an Excalibur puzzle.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from a cold and frosty South Staffs, where cloud cover is replacing the early morning sun.
I found today’s puzzle straightforward, with only the check applied by 10a, which was my last one in, pushing it into ** territory.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I didn’t think this was up to the same standard as the last two crosswords from the Monday Maestro, what do you think?
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There’s still time to have a go at our monthly Prize puzzle.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the more difficult clues and provide hints for them.