Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A little piece of cheese and a dance with Saint Sharon always goes down well whilst completing the crossword. Thank you Rufus for providing those along with a steady reliable solve. I wish we had a need for a 21d but I fear it is brollies all the way this week.
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Don’t forget the monthly Prize Puzzle – with a very special prize
In response to a number of requests, I have added a page, The Usual Suspects, to the Crosswords section of the blog. This lists some of the wordplay elements commonly used in cryptic crosswords. I hope it proves to be useful, especially to newer solvers.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a number of the more difficult clues and provide hints for them.
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There’s still time to enter this month’s prize Puzzle. You are strongly advised to read the instructions thoroughly before entering.
While they are all partying like it’s 1999 in Bristol, it’s left to me to look after the shop. I’ll try and be around as much as I can but I am off to an Open University tutorial in Salford. I’ll try and pop in from time to time, so you’ll all have to play nicely and behave yourselves. If not, you won’t get any of Crypticsue’s cake. Mind you neither will I!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Many thanks to Tilsit, who morphed into Fred, and his “partner” Ginger for stepping in (or was that stepping out) for me on Tuesday. In return I get to review this wonderful puzzle from Notabilis.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs where another damp, grey morning has given way to a welcome burst of sunshine.
I found today’s Giovanni distinctly easier than yesterday’s Ray T, so only ** for difficulty.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Morning All!. We had a pretty straightforward puzzle today with a couple of clues that could be written in without considering the wordplay at all (Nightingale and ‘kiss and make up’ in particular. Still an enjoyable solve despite this.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I didn’t find this particularly difficult despite the presence of several unfamiliar answers and the thought needed to work out the wordplay for the last 2 or 3 answers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
It may be the blog’s fifth birthday this week but today is important for a different reason. It’s the debut of the latest recruit to BD’s team of bloggers. Someone already well known to all of you, it’s Kath, one of the most popular contributors to this site. It’s a sort of toe-in-the-water day but I’m sure that when you’ve seen her work you’ll agree with me that it won’t be long before she’s flying solo! By the way, I’m the cockroach and Kath’s the alley cat!
Anyway, on to the crossword. For me it was a tricky little rascal and it nearly crept into **** time. Perhaps that’s just me though as I’m not always on RayT’s wavelength. I’m pretty sure it’s him due to the innuendo, laughs and Her Majesty turning up.