Toughie No 1257 by Beam
Tossin’ and Turnin’
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Much as I like Beam and Ray T, his alter ego, I don’t think even he would have asked for this Toughie to be published on a Friday, the day usually reserved for arch tormentors like Elgar and Notabilis. This puzzle contains most of Beam’s usual signatures like Her Majesty, hidden words and subtle innuendo (but not, this time, a clue where the answer is made up from initial letters).
Continue reading “Toughie 1257”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27593
Hints and tips by Deep Threat
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs on an overcast September morning.
Giovanni is in fairly tricky mode today, *** for difficulty as far as I was concerned.
Continue reading “DT 27593”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27588
A full review by gnomethang
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **– Enjoyment ***
This puzzle was published on Saturday, 6th September 2014
Morning All! This was a reasonably straightforward but enjoyable puzzle from (I am guessing) Cephas. I managed to solve it after my delayed flight back from Belfast last night.
Continue reading “DT 27588”
Toughie No 1256 by Micawber
Hints and tips by Big Dave
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
What bad luck for Bufo – he has a week off and misses this superb puzzle from Micawber. The difficulty level crept into 4-star territory because I always include the time spent unravelling the wordplay.
Continue reading “Toughie 1256”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27592
Hints and tips by Kath
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating — Difficulty *** — Enjoyment *****
Good morning everyone. It looks as if it’s going to be another lovely day in Oxford once the early morning mist has gone. Now on to the crossword. I don’t think that this is a Ray T production – it doesn’t feel quite right, the Quickie clues don’t look like his and anyway it’s not his week. I could easily be wrong! I loved it and was laughing all the time I was doing it – for that reason I’ve given it 5* for enjoyment which is something that I’ve never done before. Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Continue reading “DT 27592”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 2759
A full review by gnomethang
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *– Enjoyment ****
This puzzle was published on Sunday, 31st August 2014
This was a seriously fast solve for me and was consistent with most other comments on the day. Reviewing it, however, was a complete joy as there are so many simple but effective clues.
Continue reading “ST 2759”
Toughie No 1255 by Petitjean
What we need is some R&R with a G&T
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Petitjean tends to polarise opinions but when he’s in his quirky mood he’s one of my favourite setters. Today’s puzzle includes a number of expanded abbreviations in the same format. I did enjoy it and I would probably have finished it more speedily if I hadn’t had a mental block in the NW corner.
Continue reading “Toughie 1255”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27591
Hints and tips by pommers
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where the heat wave still continues and it’s forecast to get hotter tomorrow and Friday! It’s nice to have a go in my old Wednesday slot for once as I always like a Jay puzzle and this was no exception. Very neat clueing and some humour but it just crept into 3* difficulty for me because I was inordinately slow twigging 6d, d’oh! I don’t suppose you guys will have the same trouble.
Continue reading “DT 27591”
Toughie No 1254 by Kcit
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ****
My train is pulling into Kings Cross as I type, so no time for illustrations today -- which is an injustice to a very nice Tuesday-level puzzle from Kcit. [POSTSCRIPT: Profuse apologies everyone, but I forgot to press the "publish" button earlier in the day to schedule this post for 2pm as normal, and have just emerged from work meetings to find that it was still sitting in the drafts folder.]
Continue reading "Toughie 1254"
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27590
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
We don’t normally get anything too scintillating or thought-provoking on Tuesdays and this week is no exception. Do leave a comment with your assessment of the puzzle.
Continue reading “DT 27590”