Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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It is always great to open one’s emails and find one from Prolixic with the subject line containing the words “test solve’’. This particular crossword was entertaining from start to finish, with a great theme, and some very nice clues, so thank you once again Prolixic. Continue reading “NTSPP – 060 (Review)”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This crossword is a very good example of why Gnomethang and I have this complicated weekend-puzzle-blogging schedule – neither of us wanted to miss the opportunity to review such wonderful cryptics with all the clever clues and wonderful wordplay. Thanks once again to Virgilius for another Sunday treat – definitely the highlight of the cryptic solving week.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Another good Saturday cryptic from our mystery setter this week. Took a few minutes for various pennies to drop, but I had no problems after that. Thank you to the Mysteron for a good mix of splendid clues, which I had the great pleasure of enjoying twice while sorting out this review.
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Although there was some muttering from the grumpy corner about this crossword, I quite like a gentler Saturday puzzle – why shouldn’t the old cryptic grey matter have a day off after a week of tussling with Toughies and the like, so thank you to Cephas. This crossword came with the added bonus of being a Pangram.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Definitely normal service resumed by Virgilius today after last week’s themed crossword. A lovely start to Sunday morning with his usual excellent mix of clever clues, including a few headscratchers that caused me and others a bit of work. Thank you once again Virgilius for a great crossword which has been as much pleasure to review as to solve.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Looking back at the notes I made when I test solved this one, I did find some of it slightly trickier than usual, but it was still very enjoyable as it has a number of Prolixic’s trademark clues – you can always imagine the twinkle in his eye when he set them! Thanks to him for another great Saturday afternoon diversion – can’t wait for the next one.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Big Dave’s introduction on Sunday said it all “Not a difficult puzzle, more a film quiz.” It was essential to read the editor’s note first – “In this Oscars Special, some answers include figures. A figure 1 should be input as the letter I”. Only three answers actually contained numbers, and in one of those the numerals were Roman.
Virgilius’s alter ego Brendan set a similarly themed crossword in the Saturday Guardian, the wordplay of which would have taken some working out, so I was a little apprehensive when starting to solve this one. However, with my love of cryptics and the amount of useful/less(?) trivia I remember, I had no problems at all apart from sorting out the ‘numberals’. Thanks to Virgilius from me and the (relatively few) others who enjoyed solving this one, especially Barrie!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This crossword came at the end of a very strange week for the DT Cryptics with the usual order of level of difficulty being much disrupted, and the Prize Puzzle followed the trend being trickier than normal – still only 3* difficulty for me, although I appreciate others will have given it a 4* rating. Thanks to the Mysteron for setting us all the perfect challenge for a very very wet Saturday.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This was one of those crosswords where I struggled to get going but found when I had finished that it had taken me no longer than usual to solve. Thanks to Cephas for a nice Saturday puzzle with an interesting mix of clues.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This was the perfect cryptic for a busy Sunday – didn’t take too long to solve but the wordplay was very enjoyable. There was a little muttering about a ‘chestnut’ but I prefer to think of such clues as old friends and I am not sure there actually were any this time. Thanks to Virgilius once again for another Sunday morning treat.