Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31160
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday blog. I found today’s puzzle to be quite tricky, but that may have been because I was still half asleep when I started solving it! A couple of the answers were new to me, and several clues took me a while to parse, pushing my solving time into 3* territory. There were plenty of concise and elegant clues and I found it difficult to pick a winner. I particularly liked the podgy husband in 27a, the binge session in 1d and the tipsy Democrat in 16d, but my favourite today is the naked Beatle in 13a. Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31160”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31154
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment *****
Good morning from a chilly but sunny south Hampshire. Today we have another excellent back-pager, with so many fine clues it was hard to choose a favourite. I especially liked 1a, 9a, 19a, 2d and 3d, but topping the podium for me today is the tipsy clergyman in 8d. Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31154”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31148
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning from Hampshire, where the sun is shining again after yesterday’s deluge. I found today’s puzzle to be quite a challenge, and it took me a while to get going, but in the end it was well worth the effort. I especially liked 4d, and the Beatle-themed 27a and 5d, but the pick of today’s clues for me is the magnificent 19a. Many thanks to today’s setter. Continue reading “DT 31148”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31142
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
Good morning from a wet and windy Hampshire, where I think someone must have been performing a 17d with spectacular success. I found today’s puzzle to be suitably challenging for a Wednesday back-pager, with a couple of clues in the NE corner taking a while to fall, pushing my solving time into 2* territory. I thought there were many concise and elegant clues today; I particularly liked the match official in 10a and the ebullient Mr Cantona in 21a, but my favourite is the cryptic definition in 3d. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Continue reading “DT 31142”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31136
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Good morning from Hampshire, where the winter sun has made a welcome appearance after yesterday’s relentless rain. I found this puzzle to be fairly gentle for a midweek back-pager, and it was my quickest solve of the week so far. 7d and 13d both made it onto my podium today, but my favourite has to be the superb 12a. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Continue reading “DT 31136”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31130
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning and welcome to my first blog as an official member of the BD blogging team, although it’s my fourth effort overall – I blogged three of the vintage puzzles last summer, so I should be getting the hang of it by now! Many thanks to Gazza for inviting me to become a regular blogger, and to Shabbo, from whom I’m taking over (albeit on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday). I wish him well in his new role as a DT puzzle compiler.
I felt this puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far, finishing in just over 3* time. I especially liked the cricketing legend in 9a, the ursine visitor in 1d and the boring old Conservative in 18a, but my COD has to be the eccentric mind in 28a. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Continue reading “DT 31130”