Huntsman – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

DT 30877

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30877
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***/****

A beautiful sunny start to the day here in Harpenden & having been bitterly cold on the golf course yesterday I’m hoping the promised warmer weather arrives over the next couple of days as I plan to get the sticks out again.

Thoroughly enjoyed today’s puzzle, which I assume to be an Anthony Plumb production. As ever elegantly & concisely clued throughout I found it about on a par with Monday’s puzzle so it ought not to present too much difficulty.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30871

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30871
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***

Judging by the distinctly chilly weather here in Harpenden it looks like the unseasonably warm spell that we’ve been enjoying has come to an abrupt end but at least it’s dry.

Another solid & pretty straightforward Tuesday offering that I assume is penned by our usual setter. Maybe not one from the top drawer but certainly enjoyable & nicely clued throughout. Pusskits, puppies & a selection of tunes to accompany the hopefully correct hints.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30865

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30865
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***

After a decidedly chilly start it’s looking like another lovely spring day here in Harpenden – if this keeps up there’ll be half a chance of my sodden golf course finally drying out & the trolley ban being lifted.

Another typically gentle Tuesday puzzle which I assume is from our regular setter (Senf will advise re the grid). It took me a tad longer to complete than yesterday but was all over pretty quickly so I don’t expect it will cause problems for too many. Enjoyable, concisely clued & I particularly liked the way the surface reads at 14&16a and later at 27&28d seemed related. As ever there’s an assortment of tunes to accompany the hopefully correct hints.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30859

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30859
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty *  Enjoyment ***

A dull start to the day but it’s brightening up nicely here in Harpenden. The golf courses are still closed so it’s a trip to the Odyssey to see the matinee performance of Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain, which I’m rather looking forward to.

Those bemoaning a trickier than usual start to the week yesterday ought to be happy with today’s offering. I found it very pleasant, nicely clued & none too demanding. I’m not 100% convinced it’s an Anthony Plumb production but Senf will no doubt advise. For any that breeze through this I’d encourage a visit to the other place to check out Hudson who is on Toughie duty. I haven’t looked at the puzzle yet but if it’s anywhere near as good as his last one it’ll be worth the effort plus there’s the added bonus of ALP’s usually eclectic music choices which Jane looks forward to so much.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

Continue reading “DT 30859”

DT 30853

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30853
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***

A lovely sunny day here in Harpenden though still on the chilly side so golf can wait until it warms up a wee bit. I’m off to meet Shabbo for a spot of lunch & a pint at The Brocket Arms in Ayot St Lawrence so no doubt will hear all about his adventures in the Cape.

A typically Tuesday puzzle which I found pretty straightforward other than one slightly tricky parse. I assume it’s an Anthony Plumb production as it certainly felt like his style of clueing.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30849

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30849
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***  Enjoyment ****

Shabbo has had the temerity to request a day off as he is off enjoying himself in the Cape so you’re stuck with me. Can’t promise his precise explanations but there are some good tunes to listen to.

No prizes for guessing the identity of today’s setter. With no more than six words in any clue & a crafty appearance for one of his trademarks (albeit in the form of an anagram) it’s Ray T, the first half of Jane’s Thursday dream team with Silvanus on Toughie duty. I’ll be interested to see how many, if any, hands go up for one consonant shy of a correct grid. A thoroughly enjoyable solve from start to finish.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30847

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30847
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  Enjoyment **/***

A fairly typical Tuesday puzzle with nothing to frighten the horses. Nicely clued throughout & with a couple of neat surfaces. For me a bitof a return to form after the last two weeks though reckon still a wee bit short of his best. Back on Thursday as I’m subbing for our man in the Cape.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30841

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30841
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  Enjoyment **/***

A perfectly pleasant & pretty 26a puzzle today although not perhaps one that will live long in the memory. It’ll be interesting to see if others have a different view but for me both this week & last have lacked a bit of the usual sparkle.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30835

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30835
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty */**  Enjoyment **/***

Maybe it’s a case of the miserable weather putting me in a contrary humour but for me today’s puzzle felt if anything a tad pedestrian. It was of course well clued but I felt it lacked the usual dose of AP humour – or maybe I’ve just missed it. Either way pretty straightforward & I doubt that many will need the hints. Worth reading for the generous prize on offer for the first person to spot one of my parsing mistakes – I’m on a hat-trick….

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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DT 30829

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30829
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***

Another one in a consistent line of very enjoyable & pretty straightforward Tuesday puzzles from the Prof. I don’t expect it will present too many difficulties for most & I’d reckon it about on a par with yesterday’s production in terms of difficulty.

In the following hints, definitions are underlined, indicators are mostly in parentheses, and answers are revealed by clicking where shown as usual. Please leave a comment below on how you got on with the puzzle.

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