Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31363
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A slightly dreary start to the day here in Harpenden but the rain isn’t due to arrive until later this evening so may take advantage of the fact that my new golf course is on the doorstep & play a few holes this afternoon.
After last week’s considerably trickier than usual Tuesday offering this one is an unmistakably gentle Anthony Plumb production that I felt was on a par with Heron’s puzzle yesterday in terms of difficulty. Though I enjoyed the solve & there were some neat surfaces it perhaps wasn’t the Prof at his sparkling best in my view so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it.
Gazza is subbing for Whybird over in t’other place where Ray T is on duty with a fairly gentle & very enjoyable Beamer that is well worth a look at.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31357
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
It is just starting to brighten up here in Harpenden after a dull & slightly drizzly start to the day. Hopefully it will stay dry this afternoon for what will be one of my last rounds at South Herts as a member having made the decision to join my local course at Harpenden Common.
For me today’s puzzle was certainly not Typically Tuesdayish & I found it a good deal trickier than yesterday. I usually tune straight into Anthony Plumb’s wavelength but not so today & as I laboured through a bottom ⬆️ grid fill I began to doubt it was one of his productions. Reading back through it post completion I’m still not sure so it will be interesting to see what others think. Either way I thought that there were some great clues & thoroughly enjoyed the solve despite the crumpet requiring a fair bit of early morning scratching.
I had ticks against 20,23,27&28a plus 4,8,14,16&17d. 20a gets my vote as pick of ‘em.
Chalicea is over in t’other place with one of her delightful trademark ‘floughie’ Toughies
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31351
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Another lovely day here in Harpenden but a whole lot of domestic chores to attend to so golf will have to wait until tomorrow.
Today’s dose of Plumbing is maybe a tad easier than yesterday’s puzzle. That said the grid fill took me a tad longer than usual but I suspect that was because I was more woolly headed than usual first thing this morning. I did enjoy the solve but maybe not as much as the last couple of weeks & there did seem to be a preponderance of first letter deletions. As ever it will be interesting to see what others make of it.
Hudson is on duty over in t’other place & if the form book is anything to go by his Tuesday Toughie is guaranteed to be an accessible delight. Whybird is on hand with hints & more tunes.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31345
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
It looks like there is a bit of damp stuff later this morning here in Harpenden but the forecast for the afternoon looks fine.
We have yet another light delight to roll off the Anthony Plumb production line. As ever some witty & misleading surfaces & impeccably clued throughout. I thought it was maybe a wee bit trickier than Heron’s puzzle yesterday but still on the gentle side so I’ll be interested to hear what others make of it.
Our old Thursday blogger has popped up over in t’other place with one of his elegantly compiled & very accessible Toughies that deserves a wide audience. Well worth having a stab at & Whybird is on hand to provide nudges if required.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31339
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Well it’s been a damp start to the day here in Harpenden and there seems to be plenty more to come. Fortunately tomorrow looks ok for ⛳️ which I’m looking forward to having shot my lowest gross score for 3 years yesterday – no doubt a freakish aberration.
Today we have the usual gentle Tuesday puzzle from Anthony Plumb which as ever is nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable. I thought it a little trickier than yesterday so I’ll be interested to see what others make of it.
Ray T is on duty over in t’other place with a very gentle anagram free Beamer that really isn’t more, if at all, difficult than this one so well worth having a stab at. Whybird is on hand with some afternoon tunes & to provide a nudge if required.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31333
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
The sun is shining here in Harpenden but a walk will have to wait as I’m off back to bed to catch up on some much needed kip. Yesterday was a full on day of golf followed by a very pleasant early evening meal at a Turkish restaurant near my course then the trek into Hammersmith to see The Black Keys. Suffice to say I was finally in bed much later than is ideal when you have to get up & write the blog.
As ever with one of AP’s Tuesday puzzles tightly clued & not overly taxing fortunately – on a par with yesterday in terms of difficulty.
I’ve not had a chance to look at it but I see Chalicea is over in t’other place. I’m sure that will be an accessible puzzle well worth having a stab at & Whybird will appreciate your thoughts on it.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31327
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
It’s shaping up to be another pleasant sunny day here in Harpenden so I’ve no excuses, now that the temperature is mercifully more tolerable, for not getting a decent walk in this afternoon.
I thought today’s Anthony Plumb lacked a wee bit of sparkle compared to recent weeks so I’ll be interested to see what others make of it. It was certainly on the gentle side even by Tuesday standards & I’d reckon it easier than yesterday’s puzzle. As ever immaculately clued.
Hudson is over in t’other place with a light delight that is fun & pretty ‘floughie’. Ideal for anyone contemplating dipping their toes into toughie waters for the first time. Whybird will be delighted to hear from you.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31321
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Mercifully much cooler today in Harpenden & I suspect we may even have had a drop or two of wet stuff overnight.
The usual elegance from Anthony Plumb today. I found it a wee bit trickier than yesterday’s puzzle. Smylers awarded that one a ** difficulty rating so I’ll follow suit & wait to see what others make of it.
I see Dada is over in t’other place with what seems at first glance a reasonably approachable affair.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31315
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
It looks like yet another scorcher on the golf course this afternoon at Centurion where I’ll be more than happy if I can get round in under 30 strokes more than Charley Hull took last week.
I thought today’s Anthony Plumb was a very enjoyable solve & maybe a tad trickier than last week. As ever concisely clued throughout with much to admire. Hopefully I can manage a 2nd week without needing to amend any hints but if so they’ll need to wait until later.
Our old Thursday blogger is over in t’other place with a delightful ‘floughie’ which I would strongly urge commenters to have a bash at as it really isn’t any more taxing than this one & is great fun.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31309
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Mercifully cooler today so it promises to be a lot more comfortable on the golf course this afternoon.
I found today’s Anthony Plumb offering a good bit easier than last week & about on a par with Heron’s puzzle yesterday in terms of difficulty. As ever nicely clued throughout with some excellent surfaces. Any corrections to the hints (if current form is anything to go by there’s bound to be at least one) will have to wait until later.
There’s a quick reappearance from Ray T over in t’other place with a very enjoyable & fairly gentle(ish) Beamer that’s begging to be walloped to the boundary ropes. I’m sure both he & Whybird would welcome your thoughts on it.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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