Big Dave’s Blog Birthday Bash, 2026
by Rahmat Ali
Reviewed by Steve Cowling
Rahmat Ali has given us a very entertaining puzzle for the Birthday Bash, which was a pleasure to solve. There were a couple of new words for me, but the cluing was fair. I was fairly sure of my answers for these, but I did check the BRB to make sure.
If you haven’t done so, please download it here> BIG DAVE’S BLOG BIRTHDAY BASH, 2026 and give it a go. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you, Rahmat, for your sterling efforts in producing a fine puzzle. Thank you, Sloop John Bee for your help with this blog and for organising a fabulous get-together.
Orf we jolly well go! Please forgive any errors Continue reading “Big Dave’s Blog Birthday Bash, 2026 by Rahmat Ali”
Three Days Late
By Sloop John Bee
Three Days Late
I wrote the above puzzle for The Birthday Bash, The Perimeter Nina should read BIG DAVE’S IS SEVENTEEN TODAY, but as the blog was born on the 28th January 2009 and the Bash wasn’t until the 31st it was Three Days Late!… Continue reading
Sunday Toughie No 210
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A great time was had by all at the birthday bash – see posts passim for pics. It took a bit of puzzling to parse some of these and, as ever, I can’t hint them all.
Connection permitting I will try and give an extra nudge or two if I can. I went to see the wonderful Caravaggio at the Wallace collection Friday, and today I fancy having a look at 19d’s Gin Lane, which I believe is in the Tate.
Thanks to everyone who came to the bash I hope you had fun, and apologies if you tried the Teams link. I won’t try that again – it doesnt work well in a noisy pub environment.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 210 (Hints)”
28th/31st January 2026
Big Dave’s 17th Birthday
Hello Folks,
Today’s the day. I hope to see as many of you as can manage the network rail chaos as possible, but for those that can’t be here I have a couple of puzzles and a Teams link for you.
https://teams.live.com/meet/9364709408706?p=jxqSsCNaPbQ87Pvvo3
is the teams link, I expect to be open from about noon.
BIG DAVE’S BLOG BIRTHDAY BASH, 2026
A puzzle from Rahmat Ali
Bridge House 2
Another from Prolixic to complement the NTSPP
Three Days Late
A puzzle from me with help from Prolixic – please go easy on me it is only my 2nd puzzle. I am nowhere near as accomplished as Prolixic and Rahmat
Continue reading “Big Dave’s 17th Birthday Bash”
Sunday Toughie No 208 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 18th of January 2026
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 208 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 209
by Samuel
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I was very pleasantly surprised to find Samuel here today, but my happiness waned when the theme of today’s puzzle became apparent. A valedictory performance indeed. 7a 16a 26a 6d 7d and 12d brought a 4d to my eye. I don’t think we can expect more from Samuel, who has given us so much already.
Lots of double definitions and anagrams, but I can’t hint at them all. I think the valedictory nature of today’s puzzle will allow me to forego the red pencil. 23d up Samuel, you’ve given us a belter today.
Here We Go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 209 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 207 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 11th January 2026
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 207 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 208
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Beam has brought us a generous 32 clues today and I have hinted half. I had a bit of parsing trouble last night, but I hope I have got them right. I hope you find the checkers to finish this fine puzzle and I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if you are struggling.
Why I was struggling a bit last night – I was nearer the keyboard monitor than the keyboard player!
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 208 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 206 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 4th January 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 206 (Review)”
31st January 2026
The Blog will be celebrating its seventeenth birthday next January 28th 2026.
Hello,
It is getting closer to the next Birthday Bash, and I post this as a reminder. I will be in London from Friday onwards. The main event will be in The Bridge House in Little Venice from about noon on the 31st. There is a good menu for those were wish to dine. I will be bringing some macarons, but maybe not as ambitious as last year.
You can just turn up as you wish, but it might be helpful if you could let me know via comment here. If you want further guidance let me know here and I will email back.
In the past, things have started to wind up in the pub in the evening (7-8pm) and hardy souls have gone on to a local Chinese restaurant, and that could happen again if you wish.
I have had a go at a crossword to entertain any lulls in the conversation, and anyone else is encouraged to contribute a puzzle/quiz or similar even if they are saved for the train home. If you want me to print out copies, I need them the Wednesday before (28th Jan – the actual date of the launch of the blog in 2009)
I have been to quite a few Birthday bashes over the years and every year, Network Rail and whatever rail companies are involved, have contrived to make January travel a nightmare. I am going to stay over on Sunday as KingsX is a bus transfer to Peterborough! and I will be blogging the Toughie on the Sunday from my hotel.
It has been suggested that a summer get-together may help. The advantage of London is that it provides plenty of alternative diversions for partners (or Mama Bee’s) who don’t do crosswords, but if anyone knew of a suitable venue a bit further north, I will investigate the possibility. Peterborough or Cambridge in the East and somewhere on the West Coast line between Oxford and Crewe come to mind. Suggestions for dates and venues can be made here or at the event.
I will be doing a Teams link again if you like, but bear in mind that communication in a busy pub can be a problem. Let me know if you want to try again
Continue reading “Big Dave’s 17th Birthday Bash”
