Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Sunday Toughie No 212
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A generous 16a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half, I hope you find the checkers to finish. I will try to give an extra nudge if you ask.
Mama Bee needs shopping, so I may be replying from the aisles. I will get back as soon as I am able.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 210 by proXimal
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 1st February 2026
Sorry it’s a bit late, I thought I scheduled this with the other BB puzzles
Sunday Toughie No 211
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Light’s thirteenth appearance in the Sunday Toughie slot but not unlucky for me. 5d took the most time to parse, but I think I have it now. It seemed like there were rather a lot of first, last, and alternate letter uses today. I did particularly enjoy the bilberry eating bird and the Hurricane, but those were just two of a long list of candidates.
I have tried to be a bit oblique with pics and vids, so I hope I haven’t given too much away. I will try and give a nudge or two if you ask.
14a and 14d clues today I hope you have as much fun as I did.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 209 by Samuel
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 25th of January 2026
A pdf of the puzzle is available here Bridge House 2
Thanks to Prolixic for this, the second of two puzzles he created for this year’s Birthday Bash, along with appreciation for the time he devotes to the crossword community generally such as creating an excellent guide to the construction of cryptic crossword clues (which is available to download from CrypticCrosswords.net) and reviewing Rookie Corner every week. Thanks also to SJB for organising the bash and blogging the prize Toughie every Sunday.
I thought this was tricky, perhaps in the Toughie class, but there are plenty of back pager level clues to get you going. Well worth a go.
I have provided hints below. There are a couple of references to Wiktionary, which should be treated with suitable caution.
SJB’s Notes. Thanks for the thanks and for doing the blog for this Snowman. I was getting worried about my “job” as Sunday Toughie blogger, as you not only spotted the fourth definition in 10a, you also parsed 25a better than my early efforts. I am not sure if you could call it a Nina, but there are several references to the blog (6a), the nature of the celebration (20d) and a couple that reference the age of Big Dave’s Blog (11a,15a and maybe 26d). If there are more than those, I hope Prolixic can explain.
Italics, pics and vids are mine!
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”
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
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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…
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
Another from Prolixic to complement the NTSPP
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
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
