Sunday Toughie No 199 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 16th November 2025
Author: Sloop John Bee
Sunday Toughie 200 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 200
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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It seems to me that we have been treated to a quite tricky weekend of puzzles from Telegraph Towers. Maybe it is just me being worn out by double duty. For this 200th Sunday Toughie proXimal has started with a Spoonerism and plenty of compound/subtractive anagrams.
16a and 14d clues, and I have hinted at half. As ever, some quite tricky constructions remain beware of lurkers, anagrams and “cycling” of letters. I will try and provide a nudge or two if you get stuck. I ask you (21d) to be aware I may be taking Mama Bee out for coffee and cakes (NOT at Greggs)
Here we go, Folks…
DT 31091 (Hints)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31091 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Cryptic-Sloop)
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I am standing in for Crypticsue today. I hope she recovers soon as I found this quite tricky for a SPP. I am hopeless at setter spotting, but with a couple of nice linked clues, I suspect this may be the work of Donnybrook.
A generous 16a and 16d clues and I have hinted half.
I’m providing hints for what I consider to be some of the harder clues. If you’re really stuck on one of the clues I haven’t hinted I may provide a bit more help. However, I have to take Mama Bee out shopping/coffee drinking so beware of the naughty step as no cake is available.
Continue reading “DT 31091 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie 198 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 198 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 9th of November 2025
Sunday Toughie 199 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 199
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Here We Go…
Sunday Toughie 197 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 197 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 2nd November 2025 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 197 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie 198 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 198
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A generous (32 clues today) and not too tough for a Toughie, from Beam today. No multiple-word clues and no more than six words per clue, plenty of Beam trademarks, even though he has played a bit fast and loose with his sweetheart today.
I have hinted at half of an evenly balanced 16a and 16d clues today. I hope you find enough checkers to finish today, but I will possibly provide a nudge or two if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie 196 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 196 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 26th of October 2025
Sunday Toughie 197 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 197
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A great crossword from Light that I really enjoyed solving, even though some of the Latin parsing escaped me.
Some great surfaces and anagrams should give you the checkers to fill the grid. I have hinted at 13 of 28 clues, to be able to offer a nudge if you ask.
If you are considering coming to the Birthday Bash, a reminder that the date is now 31st January 2026
Here we go, Folks…
A change to a date for your diary… Big Dave’s 17th Birthday Bash
31st January 2026
Because of various clashing crossword events, I would like to change the date for the Birthday Bash by a week. I hope no one has booked anything yet, and this change can work for you all. Please shout up if there are any problems
The Blog will be celebrating its seventeenth birthday next January 28th 2026.
I have started the ball rolling with The Bridge House and reserved the bar area we have used in the past for Saturday, the 31st January, from noon onwards.
I hope that those who came last year enjoyed it and it should be just as good again, however, I don’t think Mama Bee will be able to cope with a weekend in London again. I expect she will spend a weekend with my sister “babysitting”.
Last year, Smylers provided a quiz, Prolixic a couple of puzzles, Elgar a double toughie and Rahmat Ali contributed too. I am also hoping that as well as Bloggers and Setters, anyone who comments will feel as welcome as I did the first time I came. There is not a lot to do in the way of organising, but an assistant to welcome attendees/manage name tags and Teams links would be great – a volunteer is worth ten pressed men.
Continue reading “A change to a date for your diary… Big Dave’s 17th Birthday Bash”
Not too tricky today from Zandio. A good meal to start, and more to eat and sup as we go.
I am going to favour the topical 7d from a long list of contenders. Which ones did you like?
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line (11a). 14 across and 14d clues today and I have hinted half. I may be able to give a bonus nudge if asked.