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”
Sunday Toughie No 195 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 19th October 2025
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 195 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 196
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Whilst enjoying the Sloggers and Betters event in York, I was aware I still had a blog to prepare for this excellent offering from proXimal. Once the Spoonerism dropped, the rest flowed fairly easily despite the curry we rounded off the evening with, repeating on me.
We have 14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted at half. I am sure a few tricky ones have hit the cutting room floor. I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if required, but I hope you get the checkers to complete this fine puzzle.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 196 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 194 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 12th of October 2025
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 194 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 195
by Zandio (With a little help from CL)
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Here We Go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 195 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 193 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 5th October 2025 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 193 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 194
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Beam is a little trickier than his last outing here (To Me™) but I stress again (27a) that is just right for a Sunday Toughie. Plenty of Beam trademarks and an economical sub-six words per clue. 14a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half.
If asked, I will try and give a nudge, if you don’t get sufficient checkers to complete this fine puzzle
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 194 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 192 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 28th of September 2025
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 192 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 193
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I struggled to get going last night, but I think I can blame the woolly-headedness on the lingering cold that is slooowly releasing its grip on my nasal cavities.
I did like 7 and 8d, but I may be overthinking the archery link
A somewhat imbalanced 16a and 13d clues today, and I have hinted half(ish) I hope you get the checkers to finish, I will give a nudge or two if required.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 193 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 191 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 21st September 2025
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 191 (Review)”
Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, analyse and discuss.
I hope you might take a look at this weekend’s Sunday Toughie. I was in Yorkshire last month visiting Chris Lancaster, the Telegraph Puzzles Editor, and I had a newly-filled grid which I asked him to print out for me so I could write clues on the train journey home. Chris kindly did, and then immediately started suggesting ideas for clues. The upshot is, there are several clues in the Sunday Toughie that originated with Mr Lancaster. I’m pretty sure one of them will be the favourite clue of the day — an absolute corker (which I can say because it wasn’t my idea). Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks again for the feedback today. Have a great weekend.
14a, 1d, 2d and 19d were fighting it out for my podium, but I am not going to try and guess which clues Zandio is referring to; I enjoyed them all. I would like to have hinted many more, but the convention on prize puzzles limits me to about half hints. Even the Spoonerism missed the cut today (btw it is Russian)
We have 14a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted at half. Several lurkers that may trap the unwary and anagrams, including an &lit anagram, missed the cut, too.