Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 054
A Puzzle by Prolixic
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Welcome to the latest in our series of weekly puzzles.
Back again is prolific setter Prolixic with another fine puzzle.
Author: Prolixic
NTSPP – 053 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 053 (Review)
Tender Memories by Radler
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A warm welcome back to Radler with a very enjoyable puzzle based on the theme of the decimalisation of the United Kingdom’s currency 40 years ago on 15 February 1971. Many of the answers to the clues in this crossword are terms for pre-1971 currency – some very pre!
I think that Big Dave gave you a big helping hand referring to the anniversary. I test-solved this crossword without the knowledge of the theme and it took quite a while for the penny (d not p) to drop!
Do let us know what you think about the crossword below. As has been said many times, good feedback (positive and constructive) is very helpful for the setters of the NTSPP. Don’t be backward in coming forward!
NTSPP – 052 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 052
A puzzle by Gazza
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Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Gazza makes a welcome return to the NTSPP fold with an enjoyable and accessible crossword that should be well within the range of all solvers from the CC to the ACC. Favourite clues for me were 4a, 22a, 3d and 6d. Let us know your favourite and any feedback below.
NTSPP – 051 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 051
A puzzle by Qix
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This was a very enjoyable puzzle from Qix. I found this a little easier than his last crossword. Many thanks to him for a nice diversion on a Saturday afternoon.
NTSPP – 050 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 050
Old Timers by Radler
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With a Radler puzzle you know you are in for a tough workout with well hidden wordplay and themes cleverly worked into the grid. This was no exception. I have a major grumble with a couple of the down clues that do not (for me) satisfy the rules of cryptic cluing. However, Radler, like the hero of this puzzle, has been known to break a rule or two in pursuit of a rollicking good puzzle. Let us know your views.
NTSPP – 049 (Comments)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 049
With thanks to… by Prolixic
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Welcome to the forty ninth in our series of weekly puzzles.
This special puzzle features names that will be familiar to followers of the blog.
NTSPP – 048 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 048
A Puzzle by Qix
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A warm welcome to Qix with his first NTSPP crossword; although as Big Dave pointed out he has previous form being a setter for the Glasgow Herald. This was an enjoyable and not overly difficult puzzle with lots of references in the answers and in the clues to chess and bridge.
The grid was not the most friendly for the solver with 6 double unches and 2 (shock) triple unches. Fortunately, the clues for the triple unches were not the most difficult in the puzzle.
As befits a setter from Scotland there were some Scottish references though not at the level of deviousness employed by John McKie in his guise as Myops.
Favourite clues for me were 1d, 9a and 4d.
Hopefully, Qix will entertain us again in the not too distant future.
NTSPP – 047 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 047
A Puzzle by Tilsit
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I solved this on New Year’s Day in dribs and drabs whilst lying in bed suffering from man flu feeling as though I had the collective hangover of the nation – which was very unfair as I had not had a drop to drink the night before! As result, I think that I found this harder than usual. Revisiting the crossword today for the review, it all seems a lot simpler.
As usual Tilsit has produced an excellent crossword with lots to savour. My favourite clues were 23/24a, 10a and 3d.
NTSPP – 046 (Comments)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 046
A Christmas Special by Prolixic
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Welcome to the forty sixth in our series of weekly puzzles.
Prolixic has prepared a special Christmas puzzle – enjoy!
NTSPP – 045 (Review)
Not the Saturday Prize Puzzle – 045 (Review)
A Puzzle by Isla
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This week we have a sterling quality debut puzzle from Isla – hopefully the first of many. In his post on the “Comments” thread, Isla acknowledges some help from a more experienced cruciverbalist. However, to produce such a good puzzle, the initial version must have been spectacular to start with. In one or two places, I think I detected the hand of Anax in the final version of clues – was he our rising star’s mentor for this puzzle?
This puzzle was certainly at the tough end of the spectrum with some delightful wordplay with only a couple of possibly too obscure references.
Finally, my apologies for the late arrival of the review. I have been busy preparing Christmas services.