Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3319 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where serious wildfires continue in NW and SE Manitoba with air operations for ‘water bombers’ and RCAF aircraft for evacuation being hampered by the smoke and some towns have been evacuated completely. Similar conditions prevail to the West of us in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
For me, and I stress for me©, Dada very friendly once again – six anagrams (two partials), three lurkers (one reversed), and one homophone all in an asymmetric 29 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 12a, 23a, 27a, 4d, and 6d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Continue reading “ST 3319 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30938
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where it is pleasantly spring time and getting warmer but we need some rain!
As I write this blog, on my Tuesday evening, the King is already back, or just about to be back, in the UK after his whirlwind ‘business’ trip to Canada which saw him ‘on the ground’ for 24 hours. I can ‘trump’ him (nothing to do with the Orange One); some years ago, when I was living and working in Delaware, I went to Düsseldorf and Köln on business for 19 hours – arriving at noon one day and departing at 7:00am, business completed, the next.
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), yet once more, I hope that I do not offend anyone, this was like a Monday puzzle, as Monday puzzles used to be, but with an appearance by the Reverend W A Spooner. The only Hmm I have is for the Pun. Whomsoever the setter is, thank you.
Continue reading “DT 30938”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3318 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the sun is shining and the birds are singing, beer and wine in plentiful supply, what more can one ask for.
For me, and I stress for me©, Dada very friendly with an anagram fest – eight of them (two partials), one lurker, and one homophone all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 9a, 13a, 26a, 3d, 14d, and 22d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Continue reading “ST 3318 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30932
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where the weather is becoming more seasonal, at least that’s what the meteorologists are telling us.
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), once again, I hope that I do not offend anyone, with a few Hmms, this was like a Monday puzzle, as Monday puzzles used to be, with, once again, no sign of the Reverend W A Spooner but the phonetic alphabet was somewhat overworked. Whomsoever the setter is, thank you. I make no apologies for the illustration that I have used for 27a!
Continue reading “DT 30932”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3317 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday’s high temperature of 5 degrees was 33 degrees cooler than it was on Tuesday, all in Celsius of course. Thankfully, the cooler temperatures and the rain that we have had since Thursday have helped with the ‘battle’ against wildfires East of Winnipeg in which, sadly, two people have died.
For me, and I stress for me©, Dada quite friendly with some ‘creative’ anagram indicators. Six anagrams (two partials), three lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones all in a symmetric 30 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 18a, 19a, 1d, 5d, 18d, and 20d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Continue reading “ST 3317 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30926
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where, in simple terms, yesterday was hot – 38 degrees hot – but the forecast is still indicating that I will need my red scarf on Friday and Saturday!
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), I hope that I do not offend anyone, with a few Hmms, this was like a Monday puzzle, as Monday puzzles used to be, with, once again, no sign of the Reverend W A Spooner. Whomsoever the setter is, thank you. However, there is a chance that one excellent answer might be condemned to purgatory on The List; although, I have a vague recollection that it might already be there.
Continue reading “DT 30926”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3316 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, not helping with the wildfire situation, after a very pleasant 24 degrees yesterday the forecast is for 34 or 35 degrees today, tomorrow, and Tuesday and then the Mercury falls out of the bottom of the thermometer as we are forecast to ‘sink’ to 5 (yes five) degrees on Friday – fortunately the Red Scarf has not yet been put at the back of the wardrobe for the Summer.
For me, and I stress for me, in his own way, Dada quirkily friendly. Two long ‘uns, seven anagrams (all partials!), two lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones all in a symmetric 29 clues; with 14, plus 1 bonus, hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 20a, 23a, 25a, 3d, 7d, and 16d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Continue reading “ST 3316 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30920
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where, with fluctuating temperatures, Spring sunshine continues. More importantly there has been very little precipitation and wildfires are already occurring!
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), a slightly more challenging but still very entertaining midweek puzzle but, even with the absence of the Reverend W A Spooner, I am not making any guesses as to whom the setter might be. Whomsoever it is, thank you. However, I do expect at least one magnificent answer to be condemned to purgatory on The List.
Continue reading “DT 30920”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3315 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is truly shorts and tee shirts weather with 22 degrees yesterday, and forecast highs of 28 degrees for today, and 29 degrees tomorrow.
For me, and I stress for me, in his own way, Dada friendlier than NYDK was yesterday! One long ‘un, breaking the ‘anagram rule’ as usual with ten (five partials), I might have lost count, two lurkers, and one homophone all in a somewhat asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 16a, 19a, 1d, 3d, 8d, 17d, and 26d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Continue reading “ST 3315 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30914
Hints and tips by Senf
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where some are celebrating the events of two days ago and some are not, especially the two major party leaders who lost their seats!
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), a reasonably straightforward and entertaining midweek puzzle which I am suggesting, with the absence of the Reverend W A Spooner, is the work of Hudson. Whomsoever it is, thank you.
Continue reading “DT 30914”