Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31027
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
Sorry, but it’s me again! Huntsman and I have swapped blogging days this week, so you have his contribution to look forward to on Thursday.
I thought today’s puzzle was light and accessible with some gentle misdirection to keep us on our toes. 32 concise clues perfectly pitched for a Tuesday. I only mention the number of clues (30 is probably the average) in the vain hope of a pay rise. One thing that I have learnt to do over the last couple of years of blogging is to pretend to be busy with one eye on the clock and the 11.00 deadline. If I do it convincingly enough, the current Mrs Shabbo invariably volunteers to make my breakfast.
My ticks were for the goods in transit at 7d, the Yorkshire river’s characteristics at 9d and the perils of getting old at 16d. 23d was my LOI, as I wrestled for a while with the definition.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31027”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31023
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
Over to you, dear reader, on Guess the Setter today. Thursdays used to be easy to predict, with RayT and Silvanus taking alternate weeks, but the devious crossword team at DT Towers now throw in different setters to keep us all on our toes.
I thought this was a cracking puzzle, but I have to confess to struggling initially with the parsing of 20a and 2d. This puts the puzzle firmly into 4* territory for me, but perhaps other more able solvers will disagree? There are two references to my favourite sport rugby (27a and 3d) – good timing as the Women’s Rugby World Cup approaches the QF stage. Ticks all over the place for me, but special mention must go to 23a, 2d, 4d and 19d. Which clues did you like?
Must dash. I’m helping out at a charity golf day today in aid of prostate cancer, a subject very close to my heart. Fingers crossed that the weather improves soon!
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31023”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31021
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
I’m afraid you’ve got me twice this week, as I am filling in today for Huntsman who is golfing in Suffolk. I shall endeavour to maintain his high standards of blogging, but there won’t be any of his trademark musical clips to entertain you.
I am not very good at guessing the setter on my regular Thursday slot, so I am not even going to make an attempt here today. Over to you, dear solver.
I found this to be a very gentle Tuesday puzzle. I got slightly delayed in the SW corner but, in hindsight, there is nothing too difficult there. My joint CoDs are the very simple but elegant 26a and 25d.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31021”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31017
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
RayT is being gentle with us today, or maybe I was fully attuned to his wavelength this fine morning. We are treated to his usual brevity at 5.2 words/clue and it is reassuring to know that he has an ecological conscience when compiling – see 7d. My favourite clues are 24a, 6d, 7d and 23d. Which ones did you like?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to Ray and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31017”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31011
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
Well it is definitely not RayT today and I don’t think it is Silvanus either, so over to you, dear reader, for Guess the Setter. Senf – you might need more than one of your hard earned loonies for this one.
I think this is a lovely puzzle and perfectly pitched for a Thursday. What do you think?
As Daisy has freely admitted to being in her tenth decade, in the interests of safety and her own wellbeing, I will not be posting an image for 8d. Barely worth the risk.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our mystery setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31011”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31005
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
It looks like it should be slightly cooler here in Welwyn Garden City today, so why not take some time out of your busy day and have a go at this enjoyable RayT puzzle? All of his usual calling cards are on show: single word answers, single word clues and answers in the Quickie, the Queen, sweetheart and his usual brevity, with the words/clue count at just a fraction over five.
My Clue of the Day is the very simple 26d, with a nod to the Quickie Pun.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31005”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30999
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
A lovely puzzle today, perfectly pitched for a Thursday. A smattering of general knowledge is required on television programmes, pop music from the 80s and 90s, a film from the 70s, football, cricket, tennis and one other sport. All completely fair and above board, of course. 21d was my CoD but I thought the Quickie Pun was pants. I’ll get my coat…
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our mystery setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 30999”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30993
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
[As you may have noticed we are having problems currently in that comments cannot be posted. It’s not just us; the same problem has hit Fifteensquared, so please be patient]
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
Following the special anniversary puzzle yesterday, normal service has been resumed and we are treated to our fortnightly Thursday offering from RayT, including all of his regular trademarks and a word count of just a fraction over 5 words/clue. An enjoyable puzzle as ever and a very entertaining Quickie pun to boot..
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 30993”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30985
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers. No good asking me who the setter is on this puzzle, as I am well outside my Thursday comfort zone, having swopped days with Huntsman this week.
There is a European feel to today’s puzzle, with references to Finland, Germany, France, Portugal and Scotland, with Europe itself making an appearance in 2d. A pleasant enough solve and fairly gentle as befits a Tuesday. If pushed, I would propose 3d as my CoD.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 30985”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30981
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers. The sun is just starting to break through here in Hertfordshire and it looks like being another lovely summer’s day with a decent puzzle to set us all off on the right footing.
I took longer than usual over this RayT puzzle, but on reflection, I can’t really see why. Ray is playing a bit fast and loose with his trademark sweetheart and Queen in 19a and 26d respectively, so tread carefully!
Enjoyable and concise as ever at an average of exactly five words/clue. A special mention to the Quickie Pun as well. For those new to crosswords, the first two or three across clues in the Quick Crossword are italicised and make a groanworthy pun.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to RayT and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 30981”