Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27981
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja to where I returned yesterday from a very wet and windy Cornwall to find a sunny 18C at 1500CET, but this morning it’s raining! My mother is now a nonagenarian, I hadn’t realized before but she must have been about 65 when she had me!
I’m pretty sure this is a RayT puzzle and I’m also pretty sure we’ll get the usual complaints of synonyms which push the envelope a bit and definitions which are a bit on the limit but I really enjoyed it. It may be a tad tricky in places, apologies if the pennies dropping woke you up, but there are enough gimmes to get you in and with a bit of lateral thinking you’ll get there. I’ll be interested to see what the usual suspects have to say about it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27969
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where autumn has really set in. By that I mean it’s cold and sunny rather than hot and sunny, but very windy this morning.
We certainly have a RayT today as it has all his trademarks of short clues, single word answers, a bit of innuendo and Her Majesty is on parade too. Apart from a couple of slightly stretched synonyms this is Ray in fairly benign mood. Unusually for him there are six anagrams and the two long ones across the middle give plenty of checkers. I think even the RayTphobes among you should get on OK today.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27951
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where we’ve just about dried out from last Sunday night’s rain. We had about 3 inches in 90 minutes coupled with a fairly decent gale so it was all a bit interesting. Lots of damage in Torrevieja but Amoradí seems to have escaped unscathed.
I’m not 100% sure about the setter of this one but I did seem to need the slightly mad hat for some of the off-the-wall bits. I really enjoyed it and I almost gave it 5* for enjoyment which I don’t think I’ve ever done before. I’ll be interested to see your opinions of it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27933
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where it’s looking like a nice day but was a bit chilly when I first got up. I think autumn has arrived.
I’m pretty sure we have a RayT today which I guess will fill some of you with dread, but don’t be too downhearted as it’s at the easier end of his spectrum. There’s a few anagrams to get you going and nothing to really frighten the horses. I enjoyed it and I’ll be interested to see if we get any converts today.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27915
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where summer seems to be continuing into the autumn. The weather must have put me in a good mood as I really enjoyed this puzzle. Parts of it are a bit off-the-wall and there are a couple of references to Stones, which may or may not be rolling, so I suspect I know who the setter is. Unusually though I count no less than eleven clues which are all or part anagram. I reckon that will keep some of you very happy.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27891
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Hola from the Vega Baja again. It’s not often I do two weeks in a row nowadays but I’ve swapped with Kath as I’m at a bit of a loose end this week. Pommette is in the UK helping her Mum move to a new care home and she said it’s too hot for me to do anything so hasn’t left the usual list of jobs. Result or what?
On to the crossword and I’m not sure what to make of it. It took me nearly into 4* time but that wasn’t because of tricky wordplay but more because some of the definitions and synonyms are stretching things a step too far IMHO. Consequently I didn’t find it a lot of fun, more “what?” moments rather than “d’oh!” moments. I’ll be interested to see your views.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27885
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where pommers is still a bit knackered after the rather hectic month he’s had. Three weeks in the Far East followed by 3 turnarounds in the apartments has taken its toll. Oh well, I guess I’m not as young as I once was.
On to the crossword which I’m pretty sure is a Ray T but it’s unusual in that it has six anagrams. All the other signs are there though so I’m fairly confident. There are two lurkers, a first letters clue, the Queen is on parade along with her lead singer and all the clues are less that eight words – I rest my case.
I found it suprisingly easy for a Ray T puzzle (maybe you’ll all disagree) but it had the usual entertainment level if a little low on the innuendo. I’ll be interested to see what you all make of it.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27843
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where the heat wave continues as indeed it seems to be doing in the UK. I don’t know the setter of this one but I have my suspicions which, with my track record, I’ll keep to myself. I found some of it a bit “off the wall” but I really enjoyed it and it all slotted together neatly in ** time. I think some of you will disagree.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27825
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where it’s just stopped raining! Not 100% certain about the setter of this one. Somehow it didn’t feel like a RayT to me but it’s his turn, all the clues are less than eight words, there are two hidden answers, a “first letters of” clue and three all-in-ones so perhaps it is one of his. Maybe he’ll call in and let us know. Anyway, I found it a tad tricky but very enjoyable.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 27813
Hints and tips by pommers
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from the Vega Baja where it’s warm and sunny and looking like it’s going to be another gorgeous day. I’m pretty sure this is a RayT production as it ticks all the boxes but there are six anagrams which is more than usual for one of his. I’m sure many of you will be well pleased. It was going to be a pretty solid ** until I stalled on a couple in the SW corner and it slipped into *** time.
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