Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Currently Thursday does not appear to have a regular setter, although since Autumn 2010 Ray T features frequently. During 2009 almost all of the Thursday puzzles were set by Jay.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Typically elegant, albeit über-gentle for a Thursday Django. Not that I’m complaining as I have about a million way trickier fish to fry today! I enjoyed it. Over to you.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31371
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
A very enjoyable puzzle with a theme based on the members of the 27a rock band. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31371”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment **/***
Very relaxed for a Thursday Toughie, with a one-in-four anagram count adding further grease to the wheel. Is it just me or is the leap to a Friday Elgar growing wider by the week? ‘Twas alway a step-up – and rightly so – but the gap now seems interplanetary! The floor, as ever, is yours.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty 2.5* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, on Tuesday, I carried out my civic duty of (advanced) voting in this month’s municipal elections. Interestingly, at the municipal council level in Manitoba there are no political parties. While the political ‘leanings’ of candidates may be known, every council is an essentially non-partisan ‘committee’ with the mayor, as chair of the committee, being elected ‘municipality wide.’
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Silvanus was on Toughie duty yesterday and it is Kcit’s turn today. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, no sign of Ray T’s swEetheart, but there is a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment *****
As ever, it took a moment of flitting about the grid to refind my Dharma legs but, once regained, this fell into place very nicely – started gingerly, finished at pace. Nowt obscure and all very stylish: sharp wit, smart constructions and silky surfaces. Up there with his very best, I’d say. The floor is yours.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31359
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***
A pleasant and not too taxing puzzle including no obscurities but a couple of colloquial terms which probably wouldn’t have made it into the Telegraph a decade ago. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31359”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A most welcome return by Potoroo – cunning misdirection, sophisticated wordplay and some smart surfaces. Oh, and a pangram to boot. All yours.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty 2* – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, with the start of Autumn, we are being told that a powerful ‘super’ El Niño is underway in the Pacific Ocean developing faster than any previous El Niño on record. So, in Manitoba, and the other Western Provinces, we can expect a milder, warmer Autumn and Winter with less snow and drier conditions both of which do not bode well for next year’s wildfire season.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Potoroo is on Toughie duty. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and two appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Another breezy Thursday, but typically entertaining and elegant. And such generosity suited me down to the ground as I’m itching to take the wife’s new, envy-inducing Brompton out for a cheeky spin. You (and she) may never see me again – if and when I hit Dover, I might just keep going. Bonne route à tous!
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31347
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** Enjoyment ***
The additional star I’ve awarded for difficulty today is wholly down to the problems I had with 24a which were largely due to the positioning of the comma. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31347”