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 ****
Pretty straight(forward). 11a’s dramatist pushed my memory and 16a reminded me that I’ve never known how to spell his name. But both are generously clued and, as such, this was more of a skip than a jump. The floor is yours to tell me I’ve got the ratings absolutely spot-on yet again … or not!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty 3*Â – Enjoyment 5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday I visited my GP for my annual ‘MOT Inspection’ and the verdict is that, as long as I keep taking the tablets, I am fit for purpose for another 12 months.
Apologies for the false start yesterday but there was nothing to see in terms of hints and the necessary ‘adjustment’ was quickly made. I have given myself a severe talking to and it will not happen again, at least not until the next time, as I do not want to lose my Christmas bonus! 
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), there is no doubt that this is the work of the Master of Brevity but he seems to have upped the ante compared to recent weeks. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not the plain sweetheart, in the back pager with an average of 5.06 words per clue. 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 ****
Pleasingly gentle from Django today. The only vaguely time-consuming element was checking the anagram fodder but – like a saint! – I’ve done it so you don’t have to. There’s some Beam-ish mention of boobs and blue tablets that makes the presumably accidental four-letter central Nina seem rather appropriate. There’s also the Miss Piggy reference that, for some reason, always makes me smile. ‘Tis all very jolly. The floor, as ever, is yours.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31287
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***  Enjoyment ****
Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable puzzle though I’m not sure that we needed to be reminded of the former political leaders from opposing parties.
Continue reading “DT 31287”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A rumbustious return from Dharma, full of his typical humour and honed surfaces, prompting a slow start but a quick finish. I found many of the downs marginally easier than the acrosses but that’s possibly because I had all the checkers by then – being pathetically English, I do like to doggedly work from top to bottom. Other methods are, of course, available. Hopefully, my 2.5 will find safer harbour than usual … the floor is yours to trumpet your agreement!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty 1.5*Â – Enjoyment 5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, oh dear, after several weeks of suggestions ‘floating around’ news media and the internet, it was confirmed yesterday that, starting next year, Canada will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, oh dear again!
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), there is no doubt that this is the work of a very benevolent Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not the plain sweetheart, in the back pager with an average of 5.25 words per clue. 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 ****
Well, what an unexpected treat: an all-too-rare Toughie from Robyn. Then again, he does have other fish to fry these days. Not the friendliest of portcullis grids but, heck, it is a Thursday and the clueing is, of course, delightful – largely gentle-ish and supremely logical. A soupçon of French, football and (boo!) AI. Only the exotic 12a gave me any real pain, but its building blocks are clear. I could easily have added an extra half on for that alone but, on checking the clock, a muscular two it is. The floor is yours … howl at me if you must!
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31275
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***  Enjoyment ****
Thanks to today’s setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. I wonder whether your guess as to their identity will correspond with mine.
Continue reading “DT 31275”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Another pretty gentle Toughie from Kcit. There is, I suppose, a spot of vocab (13a, 7d) but it’s very generously clued. I briefly flirted with adding an extra half on for difficulty but almost immediately recanted – it is, after all, Thursday. The floor is, as ever, yours to say I was right wrong!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **Â – Enjoyment *****
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday, I enjoyed watching England’s first game in the World Cup although it seemed to a be, as the saying goes, a game of two halves. Canada play Qatar at 5 o’clock this afternoon.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), there is no doubt that this is the work of a very benevolent Master of Brevity with some lateral thinking required. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not the plain sweetheart, in the back pager with an average of 5.09 words per clue. 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!