Category: Thursday

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30867
Hints and tips by Shabbo

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

What’s going on?!  This is clearly not the work of either Silvanus or RayT.  I need to go and have a lie-down.  I’m not sure I can continue to blog with such uncertainty!  I jest, of course.  A change is as good as a rest, I suppose.  As soon as I solved 22a, I was on the lookout for a pangram, but unless I am missing something, I cannot see a J or an X in the completed grid.  Perhaps that may give us a hint as to who has set this elegant challenge?

I got off to a flying start as both 1a and 1d went straight in, but it was not all plain sailing after that.  I needed to check the spelling of 20a, despite having enjoyed it at our local Indian restaurant on several occasions.  Care also needed to be taken when spelling 8d.

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.

Thank you setter.

Continue reading “DT 30867”

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30861
Hints and tips by Shabbo

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

RayT or not RayT, that is the question. The brevity of clueing, the single word answers and the sweetheart in 14d, suggest that this is indeed the work of our regular setter on alternate Thursdays.  I may just have been “on wavelength” today, but I found this more straightforward than most of Ray’s Thursday offerings, with my favourite clues being 12a, 24a 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.  Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.

Thank you setter.

Continue reading “DT 30861”

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30855
Hints and tips by Shabbo

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****

I really enjoyed this, but then I am fortunate to have been allocated Thursday as my blogging day – the puzzles are generally spot on in terms of both quality and difficulty.  I think we can rule out RayT on this one, so that leaves….

I have made this point before, but it warrants repeating here.  A great setter will produce clues which read like normal sentences, rather than like crossword clues.  This is a prime example of a master of this art at the very top of his/her game.

My ticks go to the bad indigestion at 10a, the boxer’s treat at 11a, the drunken multitude at 14a, the Greek character at 21a, the clandestine meeting at 27a, the senior female at 28a, the tea vendor at 3d, the drunk’s partner at 13d and the group of eight at 23d.  Which clues 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.  Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.

Thank you setter. First class.

Continue reading “DT 30855”