Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31249
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
Another infernally hot day here in Harpenden. I’m sure I used to cope much better with extremes of heat than I seem to now.
Today’s Anthony Plumb (I assume) production is a typically gentle affair & as ever nicely clued throughout. For whatever reason the solve took marginally longer than yesterday but I’d rate them at a similar level of difficulty.
For any looking for a further challenge Hudson is on duty over in t’other place with his usual excellence. Other than 2 answers that merit admission to the new wing housing The List it’s a fairly gentle affair & well worth a look at. I’m sure Whybird will be pleased to hear from you.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31243
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
A damp start to the day here in Harpenden but at least it’s much needed wet stuff for the golf courses though the sun has just made a welcome appearance so hopefully not confined to barracks.
I’m pretty confident that today’s puzzle is unmistakably an Anthony Plumb production & very enjoyable it was too. By no means difficult but impeccably clued throughout with a nice mixture of clue types & the usual high quota of single letter additions or subtractions.
Plenty of ticks on my page including 6,15,19&22a + 16&23d but my favourite has to be the pun in the Quick crossword which may well prompt seeking out an old episode of Minder to watch later today. Please let us know which clues you liked best.
We also have the added treat of our old Thursday blogger over in t’other place & as ever with Shabbo the puzzle is very accessible, a light delight & highly recommended.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31237
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
A beautiful sunny, albeit slightly chilly, day here in Harpenden so a decent afternoon walk looks the order of the day.
I would have assumed today’s very enjoyable puzzle to be an Anthony Plumb production but Senf advises me that the Quick puzzle grid is not one that he uses so it remains to be seen if the setter pops in to claim ownership. I found the difficulty level about on a par with yesterday so continued respite after the challenges of the weekend prize puzzles.
For any seeking a further challenge the Beamer over in t’other place is more of a gentle long hop & well worth a look at.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31231
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment **/***
It’s starting to brighten up a wee bit here in Harpenden but there’s pockets of still much needed wet stuff on the way.
Having overslept this morning (as well as struggling of late with completing puzzles in what I would consider a reasonable time) I was happy that today’s Plumbing assignment was extremely gentle even by Tuesday standards. As ever concisely clued & perfectly pleasant for the short time it lasted though I wouldn’t regard it as one from his top drawer so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it.
Chalicea is similarly benevolent over in t’other place with a perfect puzzle for anyone wishing to dip their toes in Toughie waters for the first time – you’ll find the water warm & Whybird on hand if it gets choppy.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31225
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ****
Well quite a weather contrast to yesterday’s glorious day here in Harpenden as it’s dull & overcast with maybe even a smattering of much needed rain due in the next hour or two.
Today’s Anthony Plumb (I assume) production is the usual gentle exercise that I suspect won’t leave many 17d. As ever nicely clued throughout & fun while it lasted. For those seeking a further challenge I see Hudson is over in t’other place so I’ll save that for an afternoon watching the snooker & nursing a poorly back.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31219
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ****
Well it’s another lovely sunny day here in Harpenden though still deceptively chilly. No golf today to dash off to so I’ve actually read through what’s written though that’s still no guarantee of a mistake free set of hints.
I thought today’s puzzle about on a par with yesterday in terms of difficulty & very enjoyable it was too. As you would expect from an Anthony Plumb production (I assume) it was concisely clued throughout with humour & a hint of topicality thrown in.
I see Dada is back in t’other place & I hope for Whybird’s sake he’s in a better mood than on Sunday.
Fingers crossed for a home win tonight for my team, Coventry City. We will be confirmed as champions of the Championship with another 3 points – the cherry on the cake having secured promotion last week back to top tier after a 25 year absence & very nearly falling out of the league.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31213
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
Well if yesterday was a good bit trickier than usual today’s Anthony Plumb (I assume) production was, as Senf would say, Typically Tuesdayish. Fun for the short time it lasted & as ever concisely clued throughout. I have to dash off for golf so hopefully no mistakes & unlike last week, when I needed my trusty phone a friend option (today’s Toughie setter) to unravel Anthea’s mysteries, all of the parsing was straightforward too. Do give Shabbo’s puzzle over in t’other place a whirl – it’s very gentle & good fun.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31207
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A pretty gentle offering today that ought not to present too many difficulties for most. That said I didn’t see the why at 28a & as I’m dashing off to play golf sought assistance so perhaps I’m being a bit cheeky giving it just the single * for difficulty. Fun while it lasted but all over maybe a wee bit too quickly. Thanks to Anthony Plumb, I assume, for another well clued puzzle.
I see Django is over in t’other place so that will be worth a visit.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31201
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
Today’s puzzle, which I assume is the usual Anthony Plumb production, took me a bit longer to complete than usual so I’ve given it an extra * for difficulty. I suspect that it was probably just me being foggy brained first thing so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it. As ever nicely clued & an enjoyable solve.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31195
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A Typically Tuesdayish puzzle, as Senf would say, that I assume is an Anthony Plumb production. I was going great guns solving in an anti-clockwise direction & on course to comfortably better yesterday’s solve time until a bit of brain fog near the finish line in the NE. As ever nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable too.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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