Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Since the beginning of 2010, Wednesday’s regular setter is Jeremy Mutch who has visited the blog as Jay. During 2009, Jay set almost all the Thursday puzzles.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
The usual Wednesday fare from Jay. Comparatively easy and scrupulously fair. Let’s hope the Clueless Club members enjoy this one!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Once again Jay delivers an excellent puzzle in the Telegraph genre.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Jay’s puzzles are probably those that fit the Telegraph genus best. Seldom difficult, often amusing, occasionally irritating, but always fair. As Libellule has commented previously, each one does precisely what it says on the can!
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
Tilsit is back at the hospital this morning, but this time as the courier not the patient. On hearing this Prolixic made an offer that was difficult for me to refuse – and one that by now he might be regretting – and has written today’s blog. BD
Today’s crossword is brought to you courtesy of the letter C. Most of the clues are charades (add two words together) or container and content clues (put one word inside another) with very little other variety in the clues. Those looking for lots of full blown anagrams will be disappointed. This lack of variety reduced the enjoyment of the puzzle for me.
Although there is a lot of repetition, our Wednesday Wizard is, as ever, fair in his cluing and there are some nice surface readings.
Continue reading “DT 26160”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Keeping up this week’s strong set of puzzles, our Wednesday Wizard has come up with an enjoyable challenge that looks easy at first, but has one of two traps to snarl the unwary solver.
As usual, feel free to leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Our Wednesday Wizard took us for a pleasant stroll down Crossword Boulevard this morning with a fairly friendly set of teasing clues. And, by the looks of it, one of the days when the Daily puzzle is actually tougher than the Toughie! Particularly liked 8 down which was clever and a new cryptic definition on me.
The answers, should you need to see them, are hidden between the curly brackets beneath the relevant clues – just slide your cursor through the white space between the brackets to highlight them. Have your say on the board and rate the puzzle with the star system, which to me is much more credible than Clued Up. The Clued Up rating system is very ambiguous and really doesn’t say anything.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
A reasonably enjoyable stroll from our Wednesday Wizard today with nothing terribly taxing to cause grief or stress. However a few of my personal bête noires appear in today’s grid, which causes me a little irritation. I’m not keen on clues using “artificial or contrived names” and there are a couple here today, but otherwise it’s a pleasant solve. Likewise I think the clue at 17 across has the definition and indications being too close.
For our new visitors, the answer to each clue is hidden between the curly brackets – just drag your cursor through the white space and highlight it between the brackets to reveal it.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Although I found this a bit on the easy side, it was nevertheless a very enjoyable puzzle – presumably from Jay, our newly installed Wednesday Wizard.
If you were wondering where Tilsit is today, he’s taking a short break in Amsterdam. According to his Facebook entry, last night he stuffed his face with a fab Italian meal and is now chilling with coffee and crosswords.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Tilsit has gone back to see the nurses again, so I am doing today’s review. An enjoyable puzzle where all of the answers are fair and obtainable with a little thought.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
Another gentle wind-down towards year’s end in keeping with the recent run of daily puzzles, which seem to be finding a good level for solvers. I am sure that most of the regulars will find this acceptable. There were a few really nice clues, but a couple of weak ones. These seem again to be the cryptic definitions.
If I have one wish for this particular puzzle in 2010, it’s that our setters will not try to outdo each other by trying to come up with smarter and smarter cryptic definitions. A good cryptic definition will come naturally and push all the right buttons, but I believe that far too many are forced and demonstrate a lack of adventure and thought on the part of the setter.
If you have finished this, and have a little time to spare, try these two challenges from the Guardian of the past two days by Giovanni and Elgar respectively. Both extremely enjoyable!
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/12/22/gdn.cryptic.20091229.pdf
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/12/22/gdn.cryptic.20091230.pdf
Rant over. Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and challenging New Year and thanks to everyone for their kind comments and messages during 2009. See you next year!