Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3349 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg for my last Sunday blog of the year.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada not as friendly as he has been recently apparently ignoring the fact that we are in the season of goodwill etc, with, unless I miscounted, six anagrams (two partials), no lurkers, and no homophones in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3349 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31121 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Continue reading “DT 31121 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 204
by Dada
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Well, it is not the first time we have had Dada here and in the other prize Sunday slot, as no one has yet claimed yesterday’s SPP, maybe he has had a trifecta!
A slightly less than normal 13a and 13d clues today, and I have hinted less than half. The 6d 22a combo fooled me and I had to ask for help (thanks Lie-In-King). I am still not 100% convinced by my answer so the mythical is yours today.
Here We Go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 204 (Hints)”
Enigmatic Variations 1726 (Hints)
Gripping Yarns by Luxor
Hints and tips by Phibs
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
I asked Claude, “A themed crossword puzzle has the title ‘Gripping Yarns’. On the basis that this title is unlikely to refer to riveting tales, what might the theme of the puzzle be?”
Continue reading “EV 1726 (Hints)”
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3348 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
OK, let me try this again! A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where approximately five hours after this blog is published the Winter Solstice will occur marking the start of astronomical winter and the beginning of increasing daylight hours for six months.
On Thursday, we experienced blizzard conditions, with winds gusting to over 55mph and temperatures in the minus 20s before the mythical ‘feels like’ was taken into consideration, resulting from an Atmospheric River that originated somewhere over the Pacific Ocean reinforced by an Alberta Clipper once it had crossed the Rockies and ‘running into’ a Polar Vortex over Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quite friendly, with four long ‘uns, six anagrams (one partial), two lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3348 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31115 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by Cryptic-Sloop John Bee)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Today is the start of Christmas for many, but we only have one seasonal clue today. I am sure there will be more before the big day. I still have a stock-take to do, so I will be spending Monday and Tuesday up an enormous scissor lift counting screws!
I assume I have been overthinking 22a, but I still have niggling doubts as to the parsing there. I am also unsure as to the setter today, so the Charles III pound coin with the bees on will remain in my coin wallet.
Continue reading “DT 31115 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 203
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A rather gentle toughie from Zandio, I thought, but YMMV.
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted at half. I hope you find the checkers to finish this. As ever I am unable to hint all of this prize puzzle, but I will try and give a nudge or two if I can.
Here We Go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 203 (Hints)”
Enigmatic Variations 1725 (Hints)
10 Across by Raffles
Hints and tips by Gabriel
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Gemini is improving. When I asked it how to deal with the preamble below it actually proposed a sensible structured solving process.… Continue reading
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3347 (Hints)
Hints and tips by Senf
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where approximately five hours after this puzzle is published the Winter Solstice will occur marking the start of astronomical winter and the beginning of increasing daylight hours for six months.
After a couple of evenings gallivanting around the Province it was very pleasant to spend a ‘quiet evening in’ undertaking my favourite pastime of imbibing a not see wee dram of The Balvenie.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada still somewhat quirky, especially when it came to anagram indicators, with seven anagrams (three partials), two lurkers (one reversed), and one homophone in a symmetric, for a change, 30 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Continue reading “ST 3347 (Hints)”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31109 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Gazza)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
No prizes for guessing who today’s setter is. He’s given us a very enjoyable puzzle.… Continue reading