Sunday Toughie No 97
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn going a bit easier before Christmas I think, I have hinted just under half 😮 of 16a and 14d clues today so I have a bit of latitude to give bonus nudges if you need them.
The Reverend Doctor Spooner makes an appearance but seems quite benign today, I liked it and 3d and 25a today but I am sure there are other candidates for your podia
I haven’t heard if anything special is planned for Sunday Toughie 100 on Christmas Eve yet, but It will probably be a sterner test than this, I hope Chris Lancaster goes easy on us and includes it in advance copies he usually sends to CrypticSue
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 96
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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proXimal not as devious as I usually find today, I managed to turn the light out before 1 am and the slightly less obvious parsings seemed to come in my dreams. If I have missed any parsings or clues that you need pipe up early, as I am taking Mama Bee out for her 87th birthday. We are going to try the new York Refectory that has just opened in the old Minster Choir School, I will return later this evening
We have a nice even 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half, the highlight for me was the great 9a but plenty of others to admire
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 96 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 95
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn has brought us a fine toughie today with a slightly unbalanced 16a and 13d clues and I have hinted halfish
I liked 14d as he fits into one of my four c’s (crosswords, coffee, cheese and cycling) I was fooled by his claims of innocence myself but still admire his chutzpah
I will take Mama Bee out for a scone and coffee but will return later if you need any extra nudges
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 94
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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For those still having problems with various apps or websites, I have included a PDF of today’s puzzle HERE
I don’t think we will be doing this for long as the workaround explained yesterday seems to be working. Though the list of Sunday Toughie compilers hasn’t been updated yet I took a punt on it being Zandio today and I was delighted to have that confirmed when the newer puzzles app updated
Thanks to Gazza and StephenL for looking after the hints whilst I overindulged on beer and cheese, I am at my Christmas weight already and we are only in the middle of November!
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half plus a bonus pic When in doubt look for a lurker or anagrams but If you get stuck I will be around with a nudge if necessary
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 91
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I am taking a couple of weeks off blogging the Sunday Toughie as next weekend I am attending the Sloggers and Betters in York for the occasion of John (Elgar) Henderson’s 39th 21st birthday. I believe that the other SJB (proXimal) will be in attendance so I will have to ask him what he thinks of my blogging efforts since Sunday Toughie 2. I have just realised that Sunday Toughie 100 should fall on the 24th of December If Chris Lancaster or proXimal are there I will ask if anything special is planned. Come next Sunday morning I expect to be somewhat hungover but will pop in to see what StephenL makes of Sunday Toughie 92.
The following Sunday (Bonfire Night) I am away with Mama Bee and my Niece and her partner (and dogs plural) for a few days in the Dales where we plan on visiting a new Cheese themed restaurant opening at my favourite turophile emporium in Settle. They are opening a restaurant called Rind in partnership with the people behind The Cheese Barge in Paddington, where I had a fine Poutine before the last Big Dave’s Birthday bash, Gazza I believe will be bringing you Sunday Toughie 93 and I expect to be home sometime on Sunday 5th and am looking forward to solving along with everyone else
15a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half(ish) If any troublesome ones have hit the cutting room floor just ask and a nudge may help. We start with The Reverend Doctor Spooner but he was quite benign today
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 91 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 90 by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I was expecting a proXimal last night but am delighted to find Robyn in the hot seat today, maybe he jockeyed for position for the topical clues or I am reading too much into it
I spent an age on Shakespearean kings and game birds but saw sense eventually
14a and 16d clues and I will try and hint half, but remain available for a nudge with any that hit the cutting room floor
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 89
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Zandio didn’t keep me up too long last night, I hope he isn’t affronted that I may have missed something in 5d and 10a The question mark in 5d would suggest some slight and is 10a an &lit/all-in-one or a split double definition? I hope I have captured the gist
We have 14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half
As it is a dry day here in deepest Yorkshire I will be trimming the Yew tree, but will keep an ear out for any extra nudges if required
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 89 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 88 by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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One of the friendliest Sunday Toughies today, only the allegedly popular composer gave me pause for thought, a somewhat intimidating grid without a lot of starting checkers but sorting the four outermost clues got the ball rolling and the rest flowed smoothly
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half, as usual I will try and provide a nudge for any that hold out but I will probably be taking Mama Bee out in my new motor, I hope the neighbours don’t think it was my car alarm that woke the neighbourhood at stupid o’clock this morning
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 88 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 87 by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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At the easier end of the spectrum of how I usually find proXimal, but still a definite Toughie. The Reverend Doctor Spooner makes an appearance again but I am getting less frightened of these clues now
We have a nicely balanced 14a 14d clues today with some lovely surfaces that tell a story whilst deceiving the solver I have hinted half but will offer a nudge for those clues that hit the cutting room floor
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 87 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 86
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Zandio gave me a 10a on Sunday Toughie solving last night, I had to go to the land of nod before all the parsings came to me but a good seven hours kip has thrown light on the trickier parts – pipe up if you disagree with my hints and ask away if you want an extra nudge on the unhinted clues
Zandio has given us 16a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 86 (Hints)”