Sunday Toughie No 112
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I started to solve this on the “old puzzles site” and Telegraph Towers have yet to update the setters list for the Sunday Toughie or the regular Toughie. Still, I didn’t have to wait for the new site to tell me as there are a couple of trademark tells that this is a proXimal production. A couple of extraction anagrams and starting with a Spoonerism gave the game/name away
The Spoonerism and 28a can fight it out for the minor places on the podium but because of dear Robert C I will pick 20d as the pinnacle today
We have 14a and 16d clues today and I will hint half – as usual with the Sunday Toughie some quite tricky clues have hit the cutting room floor so I offer a bonus hint to the first to ask
It is nice to see the Paddy’s Day banner up there to commemorate the Irish Six Nations victory but no Irish references crept into this crossword (probably set ages ago) and despite watching a fine Van Morrison concert and a review of the life and music of Phil Lynott on the Beeb last night you didn’t expect me to ignore the brilliant new Mark Knopfler charity single did you? –
Whilst out visiting National Trust properties with Mama Bee yesterday I found this in a second-hand book room
I didn’t need it last night but I imagine it will come in useful next time Robyn brings us a theme – Thanks Beningborough Hall
Here we go, Folks…
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Sunday Toughie No 111
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I write this preamble before seeing the crossword and although Robyn has a bit of history with themes, most recently with hidden games in all the across clues in Sunday Toughie 109. I hope that crickety clues don’t feature too heavily as I would be obliged to hop on one leg until we get to 112 as the umpire David Shepherd used to do whenever the score got to 111 or one of its multiples
Apart from an appeal for a catch (25a) and one run scored (14d) I didn’t notice anything else crickety, but quite a lot of Latin and Kings and Queens appear today as well as a fair bit of facial hair in 8d and elsewhere
I am taking Mama Bee out for a Mothering Sunday afternoon tea (The Talbot Hotel in Malton rather than Betty’s) so any pleas for extra help will be answered on our return
It was nice to see that of the four long ones only one was a partial anagram I have hinted half of 14a and 14d clues and hope that the mental image in 27a fades before long
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 110
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I fairly rattled through this last night – getting the grid filled well under the hour but parsing a couple took me as long again. Presidents and King’s of various sorts almost beat me but I think I have captured the gist
It seemed like a lot of reversals and lurkers last night but I rather enjoyed it when 3d revealed the king
We have 14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half If in doubt and I haven’t hinted it look for a lurker or a reversal or both
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 109
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn has brought us one of his thematic puzzles today and I was amazed that he managed to get them into all the across clues without the down gridfill being full of exceedingly obscure words or even impossible. Only one of the elements was a pastime I have never encountered before (12a) but it rang a bell.
Shakespeare crops up in quite a few places and South American capitals but after the delightful theme 12a and 24d pleased me the most today which did you like?
We have 14a and 14d clues today and I cannot hint at all the thematic elements so
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 109 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 108
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A proper Toughie from proXimal today that took me a fair bit longer than normal last night, some quite tricky anagrams, extractions and wordplay have hit t’ cutting room floor
I have hinted at half of an even 14a and 14d clues but if you want a nudge on any just ask and I will try to help if I can. CrypticSue’s red pencil seems to be a bit sharper than mine – beware t’ naughty step!
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 108 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 107
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn starts with a Spoonerism today, but once over that hurdle, the rest went smoothly
The 2 & 16d combo was my favourite by the proverbial mile but plenty of others satisfied 10a 12a and 9d fight it out for my minor places
What was your favourite?
We have 14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half – if any ones you find tricky haven’t made the cut I have some leeway to offer a nudge or two
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 107 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 106
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Zandio brings us a fine Sunday Toughie (his 33rd) which I found at least as much fun as his Friday backpager
I think I have parsed them but 18d was most of the trouble and I hope I have got the gist I am sure you will put me right
We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 105
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I tripped through three-quarters of this quite quickly but came to a grinding halt in the SW. I don’t think I can parse two letters in 2d and await your retorts.
Thanks to proXimal for providing a nod to 20d ‘s It made my night when I realised he was talking about me (and others)
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
Here we go, Folks…
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Sunday Toughie No 104
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn is back today, it is not the first time one of our triumvirate of Sunday Toughie Setters has had sequential puzzles. Zandio brought us Sunday Toughie 8 and 9 and 28 and 29, and Robyn did it again with 66 and 67. I wonder if he is going to have a multiple-linked clue this week. We’ve had figure-hugging numbers, Guard-dogs and last week’s theme which is still sub judice until the review is out Wednesday
Robyn is in the lead on 37 Sunday Toughies, with proXimal on 35 and Zandio on 32
I wrote that while hacking and coughing before a sleep-deprived night and I can’t detect a theme. I found it quite tricky to do and I kept at it as I was more comfortable while busy. We have a sure-fire candidate for THE LIST™ (Terence) in 20d and some tricky parsing. Yesterday we had a few comments where the very act of typing a plea for help aided the brain cells and as soon as the request was sent the answer came to mind. I had the same thing with 15a whose parsing came in a flash just as I sent a plea for help to the Answerbank. You are all clever enough to get there too but if I have left any gaps on the cutting room floor please ask
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 103
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Robyn with an enjoyable Grammar and Geography lesson today. We have that horse garment again! but also a nice theme for which you may need a gazetteer or Google Maps
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
A laptop that is stuck in an update loop and a broken mouse have put me behind today so I am dashing a bit to get this blog out A dab of glue and a slap on the battery and it’s sorted!
Here we go…
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