Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Sunday Toughie No 25 by Zandio
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 17th of July 2022
Although it wasn’t the toughest to solve, an enjoyable Sunday Toughie still gave the grey matter a good workout. A first for me in the blogging chair was the revision of 12a after an initial clue that wasn’t quite a lurker. The replacement employed a rather neat device to justify a shared letter.
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A slightly more benevolent proXimal today, the top half almost rattled off the keyboard but the bottom half slowed things up a bit. I have hinted at exactly half of an evenly balanced 14a/14d clues. I hope we don’t have any late changes today as I haven’t quite recovered from the shenanigans over last week’s lurker that wasn’t.
Nocturnal refreshment was from the Black Sheep Brewery and the Bruichladdich distillery, this morning I am still drinking the slightly too dark Brazilian coffee I referred to last week.
Here goes with the hints…
Sunday Toughie No 24 by Robyn
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 10th of July 2022
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Welcome to the Silver Jubilee of Sunday Toughie puzzles. Twenty Nine clues today split 16a/13d, most of them tripped off my stylus with an appropriate Sunday Toughieness, but two have foxed me greatly, more of which later when I have decided if they need hinting. Last night’s refreshment came courtesy of the fine distillers at Bruichladdich, this morning I am drinking a Brazilian blend that came with my new espresso machine. It is a tad too darkly roasted for me but you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth and I will be drinking it for a while. Anyway here goes with Sunday Toughie 25.
Sunday Toughie No 23 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 3rd of July 2022
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Not as brain mangling as some Sunday Toughies but still a definite toughie. I may have not got some of my parsings 100% but somewhat distracted by Mama Bee’s first cataract op. Refreshment last night was Staropramen and Laphroaig, this morning it is Guatemalan Red de Mujeres, organic coffee with notes of raspberry, toasted almonds and toffee.
Here goes with 15 of 30 clues hinted, I hope you find enough checkers to help you.
Sunday Toughie No 22 by Zandio
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 26th of June 2022
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I stared at a virtually empty grid for ages until the pennies started to drop, but that was a real toughie. On the grounds of difficulty, I am struggling to leave any unhinted but here we go. I will try and toss in a bonus pic hints but as most of Sunday so far has been spent wrestling with this I may be brief. This won’t get the baby bathed so here we go…
Sunday Toughie No 21 by Robyn
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 19th of June 2022
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Not the trickiest Sunday Toughie so far but I still had a bit of trouble in the SW. I solved this whilst watching Macca at Glastonbury, who seemed to be having a bit of trouble in the South West too but he got better as the set went on. (Terence said he thought it was good from first to last and he has put a clip up on Senf’s blog so check it out there.) I had a full grid by the time Lauren Laverne had finished the post-gig analysis and I had finished a wee dram. Seven hours of kip and coffee to hand here goes with the hints…