proXimal (Sunday) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Toughie 232 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 232

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Many thanks to Mr-K for getting us up and running again. When I finally got to see the puzzle, I was pleasantly surprised but mentally challenged by proXimal.

I see from Phibs’ post that the other SJB (proXimal) has passed over editorship of the EV to Elgar. I hope that will give him plenty of opportunities to post more back-pagers like 31252 or Sunday Toughies like this.

All the trademarks are present – start with a Spoonerism and a couple of compound anagrams, but only one X today.

We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to reach the end, but I will try to give a nudge if asked.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 232 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 225 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 225

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Chaotic in the Beehive this weekend, but solar panels are now installed and just the scaffolding to be removed. I struggled to parse 11a and may have missed something in my Ham and 22a Stottie Cake, but it is time to go out for coffee with the Queen Bee.

I have hinted half of 14a and 14d clues but will try and give a nudge if required.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 225 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 220 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 220

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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proXimal is here again with all his Sunday Toughie trademarks. I found this much easier than his last offering, but mainly because the Spoonerism leapt out of my mind within seconds of seeing the crossword at 23:32 last night.

We have 14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted at half. I hope you find the checkers to get across the line. I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if you ask, but I don’t think this was as difficult as some from proXimal.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 220 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 214 (Review)

Sunday Toughie No 214 by proXimal

Review by

Sloop John Bee

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This puzzle was published on the 1st March 2026

The publication of the result contains the line;

The answer to 27a is misspelt. We apologise for the error.

Well done to J De Bruyn, Sheffield for winning

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Sunday Toughie 214 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 214

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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proXimal is here again with all his Sunday Toughie trademarks. Tougher than usual I think, but not helped by my failure to find 27a in any dictionary! There appears to be a surplus I and the only source I can find suggests it is a common misspelling. Tomdisappointingsturges 65 will be very disappointed indeed if we allow misspellings to become commonplace.

We have 14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to get across the line.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 214 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 210 (Review)

Sunday Toughie No 210 by proXimal

Review by

Sloop John Bee

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This puzzle was published on the 1st February 2026

Sorry it’s a bit late, I thought I scheduled this with the other BB puzzles

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 210 (Review)”

Sunday Toughie 210 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 210

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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A great time was had by all at the birthday bash – see posts passim for pics. It took a bit of puzzling to parse some of these and, as ever, I can’t hint them all. 

Connection permitting I will try and give an extra nudge or two if I can. I went to see the wonderful Caravaggio at the Wallace collection Friday, and today I fancy having a look at 19d’s Gin Lane, which I believe is in the Tate.

Thanks to everyone who came to the bash I hope you had fun, and apologies if you tried the Teams link. I won’t try that again – it doesnt work well in a noisy pub environment.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 210 (Hints)”