Toughie No 325 by Busman
Rather pedestrian
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
A workmanlike puzzle that left me wanting something more exciting, especially coming straight after yesterday’s tour de force.
OK, I missed the obvious Nina all round the outside unchecked letters – thanks Tilsit!
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Toughie No 303 by Busman
A Piece of Cake
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Like Mr Kipling, Busman produces exceedingly good puzzles, but are they tough enough to labelled Toughies? A quick look at the comments on today’s offering from Ray T would suggest not.
By the way, NTSPP-001 has now been reinstated. Many thanks to Mike “Eimi” Hutchinson for his hard work in ensuring that any possible legal hurdles were cleared.
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Toughie No 285 by Busman
Can you tell your Arias from your Elbows?
(thanks to Prolixic for the subheading)
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This puzzle was only slightly spoiled by the serious error at 13 across – checking letters and the wordplay mean that the Verdi red herring shouldn’t hold you up for long. Busman’s previous Toughies have tended towards the easy side, this one is more difficult without being impenetrable.
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Toughie No 266 by Busman
How Are Ye?
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The other day Giovanni commented about the grading system on Clued Up, and once again we have a puzzle here that I am sure most of you will feel is worthy of more than the grading on that wretched site (currently two stars and three smiles). Part of the problem is that the description gradings are somewhat ambiguous. “Downright infuriating” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad puzzle, yet that presumably awards it one star.
Today’s puzzler by Busman is certainly worthy of a higher grade than it has on Clued Up and is a good challenge for those looking to make the leap from Daily Puzzle to Toughie.
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Toughie No 248 by Busman
On a Roll
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Not overly difficult but an enjoyable start to the day. I rattled through this and then got on with the blog, while being continually harassed by three new additions to the family – kittens!
I haven’t done the normal daily cryptic yet, but in brief conversation with Gazza, he indicates that it is actually more difficult than this. So why not try both and let us know what you thought.
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Toughie No 234 by Busman
Lemon Squeezy!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
I had to check that I had printed out the right puzzle today – the answers all went in thick and fast and only the last across clue brought out the dictionary, and then only to check the spelling was correct.
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Toughie No 216 by Busman
Hints and tips by Libellule
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This may not have been the most difficult Toughie, but it was very enjoyable. A well written crossword with a number of amusing clues and answers…
Comments appreciated.
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Toughie No 194 by Busman
Charabancs of Fire!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Calderdale Hospital, where I am having a very short stay (hopefully home this evening!). I have just been served with a bowl of the finest NHS Chicken Soup and a Cheese Sandwich for lunch. Rather oddly, I have also been served with Cheese and Biscuits for dessert!
I was admitted at some rather ungodly hour this morning and while waiting for the ambulance to bring me in, I managed to tackle this Toughie. When I eventually solved it, I tried to play the game of guess the setter (I do wish they would tell us on the website!) and came up with six other suspects rather than Busman.
I have a feeling this may divide the Community; some will like it and others hate it. I am disappointed with the rating it got on the website, it certainly wasn’t that weak.
Whether it’s the medication I am been filled up with, I feel rather sanguine about it. In some ways I am disappointed as Busman’s alter ego produces some absolutely terrific puzzles in The Spectator series (http://www.spectator.co.uk/article_assets/articledir_10457/5228953/crossword.pdf was last week’s cracker), and this doesn’t feel like a Toughie (today’s DT 26000 was much more ferocious!), but there were clues to make me smile and 8 across was a brilliant clue. When I finished solving online, I submitted the solution and found I had five mistakes – two were typos, but 2 down, 21 down and 26 across left me having to rethink.
Anyway, let’s dive in and see what lurks within.
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Toughie No 172 by Busman
Was the Busman on holiday?
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
This one was a bit too easy!
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Toughie No 113 by Busman
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
As Toughies go this one is pretty easy (it’s an ideal one to start on if you’re dipping your toe in such waters for the first time; just don’t expect them all to be as easy as this!). That said, there are a few cleverly-worded and enjoyable clues amongst the easy ones, and a distinct lack of very obscure words, which is a major benefit in my opinion.
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