Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Messinae is Richard Palmer. He is also known as Merlin.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A reasonably straightforward puzzle from Messinae today, with a few military and nautical references, but not enough for it to be a theme.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A gentle “Toughie”, as is usual from Messinae.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Tilsit s the only person I know who can get injured playing Bridge, so I am stepping in for him today. Not for the first time, I am asking what was Tough about this puzzle. Perhaps you can let me know.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I’d have probably said this was a 2 ½ for difficulty, absolutely right down the middle. Delightfully exact cluing in a similar way to Giovanni and a few to make you smile as you solve.
As usual, have your say after the blog and tell us how you rated the puzzle with the star system. New visitors should know that the answers to the clues are hidden between the squiggly brackets and you should highlight the space to see the solution.
Off we go.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A nicely constructed puzzle that contains one or two tricky little challenges that meant I probably spent a little more time on it than normal. The clues are beautifully constructed and have good surface readings. Thanks to Messinae for an enjoyable solving session.
As usual, the solutions are hidden within the squiggly brackets, and if you want to know the answers, highlight the space between the squiggles with your mouse to reveal all. Don’t forget that you can have your say after the blog as well, and you can rate the puzzle using the star system.
Off we go, before we face the end of the world from the Icelandic volcano. If the internet hasn’t been gummed up with volcanic detritus, I’ll see you soon.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
One of those puzzles where you feel that you should have enjoyed it, but were let down by some of the clues. Favourites are highlighted in blue.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Continue reading “Toughie 321”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I didn’t think that this Toughie was especially difficult, in spite of being held up for a while in the top right-hand corner. It does have a couple of sporting references, one football and one rugby, that may cause some problems, and I do have niggles with a few of the clues.
As always, we’d love to get your views.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I’ll put my hands up and admit it – I have occasionally joined in with comments about the Toughie not being the hardest crossword to emanate from Wapping. This was definitely on the easy side, but I was grateful. Having just watched my daughter in panto and returned to catch up on the snooker, accompanied by a bottle of Italian red, it was a late night and I doubt my brain would have been up to a much stiffer challenge.
This one has good, sound clueing throughout, albeit with no fireworks, marred very slightly by what appears to be an error at 5d.
As ever my favourites are shown in blue but, apart from 5d, everything warranted a generous nod to the setter – the clues are concise, accurate and, almost without exception, very smooth.
Leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Yes, it’s four a.m. and have just realised I have a day of messy hospital appointments ahead of me (Curse that perpetual calendar I bought from a man with a nice line in pattter!), so I’d better get today’s Toughie sorted out. I quite liked this puzzle and it contained a fair challenge with a few good clues, though I felt the four-letter answers were rather weak double definitions. There is also a serious spelling mistake in the last across clue.
Let me know your thoughts, and don’t forget to rate the puzzle with the star system at the end of the blog.
Assuming the doctor remembers into which end of me to insert his probe, I shall be back later with the review of last Saturday’s puzzle.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
I’m standing in for Libellule today. For me one or two clues spoiled an otherwise good puzzle from Messinae. The easiest place to draw the line on acceptable place names is to have none.
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Continue reading “Toughie 260”