Toughie No 1999 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I don’t get to review many Toughies these days, but Dutch’s temporary absence has given me a chance. … Continue reading
Category: proXimal
ProXimal is Steve Bartlett, who sets crosswords for The Independent as eXternal (which he first used in our NTSPP series), and for the Financial Times as arteXlen.
Toughie 1983
Toughie No 1983 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
Another most enjoyable puzzle by proXimal, plenty of clever and elegant clueing, though I didn’t manage to finish before the school run today…
Definitions are underlined and the hints are intended to help you unravel the wordplay.… Continue reading
Toughie 1963
Toughie No 1963 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I really enjoyed this, despite doing it at midnight because I didn’t dare leave a proXimal till morning.… Continue reading
Toughie 100009
Toughie No 100009 by proXimal
Bah Humbug!
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *
I feel like Scrooge today. I usually look forward to the Christmas, online only, Toughie but I found this to be a lack-lustre slog, unlike the Double Toughie which I have completed but am still trying to resolve some of the wordplay (is it me, or is the anagram in 4 Across flawed – I am missing an “O” and have a spare “I”?… Continue reading
Toughie 1931
Toughie No 1931 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***/****
I worry when I start a proXimal puzzle that I won’t be able to complete it, but there was no reason for that really today – I managed with time to spare before the school run.… Continue reading
Toughie 1899
Toughie No 1899 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ****/***** – Enjoyment ***/****
A few anagrams help you get into this puzzle, which seemed challenging at first but as usual in most of it seemed clear in retrospect.… Continue reading
Toughie 1863
Toughie No 1863 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Dutch is on his hols for a month so you’re going to be getting some guest bloggers in this spot starting with yours truly.… Continue reading
Toughie 1851
Toughie No 1851 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***/****
Thankfully a not-over-the-top-difficult puzzle from proXimal. My top half seemed to go in fairly smoothly, then I slowed down considerably as I sank towards the bottom.… Continue reading
Toughie 1831
Toughie No 1831 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
I did feel a little panic when I saw the setter’s name but happily I managed to do this before the school run this morning, within 3* difficulty time.… Continue reading
Toughie 1814
Toughie No 1814 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Bufo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
Another Thursday and another hard morning at the Toughie gridface trying to chisel out the answers to today’s clues.… Continue reading