Toughie No 2652 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A nice symmetric pattern of X’s. I wonder if I’m missing anything else here.… Continue reading
Category: Sparks
Sparks is the name used by Mark Kelmanson for Toughies. He is known elsewhere as Monk (M on K, his initials)
Toughie 2620
Toughie No 2620 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
This setter often has a Nina or a little grid feature of some kind.… Continue reading
Toughie 2604
Toughie No 2604 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
A lovely quirky puzzle from Sparks today with a few that required a bit of extra thinking to see the parsing. At the time of writing, I haven’t seen Spark’s usual Nina, unless there’s been some kind of household incident (rows 3 & 13) – comments welcome. Continue reading “Toughie 2604”
Toughie 2592
Toughie No 2592 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
A most pleasant puzzle by Sparks with some geography and a touch of GK.… Continue reading
Toughie 2576
Toughie No 2576 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Sparks seems to have beer on the brain, which makes for an enjoyable puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie 2557
Toughie No 2557 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
A charming crossword with a lovely Nina – and a few new words. Continue reading “Toughie 2557”
Toughie 2541
Toughie No 2541 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
A delightful puzzle, the top half went in quickly though I slowed down towards the bottom.… Continue reading
Toughie 2509
Toughie No 2509 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Pleasant enough, though I normally enjoy Sparks a lot more – could just be me today. Continue reading “Toughie 2509”
Toughie 2485
Toughie No 2485 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment *****
The long answers and anagrams gave a nice way into this puzzle, which is full of Sparks’s usual wit and clever devices.… Continue reading
Toughie 2445
Toughie No 2445 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Some great quirky clueing today. Sparks often has a Nina, but I haven’t seen anything yet, perhaps someone will help me.… Continue reading