Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26023
Welcome to Pam!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
It was very odd not having to rush around on Monday getting a blog ready in between visits from the nurse, carers and suchlike. Wednesday’s are usually lazy mornings for me, followed by the cut and thrust of the Bridge Club doing battle with some of the evil grannies of Brierfield (They are not really evil, but they are ferocious bridge players!).
I must start today by welcoming a newcomer to the blog in the shape of Pam, who also goes to the Bridge Club, however she is neither a granny or evil (she may be the former, but not the latter as far as I know!). Although Pam is a very fine bridge player, she is dipping her toe into the world of Telegraph crosswords for the first time after being prised away from the Everyman in the Observer and is visiting us for the first time. Welcome Pam, you are among friends. The drinks are on you!
Today’s puzzle is another good puzzle for those getting to grips with crosswords for the first time. As usual, the answers are hidden in white inside the curly brackets. Highlighting them will reveal the answer.
Feel free to have your say about what you liked or disliked in the discussion after the analysis. There’s also the star ratings, click on your star opinion to show what you thought. New posters should note that your first post may take a little time to appear as they are moderated to prevent spammers causing havoc.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26017
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This pleasant puzzle shouldn’t give those grey cells too much exercise this morning (but you can always do the Toughie!). A couple of minor issues will be covered in the review.
Following the accidental success of Monday’s placeholder posting, I have added this while still preparing the review – feel free to discuss via the comments.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26011
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
This is an easy puzzle, which should leave you plenty of time to tackle today’s Toughie from Cephas, our regular Saturday setter. This week there is no surfeit of cryptic definitions, but you do find yourself expecting that if it isn’t an anagram then it might be a hidden word!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 26005
Let’s all play charades
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
If you enjoy playing charades, then this is the puzzle for you. For the rest of us it was an average puzzle apart from the one or two new words.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25999
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This enjoyable puzzle is only spoilt a little by the dodgy anagram indicators.
You can add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
For new viewers, the answers can be seen by selecting the space between the curly brackets – we do this so that you can look up one or two answers without seeing all of them. The first time you leave a comment it will need to be moderated before others can view it – this is to prevent the site being overrun by spammers; over 800 have been intercepted so far!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25993
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This is turning out to be “New Solvers Week” as we are presented with another relatively easy puzzle. It’s on days like this that you get the full benefits of retirement – torrential rain and no need to go outside!
Two years ago this month I was returning home on a Friday evening and only got as far as Moreton-in-the-Marsh, where the High Street had turned into a river. I spent the night in a pub (things could have been a lot worse!) and finally managed to reach Hanley Swan on Saturday evening.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25987
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Even the seasoned pros amongst you will find this difficult! A very enjoyable puzzle, but some of the clues are a bit convoluted.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25981
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
While the same setters appear to be used for the other days of the week, there is little doubt that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are being rotated. This puzzle was very enjoyable, and far better than the one a week ago. If I’m correct in guessing then this is one of my favourite setters, and an old friend may pay a visit later!
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25975
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
I found this to be a disapppointing puzzle. There was little of merit, and the overuse of initial and final letter constructs that failed to contribute to the surface reading was irritating.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 25969
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A bit like last Wednesday, this is a pleasant puzzle that shouldn’t unduly trouble the average solver.
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