Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30855
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
I really enjoyed this, but then I am fortunate to have been allocated Thursday as my blogging day – the puzzles are generally spot on in terms of both quality and difficulty. I think we can rule out RayT on this one, so that leaves….
I have made this point before, but it warrants repeating here. A great setter will produce clues which read like normal sentences, rather than like crossword clues. This is a prime example of a master of this art at the very top of his/her game.
My ticks go to the bad indigestion at 10a, the boxer’s treat at 11a, the drunken multitude at 14a, the Greek character at 21a, the clandestine meeting at 27a, the senior female at 28a, the tea vendor at 3d, the drunk’s partner at 13d and the group of eight at 23d. Which clues did you like?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Thank you setter. First class.
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Toughie No 3427 by Silvanus
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Silvanus appears once more in what has become a double act with Ray T (whose turn it is to be on the back page today). Thanks to him for a very enjoyable puzzle.
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Toughie No 3423 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Beam’s in a very benevolent mood today – thanks to him.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30843
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Table View, a suburb of Cape Town, where we are staying with friends. Sunny and windy today – typical weather for the Cape. 32 degrees forecast for tomorrow.
Two rugby references for me to enjoy at 7a and 16a and a South African antelope in 6d. No safari for us this time, unfortunately, but we will be watching the Stormers v Bulls rugby match at the “new” stadium at Green Point in Cape Town on Saturday, followed by a braai, of course!
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Thank you setter.
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Toughie No 3419 by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
It’s Kcit’s turn in the Toughie slot. Thanks to him for an enjoyable puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30837
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
RayT in relatively benign form today, I thought, but enjoyable as ever. He has averaged bang on five words/clue in today’s puzzle – quite remarkable.
I wrestled with the definition element of 21a for a while and needed the current Mrs Shabbo’s help with the house plant at 28a. My joint podium clues were the steamy photo at 15a and the snooker rest at 27a.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Thank you, Ray.
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Toughie No 3415 by Silvanus
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that Silvanus had increased his difficulty level very slightly with this Toughie but the quality and enjoyment is as high as ever. Many thanks to him.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30831
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
I loved this! My first ever 5* (I think) for enjoyment. I will happily forgo my blogging fee for today!
Silvanus is on Toughie duty today and this is definitely not RayT, so I am running a book on Guess the Setter. Senf has promised to bring a couple of toonies all the way from Canada as prize money, although he doesn’t know this yet! No point in trying to bribe me, as I have no idea who wrote this gem, but I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I found it quite challenging in parts, so no doubt there will be some who complain that it is too difficult, but I would suggest that you just take a moment to reread the clues and admire the skill of this setter. It is really difficult to pick a Clue of the Day, but if pushed, I would probably go for the very clever 9a. A nod of appreciation to the Quickie Pun as well.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Great stuff. Thank you clever setter.
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Toughie No 3411 by Karla
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Karla has upped the difficulty level a bit from his last Toughie but this is still relatively straightforward, albeit with a couple of words that I didn’t know. I enjoyed solving the puzzle – thanks Karla.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30825
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
There I was thinking that perhaps we had a different compiler today, when I came across our setter’s calling cards, confirming that it is indeed our regular alternate Thursday master of brevity (5.2 words/clue). A most enjoyable puzzle, with my joint CoD going to 24a and 9d. A couple of definitions that I needed to check, but otherwise nothing to frighten the runners at 23d. Three “men” appear in 30a, 2d and 7d (all clued differently, of course) and there are only three anagrams to get your teeth into.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Thank you setter.
Continue reading “DT 30825”