Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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This puzzle was published on 15th March 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a very lovely enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments. Continue reading “ST 3360 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3657 by Dada
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Croeso o Gymru! This week’s travels find me in a very nice cottage on the Bodnant Estate, overlooking the Conwy valley and the village of Dolgarrog. The Present Lady Whybird, Lord Alfie and I are enjoying a few days of downtime following Lady W’s latest sewing retreat, coincidentally situated in the aforementioned village. Anyone would think there was a plan… We’ve had a hefty dose of spectacular early spring weather, but we are now experiencing something more traditionally North Walian. As with the last time I was in this area, several hours over a couple of days in St Mary’s Churchyard, Caerhun, involved plenty of obliging finches (Gold, Green, Chaf) but not Haw. There’s always a next time, and the Roman archaeology is interesting.
Dada, to whom, many thanks, has given us a very enjoyable puzzle today, towards the more straightforward end of the spectrum, I felt, which is especially welcome as I’ve been solving on the iPad rather than my much preferred Dead Tree. Just a couple of pieces of explanations had me scratching my head a little, but nothing too strenuous. I did wonder if Dada had dined on an Atlas given the number of geographical references. My prizes today go to 18a, 19a, 27a with 14d getting an honourable mention
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A Typically Tuesdayish puzzle, as Senf would say, that I assume is an Anthony Plumb production. I was going great guns solving in an anti-clockwise direction & on course to comfortably better yesterday’s solve time until a bit of brain fog near the finish line in the NE. As ever nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable too.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
Hello. I’d claim it’s always a good time to visit Ilkley, but now’s a particularly good time, with it looking like this:
(Click to enlarge.)
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We haven’t had Zandio here since #207, and judging by some of his recent backpagers, I expected a tougher time. This went smoothly with only a few 2d’s or quid pro quo’s for parsing.
16a and 14d clues and I have hinted half. In order to sprinkle them evenly around the grid I have left a few of the trickier clues unhinted. I will try and give a nudge or two if you ask.
Here We Go…
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Vagans has us thinking today of our alphabet or maybe the Jackson 5.… Continue reading
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg. So, Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies is! Since most of the grass is still covered by snow and ice, and what can be seen is brown, it is difficult to decide whether it has riz or not. But we do have birdies. Many of the small ones such as Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Sparrows are with us all year round regardless of the temperature.
A little late, but in the last couple of weeks snow sculptures have appeared on a pedestrians/cyclists only street in the downtown area – this is one of a turtle that appears to be about to consume a jelly fish – the wonders of nature!
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quite friendly – seven anagrams (one partial), two lurkers, and no homophones in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
A Mid-Year Blog Bash 17.5 perhaps?
25th July 2026
Following the last Birthday Bash, it was suggested that a mid-year get-together would be a good idea. The Old Joint Stock in Birmingham was suggested, and I have secured shared use of the Mezzanine Balcony for us.… Continue reading