Sunday Toughie No 174 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 25th of May 2025
Tag: 174
Sunday Toughie 174 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 174
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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proXimal gave me a rather stern test last night, and I had to email a friend to see the standards (thanks Gazza and Mike. A spoonerism to start and a couple of compound anagrams sign this better than any byline
We have a generous 16a and 16d clues and I have hinted half, I hope you get the checkers to solve this fine puzzle but I will try and give a nudge or two if required.
Time to take Mama Bee out for coffee and a listen to the brass bands in Wetherby. I will help if I can and if the WiFi by The Ings is up to it
Here we go, Folks…
Toughie 174
Toughie No 174 by Firefly
Teacher…. Mother…….Secret Lover
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
As the warm-up man for Big Dave and his battle with Excalibur tomorrow, I am usually full of praise for the Thursday setters. I am also a big fan of Firefly in his other setting alias, but for some reason, this is just not my cup of coffee (I can’t stand tea!!). I was quite looking forward to it, but just found that some of the clues lacked the invention and difficulty that we normally get from him.
For some reason I am reminded of the end of an epsiode of The Simpsons, where they do a send-up of Stephen King’s The Shining. I had a tough night last night with the heat and lack of air, despite having all the windows open and running the risk of bats flying in. However, I was looking forward to logging in and having a good battle today, but like Homer I was disappointed and the urge to kill rises…..(actually the urge to go and have a snooze rises!)
ARVE Error: need id and provider
Anyway, enough whimsy, let’s go. My basic feeling that this was probably no tougher than a normal daily puzzle. I was quite convinced for some time that there was a mistake in the grid, but then my recent stays as a guest of the NHS came to the rescue. Should Toughie puzzles have four letter anagrams? Continue reading “Toughie 174”