Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **
There’s nothing too tricky or exciting in today’s puzzle. 11a is a new word (for me anyway) but the wordplay is very straightforward so it should not present any great problems. Let us know how you got on.
The answers are concealed to prevent your seeing them accidentally. To reveal one just highlight the space between the brackets under the relevant clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
After a week of celebration in Crosswordland, normal service is resumed with today’s challenge from “our” brand-new octogenarian. Rufus provides us with another gentle and enjoyable start to the week – his consistency never fails to impress.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from the Calder Valley! Today’s Friday Fiend is young Elgar who presents us with an enjoyable challenge that unfolded nicely as you solved it. I managed to crack the left side fairly quickly, but the right side proved reasonably elusive, but once one of the answers came to me, everything else fell into place. After last Friday’s mental mayhem, this seemed positively joyous.
The puzzle has four twelve letter answers, each comprising a phrase made up of two six-letter words that are fairly similar and differ only in an odd letter. The cluing is of Elgar’s impeccable standard and contain some nicely misleading pieces which don’t leave you scratching your head and wondering why you are persevering.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I usually type out my weekend puzzle review when I have spare time on a Wednesday evening and schedule it for the right time slot on the Friday, as I don’t always know what I might be doing on Thursday evening. It is a good job that I do as yesterday teatime brought a texted plea for help from Gnomethang who was on a work call-out that might take all night. Luckily I had saved my solved Sunday puzzle for such an emergency (there have been a few lately!) and was delighted to enjoy this superb Virgilius puzzle second time around. I have marked my favourite clues in blue
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
I completed three-quarters of this one pretty swiftly but then slowed down in the NW corner (which upped the difficulty level to 3* for me). Thanks to Giovanni for the customary Friday enjoyment and a warm-up for the impending five-setter with Elgar. Let us know how you fared.
If you’re stuck for an answer, even after reading a hint, then just highlight the space between the brackets under the clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
I did enjoy this Mysteron Prize Puzzle – it didn’t take me long, hence the 1* difficulty – yes, I know lots of you found it harder but I have to rate as I solve! A great mix of clues, including the wonderful 21a which could well be a contender for my clue of the year so far. Continue reading “DT 26792”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I thought this was more back-page standard than Toughie standard. I’d never heard of 14 down but it was easy enough to work out from the wordplay and it took me a bit of thought to unravel the wordplay at 17 down. Otherwise I had no problems whatsoever.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that today’s Ray T puzzle was a little harder than usual – or maybe I was distracted as we are having the loft insulated (for free!).
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
If you’ve read the blog in the last week or so you can’t have failed to notice the celebrations around the eightieth birthday of our regular back-page setter, Rufus. Well today is the actual day and Elkamere has produced a superb tribute packed with references to his life and many accomplishments. I’ve tried to point out the references but if I’ve missed any I’m sure you’ll let me know.
Please tell us what you thought of the puzzle and take the time to record your enjoyment factor by clicking on one of the stars below.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I was supposed to send this puzzle to Falcon so that he could write the review, but I had an early night instead! There’s a hint of Lent about the puzzle – possibly more so than I have identified.