Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *
If you want your weekly fix of Ray T then don’t look here, go and do the Toughie instead! The musical and sporting references suggest the possible setter, but for me this gimmick has worn very thin and I didn’t enjoy this puzzle at all.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Regular Toughie solvers will know that MynoT is currently working his way through the consonants and that his last puzzle covered F, so, having found out last night that he was today’s setter, I set about polishing an alliterative sub-title using plenty of Gs. All to no avail, because he’s skipped a few letters.
I have to admire the skill that goes into compiling a puzzle like this, but it necessitates the use of some pretty obscure words and seems a bit forced so I didn’t enjoy it that much. Let us know your thoughts.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Hola from the Vega Baja. This puzzle will be a lot easier if you can solve 10a quickly as 5 of the other across clues refer to it. I found it a little tricky as I’m not familiar with a couple of the types of 10a but I got there in the end. Some of you will probably think it a doddle! It only just got into the 3* time for me so if I knew a bit more about 10a probably only 2*.
It’s also the first time I’ve had to blog a puzzle where so many clues refer to another. It’s not easy to hint those that refer to 10a without giving 10a away. Hope I’ve done it OK. I’ve been blogging Jay’s puzzles for the best part of a year now and he’s never done one with so many linked clues in all that time so the thought’s crossed my mind that this may not be one of his, perhaps he’ll pop in and let us know.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I had to check a couple of the answers in this puzzle, but those answers were well clued. There’s a mini-theme which is alluded to in the sub-heading!
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **
I’ve not much to say about this one really. It doesn’t present much in the way of difficulty. Your thoughts, as always, are solicited.
If you need to check an answer just highlight the gap between the brackets under the clue.
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Pommers and Big Dave, who both stayed up late, today’s Rufus puzzle awaited me in the early hours, and so normal service is resumed. Like Mary, and many more of you, I do enjoy the gentle, flowing style that Rufus seldom fails to deliver. This was no exception, though it fell into place quite quickly for me. How about you?
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from New York City, where your reporter has now learned four new words, thanks to today’s offering from Elgar.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Approaching this prize puzzle the morning after my visit to London for the cruciverbalists’ convention/blog birthday party, I was very pleased to note that Virgilius had been kind this week (well I found him so anyway). Another very enjoyable Sunday cryptic, my favourites being highlighted in blue.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
After yesterday’s excitement we have a more traditional offering today. The main problem I had with this one was that the grid really makes it into four separate puzzles, so that having completed one corner you have to start again with another. Give us your views in a comment.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the space between the brackets under the clue.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Morning All!. I’m being short and sweet this week with the review as I have to prepare for my upcoming birthday (today!). A funny old puzzle today – there were about 5 clues that have been kicking around for years and a few more that really made people think. All in all I found it a good enough test for a Saturday puzzle.