Beam is back for his second Sunday Toughie and it is a treat, all his trademarks™ are there (sweetheart, The Queen, single-word answers and an average 5.375 words per clue) I found a lot of cycle parts but as a cycling fan I am probably a bit biased. It allowed me to tell a couple of old jokes too.
We have a generous 16a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half plus a couple of bonus pics. I hope you find enough checkers to fill the grid.
proXimal returns with a Spoonerism to start and some compound anagrams. The Spoonerism wasn’t a problem as it was just a transposition of initial letters rather than sounds, but I spent rather a long time mulling over what and where to extract the compound anagrams. I was in a Nabakovian rabbit hole over a simple girls name before sense prevailed.
We have 14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half. If a few tricky ones have hit the cutting room floor I may be able to give a nudge if asked.
Another Newbie to the Sunday Toughie, I was quite surprised to find Dada as the compiler today. Once I got over the surprise I found this a floughie toughie and I don’t think horses have any concerns either here or in the backpager. I haven’t had time to tackle Senf’s Dada yet but I have spotted some similarities.
Dada has brought a slightly “25a ungenerous” 14across and 13down clues today on what I call the H4 grid (from the dark blocks along the sides of the grid). I will plump for the crafty 9d today but the precarious 16a ran it close before falling at the last.
I counsel you “15d” to be aware that the red pencil has been active this weekend with just a few 1a remaining of Christmas Comestibles
