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DT 31028

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31028

Hints and tips by Senf

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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****/*****

A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where the Red Scarf has not been required since its outing last Thursday as we are now enjoying some very pleasant late Summer temperatures.

It is good to see so many new commenters de-lurking recently, and I hope that they continue to comment, but where in the world is Miss Fifi, who some of us met at The Bridge House in January?

For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), that was fun, all in an economical 28 clues so I expect that Shabbo would suggest that I should take a pay cut!  I suspect that the setter may be the same as for my last mid-week blog two weeks ago.  But, to my knowledge, unless he or she claimed that puzzle on some obscure social media site, his or her identity remains a mystery today.

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Toughie 3545

by Whybird  

Toughie No 3545 by Weatherman
Hints and tips by Whybird

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/****  – Enjoyment ****

Hello and welcome to Toughie Tuesday! I am still coping diligently with the views over the loch towards Bengairn and the ever-changing moods of Dumfries and Galloway’s scenery, with supporting cast of buzzards, red kites, kestrels, peregrines, ravens and a very impressive hirundine roost.  … Continue reading

DT 31027

by Shabbo  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31027
Hints and tips by Shabbo

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

Good morning, fellow puzzlers.

Sorry, but it’s me again!  Huntsman and I have swapped blogging days this week, so you have his contribution to look forward to on Thursday.

I thought today’s puzzle was light and accessible with some gentle misdirection to keep us on our toes.  32 concise clues perfectly pitched for a Tuesday. I only mention the number of clues (30 is probably the average) in the vain hope of a pay rise. One thing that I have learnt to do over the last couple of years of blogging is to pretend to be busy with one eye on the clock and the 11.00 deadline.  If I do it convincingly enough, the current Mrs Shabbo invariably volunteers to make my breakfast.

My ticks were for the goods in transit at 7d, the Yorkshire river’s characteristics at 9d and the perils of getting old at 16d.  23d was my LOI, as I wrestled for a while with the definition.

In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons.  Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.

Many thanks to our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.

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DT 31026

by Smylers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31026

Hints and tips by Smylers

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BD Rating – Difficulty ★⯨ – Enjoyment ★★★★

Hello. Here are hints and explanations for today’s Telegraph crossword, which has an unusual grid arrangement that I rather liked. I solved it more quickly than usual, but it does include some knowledge I didn’t have, so I didn’t think I could award it a single star.

Please do leave a comment — it’s lovely getting to know you all. See Big Dave’s etiquette guide for the house rules, and I’ve had a special request from somebody who solves the quick crossword after the cryptic and sometimes finds coming here spoils answers in the quick. It’s fine to mention the quick crossword; and if you had thoughts of admiration or otherwise on the quickie pun, then do of course mention those — but if you can do so in a way which doesn’t give away any of the answers, that’d be appreciated.

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Sunday Toughie 189 (Hints)

by Sloop John Bee  

Sunday Toughie No 189

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Although I had a full grid in relatively quick time, parsing some took a bit of kip to allow them to dawn on me. A couple of football references and to one who wrote about that particular football club. A couple of references to orthodontics too. 25a was probably my favourite but much sniggering was had when revising the poet in 12a.

Now, which ones do I hint, “Ay, there’s the rub”? I have probably been a bit overgenerous in hints so I hope there are enough to give you the checkers to finish today.

 

Here we go, Folks…

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ST 3333 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3333 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg with a perfectly palindromic puzzle number (very Mary Poppins) – I wonder if we have any Numerologists in our company who can offer any wisdom that may exist on such a number/string of numbers.

I hope that Daisygirl is sitting down when she reads this – on Thursday, it was so cold (high temperature of 8.9 degrees), wet, and miserable that I had to give the Red Scarf an early outing!

For me, and I stress for me,© Dada very friendly, but with a couple of clues along with the number of anagrams that might raise some ire,  8 anagrams (5 partials), 2 lurkers, and no homophones all in symmetric 28; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.  And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!

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