Alan's Blogalogue: ALAN'S PUZZLES - crosswords, anagrams & random quizzes

Give yourself a fair go.

There has been plenty of head-scratching and frowning since we kicked off, as a result of readers looking and reacting to this 'Puzzle' page.
Very little material has been deleted so there remains enough content here to enable regular readers and potential followers to remain busy for some time.

(I've learned so much from my mistakes that I think I'll make a few more.) 😃

CROSSWORD 1

** This one will make you think: quickly.
Here is an English word that has nine letters. Each time a letter is removed another English word is left behind. This applies until a 'single-letter-word' remains. See how you get on, before peeking at the solutions page. I'll even give you the first word. (I've always been generous.) Good luck!
😏
Set the alarm on your device for two minutes. No pressure!

If you find the nine words during that time it would be 'STARTLING'.

ARITHMETIC FROM THE SIXTIES (See if you can score a score but no more)

A baker’s dozen plus seven equals a score
A ton less Top-of-the-Shop: times two equals a score

On that basis try this next dozen, without the help of any gadgets, or Google: -

Feet in a fathom plus yards in a chain less one fat lady
The year of the fire of London minus the year of the Battle of Hastings plus four fivers less six ton
A gross minus a ton less two dozen
Unlucky for some times two minus half a dozen
Twice times thrice plus four times two
Legs eleven minus ‘on his own’, doubled
Two millennia (unheard of in our day) plus double ten less yards in a mile less pennies in a pound
Sixteen short of a century plus three dozen minus a century
Trombones in the Big Parade minus Clickety-click times two
Legs eleven minus half-a-dozen: plus twice ten minus a fiver
Ounces in a pound less pounds in a stone times a tenner
Divide a Monkey by a Pony

CROSSWORD 2

Theme* Physical or Mental Condition

CROSSWORD 3

CROSSWORD 4

ANARMAGS

ANIMALS
Recommended age group 5 to 95 ... One for the kids

TIP LEG
TAC
LET RUT
TELEPHAN     FAG FIRE
TIK TEN
A CROON
FLOW
A BREZ
BAY WALL
KANES
SALE
WOC
GORF
SHORE
GOD

Newbies to this page. You'll have stacks to mull over! Here's a bit of fun involving any number of people but someone must prepare the game to make it work.

When the following capital letters are cut out they become 50 pieces of a jig-saw puzzle.

Here's what that person needs to do: --

1. Find a sharp pair of scissors
2. Print off one set of numbers and cut out the fifty letters to form a supply to be used.
3. Turn all these letters face up, as you're the only one playing!
4. From the fifty letters spell out the five days of the week. Well done! You are the winner as nobody else was playing.

To prepare for further entertainment, which may involve others of your own family or visitors at a birthday party or whatever gathering you may choose, this game will take the form of a race. Each person will need in front of him a pre-prepared pile of fifty letters.

(Try not to mix them up or you'll have your own 'game' of sorting them out again!) 😁 At the end of play, to save time and effort later, store (or hide) the letters away somewhere safe. They'll be ready to go whenever you're ready again, perhaps with other visitors, who may need some harmless entertainment, without the Magic Box in the corner.
If you think it's worth your while you could make more permanent sets of these letters. If you really want to, get a patent for this game. You have my permission, as the inventor, or creator! What will you name it? I'd be interested to know! 😄 What a laugh, eh?

Make your own letters and work out other similar games for yourself. This is the sort of thing we used to do, as kids. L&P

CROSSWORD 5

Theme* Books in the Bible

GRAMSANA

English Premier League Football Teams

Note the following scoring system : -

With no assistance, in thirty minutes or less: - Between ten and fifteen correct. Super effort!
Same result but using Google during first half an hour: - Failed!
Without any help from outside agents: - Between five and ten correct. At least you tried. Well done! That's pretty good, especially if you're a rugby man.
Using electronic gadgets of any description, at any time. Less than fifteen correct. Disappointing, in more ways than one!
If you had a go by yourself and scored fifteen, present yourself with an imaginary gold medal. You know your football teams and are pretty good at anagrams. Well done! You are honest and you're a champion. You certainly didn't do it for the money! There was none.

Moral, when doing my quizzes. Leave your phones in your pockets. Electronic devices should only be used after you've given your brain a fair go! Outside of my blog time I don't care and I don't need to know what you do. If you take them to organised quizzes, turn the buggers off, or you're a cheat. Nobody likes a cheat. If you still take a prize then you do not have a conscience.

             1.     MAD NUT
            2.     FOW DART
            3.     RICH NOW
             4.     BURY LEN
             5.     HE SCALE
             6.     CAST NEWEL
             7.     STEER LICE
             8.     BIG NORTH
             9.     WET MASH
         10. POOR VILLE
         11. LA VAST LION
         12. DUD STEEL
         13. NOT EVER
         14. R FRONT BED
15.    SLOW EV

My Crosswords: - Each set of clues has a bias towards a theme.
If a clue has an asterisk* by its number then refer to the Theme*, given at the top of each crossword. (I repeat myself quite a lot these days! ... No worries! I'm lucky to be getting older and that's part of the package!)

The definition of optimism is starting a crossword with a pen. 😏

CROSSWORD 6

Here are five riddles: -

I suggest you look at these one-at-a-time. In fact, I'll publish them 'one-at-a-time' and after two or three days for each, if I remember to do so 😄 I'll publish the corresponding solutions.
Once I've given each solution I'll publish the next riddle. This will mean that eventually all five riddles will be in print and all five solutions will be readily available for future readers. That's my long-term plan but we'll see how it goes!😲

Right then: - Riddle number 1
A murderer is condemned to death. He is allowed to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in three years. Which room would be his best option?

You're just warming up : - Riddle number 2
A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over five minutes. Finally, she hangs him out to dry. Ten minutes later they go out together to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Work that out if you can!

Now you're getting the hang of it, eh? : - Riddle number 3
What is black when you buy it, red when you use it and grey when you throw it away?

I reckon that whoever put the first 'r' in 'February' was given the job of spelling 'Wednesday'. 😇

Over half way! : - Riddle number 4

Can you name three consecutive days without using Wednesday, Friday or Sunday?

(3 blokes sitting in their local pub. Ernie says, "It's windy today."
Franks says, "No, Mate. It's Thursday." Tom says, "So am I. It's your round Ernie. Hurry up! It's bitter.")

Last and definitely not least! : - Riddle number 5

This next paragraph is your last riddle and it is explained to you very clearly and astutely. It really is self-explanatory, so go for it!

😖

This is a most unusual paragraph: - I am so curious as to just how quickly you will find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so plain, so normal and so ordinary that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In actual fact, nothing is wrong with it. It just is not typical, at all! Having said that though, it is highly unusual. Study it and think about it but you may still not find out anything you think is odd about it. But, if you work on it for a bit, you might find out what it is that I am looking for. Try to do this without any coaching from anybody.

😕

CROSSWORD 7

Theme * Sporting Activity

Give yourselves a reasonable chance to solve these puzzles at your own speed, without consulting Mr. Google or anyone else. Achieving something by yourself will always give you maximum benefit and the most personal satisfaction. It's the way to go but don't give yourselves headaches. Please take this an an OSH warning. Conditions Apply!

LOGIC EXAM This should help you to think outside the square.

1. Two Indians sat in their wigwam. One Indian was the father of the other Indian's son. How do you explain this?

2. What would your relationship be to your aunt's mother's father's wife?
3. How far can a dog go into the woods?
4. A person rented a car to drive from London to Herne Bay and back: a distance of 60 miles each way He paid twenty-four pounds for the use of the car and the petrol. A passenger was picked up at Rochester, half way between London and Herne Bay and brought back to Rochester. How much should this passenger have paid to account for a fair share?
5. In our church would it be permitted for a man to marry his widow's sister?
6. Make two-thirds of six equal nine.
7. Add the same three letters, in the same order, on either side of 'ERGRO', to make a familiar word.
8. Some months have 30 days: others have 31 days but how many have 28?
9. If you were given 3 pills by your doctor and told to take one every half hour, how long would it take you to finish them?
10. You enter a dark room with one match. In the room is a candle, an oil lamp and a gas ring. Which should you light first?
11. A shepherd has 17 sheep. All but nine died. How many did he have left?
12. How many of each animal did Moses take into the ark?
13. Make one word from the letters of the two words, NEW DOOR.
14. If three cats can kill three rats in three minutes, how long will it take 100 cats to kill 100 rats?

CROSSWORD 8

CROSSWORD 9

CROSSWORD 10

Clue correction: -

1 Across.
Post script, at the end of a letter (Abbr.) (2)
(Delete 'Highest ranking suit' etc. etc.) 😕 "What?"

Here follows another batch of anagrams for those of you who've been missing them. You'll need to think a little bit outside the square but there is a common theme to work on: -

ARGAMANS (I just can't seem to get that spelling right!) 😄

Just ten indoor games

1 OK Snore
2 Wit rest
3 Loony Pom
4 Ken’s sad, red sandal
5 Span
6 Big brace
7 Loud
8 Haze yet
9 Slow broodin'
10 Wool taper

CROSSWORD 11

CROSSWORD 12 May I suggest that you zoom in a little, to increase the size of the font, before printing off the crosswords?

Tempus fugit: It'll soon be Christmas, again!

CROSSWORD 13

CROSSWORD 14

ANARMAG (1) ... MEANS OF TRANSPORT

1. YAKKA

2. FIGHT PER NANNY

3. BEKIE

4. TAG ROK

5. PHAT NELE

6. A CONE

7. BRAIN MUSE

8. T SLITS

9. E GRAB

10. POLITE CHER

11. BROKE TOMI

12. TOBA

ANARMAG (2) ... MEANS OF TRANSPORT

13. ARC

14. STEAK ICES

15. NAVE CRAMP

16. BARON TO WAR

17. MART

18. RAG’S CARD .. A HEROINE

19. BULB BRACE

20. PM DOE

21. COT SORE

22. MXB

23. REAR BELL SOLD

24. SUB

CROSSWORD 15

ANAGRAMS

1960s 1970s MUSICIANS

1. BOIL JELLY ...... BILLY JOEL

2. STRING ROAR

3. SILVERY SLEEP

4. NET SLINGS ROLO

5. RON TOLD 2 PLAY

6. MY KONES

7. SEA BELT

8. RONNY’S GREEK

9. LAB CHORES

10. NOBBY LAD

11. MIX HEIDI JNR.

12. SEE AGING HORROR

CROSSWORD 16

CROSSWORD 17 (XMAS)

CROSSWORD 18

My Apology

I apologise for using a cheap pun as a way to introduce this
next 'quiz'.

If the following quiz bores you then just see how good you are at guessing the answers. (Even the 'Chasers' do that sometimes!)

I won't let the solutions be too far behind. Here are the twenty 'ology puzzles.

Put an asterisk by your chosen answer and see how they compare with the solutions, which I have now added to the Solutions Page.

Again, don't use a felt tip pen on the screen.

What Are The Following 'Ologies?

1. Astrobiology

(a) The study of the origin of life

(b) The study of comets

2. Batology

(a) The study of Bats

(b) The study of Cricket records

3. Cosmetology

(a) The study of mapping general features of the Universe or Earth

(b) The study of the cosmos or Universe

4. Dipterology

(a) The study of alcoholic cravings

(b) The study of flies

5. 5. Enology (or Oenology)

(a) The study of winemaking (wines)

(b) The study of printing font widths

6. 6. Fulminology

(a) The study of the Arctic Herring Gull

(b) The study of Lightning

7. 7. Gemmology

(a) The study of the origins of the name Gemma

(b) The study of encysted embryonic cell clusters

8. 8. Hepetology

(a) The study of reptiles and amphibians

(b) The study of a viral disease of the skin

9. 9. Ludology

(a) The study of bands of English artisans known as Luddites

(b) The study of silly things

10. Mycology

(a) The study of muscles

(b) The study of fungi

11. Nephology

(a) The study of wickedness

(b) The study of clouds

2. 12. Omnology

(a) The study of everything

(b) The study of omission

3. 13. Phonology

(a) The study of Record players

(b) The study of vocal sounds

4. 14. Ripperology

(a) The study of Jack the Ripper and his crimes

(b) The study of Australian slang

5. 15. Semiology

(a) The study of Semetic cultures

(b) The study of inconclusive outcomes

6. 16. Teleology

(a) The study of fish of the order Teleostei

(b) The study of ends or final causes

17. Etymology

(a) The study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed

(b) The study of the cause of a disease

18. Sinology

(a) The study of the act of transgression against divine laws

(b) The study of China

9. 19. Petrology

(a) The study of rocks and the conditions which form them

(b) The study of hydrocarbon oils

20. Epistemology

(a) The study of plants with more than one stem

(b) The study of the writers of the Epistles

CROSSWORD 19

ANAGRASM

Here is a clever anagram: -

ELECTION RESULTS LIES! LET'S RECOUNT!

Have a look at these others! They probably seem cleverer than previous ones because these are not my own work! It's not my intention to steal credit for effort made by others, although some of these people may be robots!

Not competitive. Just enjoy each one as you see it.

1. ELEVEN PLUS TWO TWELVE PLUS ONE

2. SNOOZE ALARMS ALAS NO MORE 'Z'S

3. WOMAN HITLER MOTHER-IN-LAW

4. I'M A DOT IN PLACE DECIMAL POINTS

5. THAT QUEER SHAKE THE EARTHQUAKES

6. BEST IN PRAYER PRESBYTARIAN

7. MOON STARER ASTRONOMER

8. THE EYES THEY SEE

9. HERE COME DOTS THE MORSE CODE

10. DIRTY ROOM DORMITORY

11. CASH LOST IN ME SLOT MACHINES

12. ANIMOSITY IS NO AMITY

Author's comment: - (gripe)

I was impressed when I came across the above anagrams. I am somewhat less impressed now, as I have just been informed that their likely source will have been from an 'App' on the computer.

I occasionally refer to Wikipedia, via Google, to make sure of something, when I am not certain of my facts. I think most of us do that these days. However, I do not always aim to seek out ways to create more spare time for myself. I gain satisfaction from 'filling in' my spare time with this type of activity. It is good brain food for me, although that organ of mine may have previously been deprived of decent feed!

I do not always wish to do things as easily, cheaply and as quickly as possible. I try to enjoy each journey in my life, as it is happening, although it doesn't always work, as my hobbies include golf, snooker and bridge!

Credit has to go to creators of these very clever apps that provide knowledge for everyone and anyone who wishes to use them.

In recent years the way of the world has changed from gaining factual knowledge, which previously needed to be ingrained in one's brain, to the use of another tactic completely: knowing where to find this knowledge and considerably more, by pressing on the right buttons belonging to a variety of different devices. This gadgetry is constantly being updated, as I type.

For our current older generation, who had 'times tables' and 'endless historical facts' to learn parrot-fashion at school, it has been (and still is) a very frustrating transformation to know that our best source of this 'knowledge' comes from our own younger generation. I refer to our own grandchildren, whom we have always presumed will be able to reap from the benefit of the knowledge of their own grandparents!

How times change!

CROSSWORD 20

The following quizzes have been on this page since the beginning, so their answers were put into the solutions page some time ago. As new people are arriving daily there seems little point in me deleting these quizzes. Those of you who have done them don't have to do them again, so I'll keep them on until there is a law against me doing so!
Who knows, I may run out of available space? 😄

MUSIC CRYPTIC CLUES

(Examples: A friendly prickly bush = Buddy Holly)

1 Nun toboggan   (Sister Sledge)
2   Get paste from a tube
3   Far too much
4 Certainly not fat Queen
5 Silhouettes
6 Windy City
7 Merlin
8 Icy drama
9 Years quarters   (Four Seasons)
10 Ham or Beef sandwiches
11 Gender arms
12 Desperate Trouble
13 First book
14 Bird of prey with colic
15 Hard of hearing wild cat
16 Hamlet – a female relative
17 Not from around here
18 Unemployment card
19 Soggy dipper
20 Throttlers
21 First man plus insects
22 Blinking fast
23 Old blue eyes off to make a movie
24 Gather no moss
25 Currently could be either
26 Group of parents
27 Healthy child eaters
28 Eileen’s twelve o’clock joggers
29 Pistols and blooms
30 Maggie Thatcher perhaps
31 McDonalds version of take-off
32 Either North, South, East or West    (One direction)
33 Bubbly chocolate anvil basher
34 Scotch Bonnets perhaps
35 Absolutely nude women
36 Dark Sunday
37 Not good organisation to work for
38 One putting his tongue to iron
39 Perfect peace
40 Robert Peel's men   (Police)

CROSSWORD 21

{Thanks again, ‘Tre’}

Create your own words ...
from the following 'bold' letters: -

Here is the letter … E … to be used in each word.
The other letters are : D E A B Z D L Z

Remember, you can’t count words with fewer than three letters and you can’t use any given letter more than once in a word, apart from ‘D’; ‘Z’ and ‘E’, as there are two each of those. No foreign languages; no plurals; nor proper nouns or placenames.

I know! You’ve come home to relax and all you’re getting is someone quoting rules at you! You've probably had that all day long!

Again, there is a nine-letter word here. (It’s staring at you … once you’ve seen it!)

Go for it! Don’t look for answers on the ‘Solutions’ Page, as you won’t find any. It’s just a bit of fun for you, on your own, without needing to confess to anyone that you could only make three words! (Neither do you need to brag that you actually found 33.) Target the scores below. Take twenty minutes out and enjoy yourself.

32 Words: -     Excellent
27 Words: -     Good
20 Words; -     Average

If, like me, you find it impossible to pat the middle of your own back, just give yourself a gentle punch in your kidneys, for any score around 30.

CROSSWORD 22

DOG BREEDS & COLOURS AGRANASM

(a) DOG BREEDS

1. NEAT GRADE

2. ICE LOL

3. SHOUT SAD BEN

4. SELL SUCK JAR

5. LEO POD

6. RACK CONE PILES

7. FIB: SORE CHIN

8. HIS HUTZ

9. DEEP GREHN MARSH

10. RIPE PLAN SINGERS

11. STAN RED BRAIN

12. I RENT CARRIER

(b) COLOURS AND SHADES (Not necessarily colours of dogs!)

1. O! ROMAN

2. GO NEAR

3. RID SHED

4. LEPPUR

5. LYE LOW (WOLLEY!)

6. NEAT MAG

7. TREACL

8. MACER

9. BRED RIGHT

10. CARL SET

11. YES! BULK

12. O! DIG IN

CROSSWORD 23

AGRANASM ... THE HUMAN BODY

(a) PARTS OF THE SKELETON

1   PINES
2. RICE BAG
3. A METAL CARP
4. BEND MAIL
5. RUP SAC
6. M.U. REF
7. RUIN MAC
8. CALL VICE
9. RAID U.S.
10. MUNSTER
11. U.S. STAR
12. I BAIT

(b) OTHER BODY PARTS

1. EARTH
2. FRINGE
3. HID RAG MAP
4. SNIPE
5. WEER BOY
6.   A GUESS .. POOH
7. RUSSEL HOD
8. ARSE
9. HIGHT
10. SLUNG
11. LESS MUC
12. BOSS LOVES DEL

One of our daughters sent me this quiz: -

“Go for it!” she said. “I’ve reached 32 and I challenge you to beat that.”

I saw the nine-letter word straight away. I got close to her score but I presume she will have beaten me if there had been a time limit. The pressure would have got to me!

See how you get on with this one but give yourself … say… 20 minutes. Don’t send your answers to anyone, as it’s just for your own satisfaction. There is no prize.

(I’d have found Wally, I reckon, if there was no set time limit.)

Here’s the puzzle!

There is the letter … D … to be used in each word.

The other letters are: M E L E L R A V

You can’t count words of fewer than three letters and you can’t use any given letter more than once, apart from ‘E’ and ‘L’, as there are two each of those. No foreign languages; no plurals; no proper nouns or places.

There is a nine-letter word, which is rather obvious …… after you’ve found it!

(Quizzes are always easy when you know the answers, eh?)

Go for it! Don’t look for solutions. It’s just a bit of fun.

36 words: - Excellent
32 words: - Pretty good
28 words: - Average

However many you get, give yourself a pat on the back for trying. I haven’t been able to do that for some time now!

CATCHPHRASES - TV & RADIO

All the following are catchphrases from TV or Radio programmes past or present -

Can you name each programme?

And now for something completely different
I’ve started so I’ll finish
I mean that most sincerely folks
Beam me up Scotty
Zed victor 4 to control
Left hand down a bit
Who loves ya baby?
I’m free
You dirty old man!
Wilma!!
Exterminate! Exterminate!
Ooh Betty!
Hey, hey, hey, little Boo Boo buddy
Que?
Evening All
Wakey, Wakey!
Bernie the bolt, Please!
Everybody Out!
Flob-a-lob
So it’s goodnight from me, and it’s goodnight from him.

(Tie breaker: In which year did “Dad’s Army” first appear on TV?)

CROSSWORD 24

FOOD RELATED AGRANAMS

1. FERRY CUBE

2. OVAL VAP

3. WISH RITES

4. ORDER PIG

5. MICE RACE

6. CONED GAS BANG

7. I CALL INNER CHOC

8. EIGHT TAPS

9. GAS LANE

10. MAD CAP DISH STRING

11. ALAS LOG USERS

12. STUN APE

CROSSWORD 25

Alan's Blogalogue

ALAN'S PUZZLES - crosswords, anagrams & random quizzes

No comments:

Blog Archive