Lovatts Crossword Puzzles Games & Trivia

MEGA Winners (Issue 73)

Prize Manager — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:01:55 +0000

MIGHTY MEGA
$500
Coles Py, Albany, WA.

10 x $50
Fay Booth, Currajong, Qld; F Carrick, Somerville, Vic; R Duhoslav, Elizabeth Grove, SA; Jean Ebbott, Lambton, NSW; John Hawkins, Parkwood, WA; Muriel Hewitt, Merrylands, NSW; Tess Hird, Glen Eden, Auckland, NZ; P John, Morley, WA; Jean Offer, Ridgewood, WA; Gaye Spencer, Weston, ACT.

MEGA MIX
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster
Joy Wi, Greerton, Tauranga, NZ.

3 Clip-&-Go iPod Shuffles
Di Barritt, Woolston, Christchurch, NZ; Thelma Field, Mount Pleasant, Qld; Michelle Slee, Glen Innes, NSW.

MEGA STINKER
Delonghi Essenza Coffee Machine, plus milk frother
John Orrock, Smeaton, Vic.

5 Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionaries
R N Brooks, Darlinghurst, NSW; James Moseley, Mill Park, Vic; Bill Nisbett, Ellenbrook, WA; Harley Wilton, Frenchville, Qld; G Wouters, Bargo, NSW.

SUPER SUDOKU Winners (Issue 80)

Prize Manager — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:43:28 +0000

NOVICE - CONTEST 1
3 x $50
Marcia Carroll, Carseldine, Qld; R F Kennett, Murray Bridge, SA; Kelly Maat, Allenstown, Qld.

THE X FACTOR – CONTEST 2
3 x $50
Tracey Evans, Thornton, NSW; Maureen Monks, Orana, WA; Lyn Polsen, Yass, NSW.

SUPER - CONTEST 3
3 x $50
Clive Healey, Victor Harbor, SA; P A Long, Waverley, NSW; Helen Wilkinson, Onerahi, Whangarei, NZ.

ADDOKU – CONTEST 4
3 x $50
M Kennedy, Orange, NSW; Colleen Phillips, Duntroon, Oamaru, NZ; Kathryn Tobin, St Albans, Vic.

E-nigma Crossword 47 Winners - January ‘12

Webmaster — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:25:53 +0000

Congratulations to these puzzlers, winners of the January 2012 E-nigma online crossword competition:

First Prize: $100 Prize Cheque
Jeff Robinson

Runner-up prizes: $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers
Sandy Pomeroy, Jennifer Stockton

Our prize manager will be in touch!

Hello - BIG February 2012

Webmaster — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:58:42 +0000

Good news this month for anyone whose birthday falls on 29th February – this is a leap year so you can celebrate your birthday on the correct day instead of 28th February or 1st March. Or maybe you don’t mind not having a birthday, because you claim to be only a quarter of your age!

Adding an extra day to the calendar every four years compensates for the fact that a period of 365 days is shorter than a solar year by almost 6 hours. A person born on February 29th may be called a leapling or a leaper.Famous people born on 29th February include radio DJ Jonathan Coleman, singer Dinah Shore and actor Joss Ackland.

In Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic is finally released from his pirate apprenticeship when he turns 21,only to discover that because he was born on 29th February, and his contract states that he be released on his 21st birthday, he must serve for another 63 years. Luckily his girlfriend Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully.

However, any woman unwilling to wait for her man to propose may take advantage of the tradition which gives women the right to propose on 29th February. As the story goes, the tradition of women romantically pursuing men in leap years began in 5th century Ireland, when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about the fair sex having to wait for men to propose.

In English law, the leap year day had no recognition (the day was ‘leapt over’ and ignored, hence the term ‘leap year’). It was considered, therefore, that as the day had no legal status, it was reasonable to assume that traditions also had no status.

Consequently, women who were worried about being left on the shelf took advantage of this anomaly and proposed to the man they wished to marry.

It was also thought that since the leap year day corrected the calendar discrepancy, it was an opportunity for women to correct a tradition that was one-sided and unjust. So get down on your knees, ladies and pop the question!

Happy Puzzling!

CHRISTINE’S HELLO
appears every month in Christine’s BIG Crossword magazine. » More info here

MEGA! 71 - Judge Sums Up

The Judge — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:52:25 +0000

Sibyl’s prophecy
for a Stinker
A simple spelling mistake caught out some Stinker-lovers at 1dn. ‘Prophetess’ needed SIBYL not SYBIL. Sibyl’s were depicted as old women who lived in caves making prophecies. The most famous was the one who assisted Aeneas in his journey to the underworld.
Another often misspelt name caught out others of you at 103ac. ‘Othello plotter’ needed IAGO not LAGO.
Interestingly a sibyl appears in Shakespeare’s play. Othello gives Desdemona a handkerchief which he says was woven by a 200-year-old sibyl. The handkerchief is a symbol of loyalty, but Iago uses it to convince Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity.
The conniving Iago could perhaps be described as a roué, but not as a roux! ROUX not ROUÉ was the answer to 49dn ‘White sauce base’. Roux comes, like many cooking terms, from French and is related to the word russet, coming from the Latin russus, meaning ‘brownish’.
Our clue at 42dn was ‘Box-shaped solid’, but what is a box-shape? Our compiler was thinking of a regular cube-shaped box, but surely a box can have other than six sides. This was something we had to consider when faced with the answer DECAHEDRON instead of the expected HEXAHEDRON. Should we allow it? So back to maths class we went.
Hedron is a suffix meaning a solid with a specific number of faces. A polyhedron is a solid bounded by polygons, that is, closed planes of at least three sides (e.g. triangles, squares, rectangles). So far so good. A hexahedron has six faces, i.e. is a cube when those faces are squares. But a tetrahedron is 3-sided, a pentahedron is 5-sided and a heptahedron is 7-sided. Are they not still boxes? None of these fitted the space in our grid but DECAHEDRON did, and as it can be argued that you can have a 10-sided box, after due deliberation we accepted it as an alternative answer to our clue.
Imminent, coming from the Latin for ‘project over’ means ‘impending’. Immanent, coming from the Latin for ‘remain in’ means ‘existing within’. Our clue at 139dn ‘Inherent’ needed IMMANENT not IMMINENT. One little letter, but a whole world of difference!
The answer to 167dn, while perhaps not immediately obvious, was a ‘light bulb’ moment once realised. ‘Southerly’ was AUSTRAL. DUSTPAN and QUETZAL fitted the space but can only be described as wild guesses.
The Greeks used the word australis to mean the southern part of the world and terra australis incognita was the ‘unknown southern land’ that became Australia.
Austral is used for things relating to, or from the south, so an austral breeze or austral summer. It is used quite a lot by southern hemisphere businesses; Austral Gold, Austral Bricks, Air Austral are examples.
Now I feel in need of some refreshment, how about you? Look no further than 177dn where you’ll find ‘Drink, mint …’. A mint JULEP (not JULIP) originated in Kentucky as a mix of bourbon, ice, sugar syrup and mint. According to Oxford the word julep comes from the Persian gulab or ‘rose water’. A similar drink is a mojito, which has the addition of lime.
In the Mega Mix ‘Ireland’s new PM since March 2011’ (70ac) proved hard to find for some. One reader even told us she rang the Irish Consulate and was told Brian Cowen, who was in fact the previous leader. ENDA KENNY leads the Finn Gael party and heads a coalition government formed on March 9, 2011.
It is no surprise that Iran and Iraq are often mistaken, as they are neighbours and differ in English by just one letter. The ‘Gulf War nation’ was IRAQ at 55dn in the Mighty Mega, not IRAN. The United States invaded Iraq in 1991 following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. This is sometimes called the First Gulf War because of the coalition invasion in 2003, usually known as the Iraq War. Just to confuse things further, both are sometimes referred to as Desert Storm. And if that wasn’t enough confusion, there was also a conflict in the 1980s between the two nations known as the Iran-Iraq War.
Not much else to mention from the Mighty Mega I’m pleased to say. Just a couple of AVIARIES instead of APIARIES for 72ac ‘Bee farms’ and one or two ABASE instead of ABATE for 12dn ‘Diminish’.
I would like to wish you all the best for the festive season and I look forward to joining you in 2012 to make it the best puzzling year yet.

Holiday Collection 77 - Judge Sums Up

The Judge — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:50:58 +0000

Magnificent Monster
The Double Monster is one of your favourite contests, combining the fun of cracking the code in the Monster Starhunt, with the challenge of unravelling the clues in the Monster Colossus.
With so many clues to solve it is no surprise when a few errors appear.
At 33dn the clue ‘False doctrines’ needed HERESIES and not HERETICS, who are the people espousing the doctrines.
‘Concert venue, … Square Garden’ (83ac) needed MADISON and not MADISAN, which also made 118dn incorrect. ‘Became threadbare, … out’ was WORE no WARE.
Clue 121dn ‘Quaff’ needed GULP as the answer. Quaff is defined as ‘to drink heartily or in one draught’ so I’m sure you will agree that QUIP, ‘a sarcastic or cutting remark’, didn’t fit at all.
At 310dn ‘Hangers-on’ was RETINUE and not RESIDUE and 243dn ‘Claim’ was ASSERTION not ASCERTAIN.
Over in the Stinker at 72ac the ‘Short-stemmed clay pipe’ was a DUDEEN; a word to note if you couldn’t find it. Dudeen comes from a Gaelic word for pipe. ‘Torn asunder’ (74ac) was RIVEN. Quite a few incorrect answers were spotted here including RILED, RISEN and RIPER.
The word NEVE has been known to crop up in our puzzles, usually with a clue like ‘Glacial snow’. A NENE, on the other hand, is a ‘Hawaiian goose’ and was the answer to 283dn. As you can see the two are not interchangeable!
While once common on the islands, the nene is now the world’s rarest goose and is sadly threatened. Conservation and breeding programs have been successful in saving the goose from the brink of extinction.
The Greek island of Santorini is also known as THIRA or THERA, but not PHIRA, as a few of you had for clue 77ac. Interestingly, this tourist haven is the remains of a volcano that erupted 3600 years ago. The island is very steep and its whitewashed towns perched high on its rocky slopes make for picture postcard views.
Giant Cryptic clue 1dn ‘Honey, jacket will make things appear more attractive (5-4)’ needed SUGAR-COAT but a few instances of SUGAR-WRAP appeared. You can sugar-coat unpleasant news to lessen the negative impact. Politicians are good at sugar-coating policies they think will be unpopular.
A couple of entries had ADOLECENCE instead of ADOLECENTS for 49dn ‘Al does distribute money to youths’ (the CENTS are the money referred to). If so, you also had 72ac incorrect. ‘The kind of stockings anglers use?’ was FISHNET, of course!
In the Collection Contest at 307dn quite a few of you had a different answer to ours, with a completely different meaning. For ‘Downfall’ we wanted RUIN but many entries had RAIN. We checked our dictionaries and agreed that you were correct, so we accepted either answer.
However, at 111ac ‘Adversaries’ needed FOES. We couldn’t make FEES work.
‘Outshining’ at 125ac was ECLIPSING not ECLIPTING and ‘Cattle parasite’ (singular) at 209dn was TICK not TICS, which are muscle twitches.
We’ve put together another collection for your enjoyment. There’s hours of fun and plenty of brain-boosting exercise,
so dive in! Wishing you all a very happy 2012!

BIG Crossword November - Judge Sums Up

The Judge — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:49:34 +0000

Keeping the
judges honest
Judging the competition entries always results in much discussion around words and meanings. Sometimes things get a little heated, but we always come to a decision and are as kind as we can be, while still being fair to all entrants. This month’s entries provided much brain-stretching for our team.
At 1dn in the Goliathon ‘Originated’ was BEGAN but a few entries had BEGUN. Testing out our lexicological abilities, we realised that in an example such as ‘Language may have originated in Africa/ Language originated in Africa’ BEGUN and BEGAN replace the single word ‘originated’ – so both answers were okay.
The clue at 10dn ‘Widely’ wanted BROADLY. However quite a few entries had GREATLY. As greatly can mean extensively and widely can mean largely, we had to admit that, while in general use the two words are different, there is enough overlap that it was also acceptable for this clue.
Another dilemma arose at 3dn ‘Hanker after’. We wanted CRAVE and most of you had this but CHASE appeared a few times. Looking up ‘hanker’ it definitely means ‘have a yearning for’ and so we only accepted CRAVE.
ELLIPTICAL means ‘Egg-shaped’ (123dn). Eclipsis is a rare word for ellipsis, but this is unrelated to the shape. It refers to an omission in a sentence or the three dots that indicate this (…). We often use ellipses in our clues. The entries that had ECLIPTICAL for 123dn were unfortunately incorrect.
The Bigcash was not without its pitfalls. ‘Ponder’ at 9ac suggested CONCENTRATE to some of you. This seemed okay until you came to 12dn ‘Slowly removed, … out’ which was PHASED. To make all fit you had to come up with CONTEMPLATE for 9ac.
UTILISE and UTILIZE were both fine for ‘Put to work’ (77ac) but you needed NEWSMEN, not NEWSMAN, for 32dn ‘Journalists’. ‘Maintains positively’ at 56ac was ASSERTS not ASSENTS, which means ‘agrees’.
At 8dn in The Demon was the clue to a ‘Textured upholstery cloth’ that many of you had not heard of. The answer was DIMITY, a word that comes from Medieval Latin, originally from the Greek di- ‘two’
and mitos ‘thread’, i.e. double-threaded. The cloth has fine raised cords or ribs running as stripes, squares or diamond patterns on the warp. It was originally silk or wool but is now made of cotton. This pretty fabric and dainty word have inspired some to call their baby girls, Dimity. Perhaps there is a Dimity amongst our puzzlers.
At 69ac ‘Knave’ needed the answer VARLET. A couple of entries had HARLOT, which we immediately thought incorrect. However we always check alternative answers in a few sources and to our surprise under ‘harlot’ in Oxford, the original meaning is listed as a ‘promiscuous woman or man’. It comes from the French for knave or vagabond, so we had to concede that this answer was, while borderline, now acceptable.
The ‘Gated canal sections’ at 28dn were LOCKS not LOCHS and ‘Fertilised ova’ at 77ac was ZYGOTES not ZYGOTIS.
The ‘Medieval outer petticoat’ at 119dn was a KIRTLE. A few of you had found this as KYRTLE, so we accepted that also. For men the kirtle was a knee-length tunic but for women it was a full-length garment. As a petticoat it was worn by upper class women over a chemise, with a formal gown over the top. For the less well-off, a kirtle would have been worn as a dress.
Where else would you come across so many wonderful words?

Colossus 135 - Judge Sums Up

The Judge — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:48:20 +0000

Teeing up
the clues
In the Cashwords, for ‘Arranged, … up’ at 170dn, we accepted both TEED and TIED. Tee comes from the sporting world. A tee is a stand for a ball, perhaps the best known being the golfer’s tee. A golfer tees up and tees off.
Arranged can also be to tie up, especially loose ends! Tie up loose ends is thought to come from the world of sailing, but what about ‘to be at a loose end’, meaning having little to do? I found this relates to the fact that a captain would order his crew to repair the loose ends of ropes only when there was nothing more pressing to be done. Now let’s press on.
A couple of grammatical errors to mention; at 207ac for ‘Re-evoked (memories)’ you needed AWAKENS not AWAKING and for 147dn ‘Gained victory’ you needed WON not WIN.
We expected SOAR for ‘Skyrocket’ at 178dn but some entries had STAR, perhaps more poetic, but sadly, incorrect.
‘Harassing’ at 215dn was HOUNDING, giving you HEMISPHERE for ‘Half-ball’ at 215ac. SEMISPHERE and SOUNDING were not suitable alternatives.
Over in the Baffler the ‘Ancient Greek region in Anatolia’ was
IONIA not IONIC, which is an architectural style.
The ‘Anti-communist’ was Joseph MCCARTHY not MACARTHY. McCarthy was famous for his spurious claims that there were many Soviet spies within the US federal government and armed forces.
A few entries had GREY for ‘Anatomy author’ but the textbook was written by Henry GRAY.
Just to confuse things, the
American medical drama is called Grey’s Anatomy.
If you had GREY then ‘Neoclassical style’ ended up as the cheesy EDAM, instead of the correct ADAM. This style was named after Robert Adam, a Scottish architect and designer.
In the Giant Cryptic 61dn ‘Announce hotel has slice I made’ was PUBLICISE; PUB coming from ‘hotel’ and LICISE being a mix of the letters from ‘slice I’. A couple of entries had PARTITION.
The Brenner Pass has been used as a route between Northern and Southern Europe since before Roman times. Once a mule track, it is now a major motorway providing a way through the Alps.
In the Stinker, clue 16dn ‘Austria/Italy’s … Pass’ needed BRENNER and not BREMNER as some
of you put.
A plutocracy is government by the wealthy, not by that Disney dog! So the ‘Members of the wealthy elite’ at 20ac were PLUTOCRATS not PLUROCRATS.
A GILLIE is a ‘Scottish hunting guide’ (7dn). This is also spelt ghillie or gilly, but these didn’t fit. We couldn’t find the variant GILLEE.
Clue 146ac proved a bit tricky. ‘Caving hobbyist’ was SPELUNKER not SPELUCKER. Is not spelunker a wonderful word? It comes from the Latin spelunx ‘cave’.
Coming off the P was ‘The golden ratio’ (147dn) or PHI (PYI and PSI were incorrect). Phi comes from the first letter of the name of Greek sculptor and architect Phidias, whose buildings seemed to reflect the golden ratio, which is an aesthetic ideal relating to the ratio of the base to the height of a rectangle.
‘Cosa Nostra mobster’ at 192ac needed MAFIOSO, not MAFIOSA, to fit with LOW for ‘Trough’ at 184dn. One clue over at 185dn, ‘Israeli-designed sub-machine gun’ was UZI. According to Collins this weapon was named after Uziel Gal, the officer who designed it.
Ossuary is a word that appears in our Stinker from time to time. It is a vault to contain bones. In this Stinker at 265dn was the related word OSSEOUS (not OSSUOUS) in answer to ‘Bony’. The base word is the Latin oss ‘bone’. Perhaps we should rename our Skeleton puzzle The Ossa!
Hopefully there are no bones of contention there. Make no bones about it, I’ll be back in the New Year! Wishing you a fantastic fun-filled festive season.

Colossus Competition Solutions (Issue 137)

Webmaster — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:02:28 +0000

Select a puzzle to view solution

VARIETY PRIZE PUZZLES (Issue 56)

Prize Manager — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:14:19 +0000

CROSSWORD
Solution: Writer
20 Dianne Blacklock novels, Three’s a Crowd
Manu Barber, Kirwan, Qld; Zoe Brooks, Ravenshoe, Qld; Chris Broughton, Koongamia, WA; Catherine Byron, Black Hill, NSW; Earlene Collyer, Bowen, Qld; Tanya Cupper, Potts Point, NSW; Audrey Gilbertson, Narrabeen, NSW; Hannah Hawkins Elder, Gisborne, NZ; Bridget Ingham, Lower Hutt, NZ; Jannel Johnston, Cromer, NSW; Annabelle Knight, Arana Hills, Qld; Maryanne McQuillan, Ulladulla, NSW; Marion Morrow, Yarra Junction, Vic; Sharon Penman, Ballajura, WA; Ronnie Smith, Bunbury, WA; Marlene Stuart, Centenary Heights, Qld; Liz Thompson, Gisborne, NZ; Doreen Wennholm, Duncraig, WA; J Williams, Samson, WA; Bev Woods, Home Hill, Qld.

CLUEDUNNIT
Solution: Jim Carrey
2 Philips 7” Portable DVD Players
Diane Knox, Loftus, NSW; Tracy Velenski, Tapawera, NZ.

CROSS OUT
Solution: Listener
20 Karlsson DCi Ear Buds
Sasha Abram, Cheltenham, Vic; A M Barwell, Woody Point, Qld; Janene Brew, Robina, Qld; Richard Cresswell, Blenheim, NZ; Pat Edwards, Morphettville, SA; Leanne Healy, Banyo, Qld; A Hinz, Rockyview, Qld; Jayne Jacos, Hampton Park, Vic; B Johnson, Dapto, NSW; J W Kay, Orelia, WA; Martina Lammers, Bega, NSW; O Macdougall, Killarney Vale, NSW; Diana McCarty, Emu Plains, NSW; Kathleen Miller, Toogoom, Qld; Karli Myers, Tongala, Vic; E Quinn, Gowrie, ACT; Ann Richmond, Inala, Qld; R Sulfaro, Summer Hill, NSW; Marilyn Tonkin, Para Hills, SA; Lea Traeger, Port Lincoln, SA;

STARHUNT
Solution: Salma Hayek
10 Hopscotch DVDs, Camelot
John Bradley, Pomona, NSW; P Chester, Taupo, NZ; Susan Epps, Bedford, WA; Sandra Ibbertson, Kyogle, NSW; Linda James, Adamstown, NSW; Jane O’Sullivan, Randwick, NSW; John Shaw, Katikati, NZ; Doreen Suggate, Narwee, NSW; Michelle Wilson, Revesby, NSW; Roma Young, Pakenham, Vic.

TRACKER
Solution: Reunion
Wii Fit Bundle
Glen Klein, Upper Coomera, Qld.

Trivia Words
Solution: Imagine
5 iPod Shuffles
Sally Bonassi, Home Hill, Qld; Timothy Connor, Lower Hutt, NZ ; J Donoghue, Miriam Vale, Qld; Fiona Emmerson, Horsham, Vic; Judith Williams, Caboolture, Qld.

FINDAWORD
Solution: Games and Toys
Miss Dior Cherie Eau De Parfum
Lisa Pompey, Elderslie, Upper Hutt, NZ.

ARROWORDS
Solution: Stylist
GHD Straightener IV Salon Styler, plus shining serum
Gabriella Tanner, Saratoga, NSW.

MAGIC SQUARES
Solution: Letters
25 Scruble Cubes
R Ambachtsheer, Cowra, NSW; M Anderson, Maryborouth, Qld; J Ansell, Greenacre, NSW; Cicely Brown, Pinehill, Dunedin, NZ; Robyn Brown, Nicholls, ACT; Maree Bujdegan, Port Kennedy, WA; Dorothy Chilvers, Warnbro, WA; Jenine de Plater, Raymond Terrace, NSW; Julie Ann Gamble, Revesby, NSW; Sonia Gianoli, Munster, WA; Ann-Marie Gil, Greenwith, SA; Peter Goodrich, Bargara, Qld; Elliott Kirton, Avalon, Lower Hutt, NZ; Ruth Laughlin, Narre Warren, Vic; Maree Mantle, Helensvale, Qld; Lesley McInnes, Woodroffe, NT; Patrick Meehan, Peregian Beach, Qld; Julie Moor, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North, NZ; Brenda Purdie, Ottoway, SA; Lesley Stockley, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland, NZ; Patricia Thompson, Gracemere, Qld; Peta Thorp, Penguin, Tas; Jeanette Walker, Campbell, ACT; L A Wilson, Dalby, Qld; G Wouters, Bargo, NsW.

MUMBO-JUMBO
Solution: Identical
Samsung Digital Camera
Betty Day, Hackham West, SA.

SUDOKU SHAPESHIFTER
Solution: 298613745
Russell Hobbs Sandwich Press
A Lane, Bunbury, WA.

Arms akimbo

The Judge — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:06:11 +0000

Meaning; a stance with hands on hips and elbows turned out, usually showing impatience of defiance.
Akimbo is an old word that is only heard in this phrase, or very occasionally and more recently, as ‘legs akimbo’. A similar English example is ‘aback’ in ‘taken aback’.
In Middle English it appeared as kenebowe and is thought to come from Old Norse.
Suggested origins are the Icelandic keng-boginn, ‘bent in a horseshoe curve’; the Medieval Latin cambuca, ‘ in a crooked bow’; or the Old French kane, ‘pot’ plus the Middle English boue ‘bow’.

Argy-bargy

The Judge — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:45:23 +0000

Meaning ‘noisy quarrelling’.
This appears to come from an earlier form ‘argle-bargle’, which originated in Scotland. The first part of the doublet is a modification of the word ‘argue’ and the second part is rhyming nonsense, similar to tittle-tattle, hoity-toity, mumbo-jumbo etc. Oxford lists the plural as ‘argy-bargles’.

COLOSSUS Winners (Issue 137)

Prize Manager — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:10:44 +0000

CASHWORDS
$500
Joyce Jordan, Scarness, Qld.

10 x $50
Brian Caterson, Medowie, NSW; Kae Golding, Bryndwr, Christchurch, NZ; Beverly Head, Wamberal, NSW; Heather Hunter, Melton South, Vic; Margaret Kotre, Cranbourne North, Vic; Penny Lyons, Kingsley, WA; Barb Maher, Seaford, Vic; Mary Nye, Railway Estate, Qld; Kim Rogers, Bradbuy, NSW; Charles Smith, Brisbane, Qld.

BAFFLER
Retro Digital Radio
Jean Thomson, Batemans Bay, NSW.

GIANT CRYPTIC
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster Set
Graham Cooper, Leeton, NSW.

5 Kitchen Prize Packs
Pauline Coulshed, Nyora, Vic; Lyn Halliday, Hope Valley, SA; Tony Harris, West Lakes Shore, SA; Fay Jackson, St James, WA; D F Nuttall, Charnwood, ACT.

STINKER
2 Philips Micro Hi-Fi Systems
Brian Caterson, Medowie, NSW; Joey Wintringham, Gisborne, NZ.

3 electronic Crossword Solvers
Marilyn Syme, Mildura Vic; Ron Casey, Taree, NSW; Ann Moloney, Ballarat, Vic.

THE KNOWLEDGE
Solution: Riche McCaw
2 compact lucid view Binoculars
N & B Barker, Meadow Springs WA; Jean Walsh, Wynyard, Tas.

5 Bookworm Prize Packs
Marguerite Bradley, North Ringwood, Vic; Miriam Key, Eltham, NZ; E McDougall, Buddina, Qld; D Merton, Mt Waverley, Vic; Ron Tippett, Battery Hill, Qld.

HANDY SUDOKU Winners (Issue 77)

Prize Manager — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:40:23 +0000

SU-DOABLE – CONTEST 1
2 x $50
C Hammond, Browns Plains, Qld; Shirley Moodie, Te Anau, NZ.

ADDOKU – CONTEST 2
2 x $50
G Ford, Wentworth, NSW; S Gardner, Oxenford, Qld.

THE X FACTOR – CONTEST 3
2 x $50
Leisa Evans, Long Jetty, NSW; Shelli Raines, Richmond, NSW.

SU-PREME – CONTEST 4
2 x $50
Judy Grigor, Cheviot, NZ; Wee Meng Khaw, East Perth, WA.

BINARY – CONTEST 5
2 x $50
S Everest, Duncraig, WA; Heather Hunter, Melton South, Vic.

BIG Winners (Issue 226)

Prize Manager — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:51:13 +0000

BIG CASH
$500 Prize Cheque
E Williams, Telopea, NSW.

10 x $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers
Sheila Gavet, Tokoroa, NZ; L Hitchcock, Bassendean, WA; M Jockwer, Manurewa, NZ; Laura Jones, Frankston, Vic; N King, Bassendean, WA; Ann O’Neil, Ainslie, ACT; A Perry, Engadine, NSW; Frances Schmeider, Bargara, Qld; Wendy Whinfield, Merriwa, WA; Anne Wilhelm, Salisbury Downs, SA.

DEMON
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster
S Gardner, Miranda, NSW.

2 Collins World Atlases
Sharon Apted, Eumemmerring, Vic; M Rendell, Dee Why, NSW.

GOLIATHON
Retro Digital Radio
Kathleen Forsey, Crofton Downs, Wellington, NZ.

4 Rainy Day Prize Packs
Jill Gallagher, Pymble, NSW; A E McCracken, Riverton, Southland, NZ; Kay McManus, Oakura, NZ; R Taylor, Goolwa Beach, SA.

CONTEST COUPON
BIG EASY
Solution: Christmas Tree
2 wooden 4-compartment Twinings Tea Chests
Jan Jones, Hamilton, NZ; Jack Powell, Greenacre, NSW.

NINESIES
Solution: Reindeer
4 Puzzler Prize Packs
Sharron Doyle, Pacific Paradise, Qld; M Henderson, Sunnybank Hills, Qld; Briar Phillips, Snells Beach, NZ; R Roesler, Karoonda, SA.

WHEEL WORDS
Solution: Countdown
4 Pamper Prize Packs
P Barker, Portland, Vic; Rosa Casari, Lithgow, NSW; L F Colmer, Matamata, NZ; Cate Ewin, Niagara Park, NSW.

ELEVENSES
Solution: Presents
4 I Love Coffee Prize Packs
Edna Bowden, Mentone, Vic; Tom Greer, St Arnaud, Vic; Diana McDonald, Rainbow Flat, NSW; Clare Renneberg, Ryde, NSW.

COMPILER’S CHOICE
Solution: Decorations
10 Katie Noonan Blackbird CDs
Shirley Beamish, Wilson, WA; Marie Hamilton, Bluff, NZ; Richard Hayes, Petersham, NSW; Peter Johnson, Mt Maunganui, NZ; Heather McIntosh, Wallaroo, SA; Jill Michael, Liverpool, NSW; Heather Newell, Ningi, Qld; Kaye O’Leary, Medowie, NSW; Irene Robb, Ormiston, Qld; B Stewart, Sebastopol, Vic.

TWO-WAY TEASER
Solution: Carol Singers
4 Hollywood Singing & Dancing 5-Disc DVD Sets
Kay Chojenta, Cooks Hill, NSW; Margaret Day, Silverdale, NSW; Matilda Hakopa, Wairoa, NZ; Ralph Holmes, Wanganui, NZ.

ACROSTIC
Solution: Adoration of the Magi
4 Lovatts Logo Carafe & Glass Sets
Vonny Dumaresq, Gulliver, Qld; Ann Hansley, Napier, NZ; Patricia Rudorfer, Pialba, Qld; M Telley, Howlong, NSW.

DO YOUR BLOCK
Solution: Shepherds
4 Lucky You Prize Packs
Tracey Anderson, Carramar, NSW; E Fisher, Coffs Harbour, NSW; Janet Gibson, East Gosford, NSW; Mary Kotzur, Gunnedah, NSW.

FILL-IN
Solution: Angels
4 Tea Party Prize Packs
L Collison, Dean Park, NSW; J Derry, Beverly Hills, NSW; R Nicol, Ohope, NZ; Frances Schmeider, Bargara, Qld.

WIZ WORDS
Solution: Partridge
10 Macquarie Little Dictionary & Thesaurus Sets
Maxine Brazel, Ballina, NSW; Jayne Campbell, Auckland, NZ; Diane Finnigan, Hornsby Heights, NSW; Cassie Green, Beeliar, WA; S Lawrence, Lower Hutt, NZ; Mina McCabe, Nollamara, WA; Patricia O’Gorman, Keperra, Qld; Maxine Osborne, Yagoona, NSW; D Ryan, Sumner, NZ; Anne Stewart, Paradise, SA.

STARHUNT 5
Solution: Paul Giametti
4 Bookworm Prize Packs
Ruth Dougall, Menai, NSW; Diana Lyons, St Kilda, Vic; Doreen Meesen, Nerang, Qld; Beryl Young, Dingley Village, Vic.

STARHUNT 6
Solution: Rob Lowe
4 Gardener’s Prize Packs
U Graham-Smith, Kariong, NSW; Pauline Harradine, Novar Gardens, SA; Esther Morgan, Moonan Flat, NSW; Jacquie Wells, Auckland, NZ.

STARHUNT 7
Solution: Sean Connery
10 Lovatts 2012 Annual Planners
Maureen Amos, Hamilton, NZ; Barbara Beaty, Stirling, ACT; Elaine Flint, Bellmere, Qld; A Fraser, Kotara, NSW; Julie Hanns, Forbes, NSW; Joan Loxton, Ouyen, Vic; A Petermann, Yeppoon, Qld; Heather Smith, Mill Park, Vic; Daphne Walsh, Redcliffe, Qld; George Watt, Milford, Auckland, NZ.

STARHUNT 8
Solution: Tara Reid
4 Out & About Prize Packs
S Bakker, Swan View, WA; Sherryl Bottrill, Jannali, NSW; Jocelyn Flicker, Castlereagh, NSW; Helen & Lance Pearce, Ashmore Plaza, Qld.

BIG TOUGHER
Solution: Firework Display
2 Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionaries
Aileen Stead, Lower Hutt, NZ; A M Waters, Richmond, Nelson, NZ.

FINDAWORD
Solution: Winning Prizes
5 Staedtler Puzzler Prize Packs
J Bunting, Halswell, Christchurch, NZ; Barry Campbell, Blackmans Bay, Tas; Cheryl Kirby, Chester Hill, NSW; Julieann Lee, Heidelberg Heights, Vic; Tammy Smith, Croydon Park, NSW.

MUMBO JUMBO
Solution: Santa Claus
5 Scruble Cubes (3D word game)
Beryl Angwin, Lithgow, NSW; Robyn Battis, Chambers Flat, Qld; P Curtis, Randwick, NSW; Helen Gustafson, Fig Tree Pocket, Qld; Patricia Rose, Thora, NSW.

BIG Crossword February - gremlin

The Judge — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:22:22 +0000

The Demon p30

Clue 59dn ‘Compel heavy-handedly (5-3)’ should read (6-3).

Thanks to Beverley Gow, of Chester Hill, NSW, who alerted us to this typo.

Handy Crosswords 71 - gremlin

The Judge — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:56:59 +0000

pg 21 Around the World 1

Clues 12 & 15 are reversed.

They should read; ‘12. Tahiti’s capital’ & ‘15. Map pressure lines’.

Apologies and thanks to Penny Turner, of Wagga Wagga, NSW, for alerting us to this annoying gremlin.

STARHUNTS Winners (Issue 64)

Prize Manager — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:44:11 +0000

ACROSTIC
Solution: The Ballpoint Pen
5 x $50
Rex Allan, Palmerston North, NZ; Craig Copper, Coorparoo, Qld; Arline Frost, Onehunga, Auckland, NZ; Arthur Moynihan, Caloundra, Qld; Peter Nygaard, Sheidow Park, SA.

SUPER STARHUNT
Solution: Ricky Gervais
2 Electronic Crossword Solvers
Adam Pemberton, Richmond, NSW; Dawn Torrens, Albany Creek, Qld.

5 x Bookworm Prize Packs
Bev Chaillon, Belgian Gardens, Qld; Mariana Jaraie, Reservoir, Vic; R Price, Kingston-On-Murray, SA; Joan Shearson, Hoppers Crossing, Vic; Laurelle Wood, Riverwood, NSW.

MONSTER STARHUNT
Knowledge Prize Pack
Peter Buttola, Wauchope, NSW.

4 8GB iPod Touches
Barbara Dyson, Goolwa, SA; Ann Flynn, Eastlakes, NSW; Gaye Hilder, Strathalbyn, SA; Veronica Snellman, Arncliffe, NSW.

SHOWTIME
Solution: Kate Winslet
Clip-&-Go iPod Shuffle
Kerry Trease, Deanmill, WA.

4 Jane Austen Classic Collection 9 DVD Box Sets
Margaret Denholm, Bli Bli, Qld; T Robertson, Rockhampton, Qld; Lauren Sach, Armadale, Vic; Kimberley Searle, Aubin Grove, WA.

CLUEWORDS Winners (Issue 94)

Prize Manager — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:41:29 +0000

Cluewords
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster
N Ruitenberg, Alexandria, NSW.

10 x $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers
A Cannon, Slacks Creek, Qld; G Crosby, Browns Plains, Qld; Valmai Fullford, Wingello, NSW; Alex Hill, Brunswick, Vic; Lyn Hindle, Bairnsdale, Vic; Terry Howard, Beauty Point, Tas; Fred Lunam, White Cliffs, NSW; Megan Sandison, Welcome Bay, Taurana, NZ; Jacqui Smart, Papakura, NZ; Christine Warnes, Helensburgh, NSW.

MONSTER MAXI
Knowledge Prize Pack
Peter Buttola, Wauchope, NSW.

4 8GB iPod Touches
Barbara Dyson, Goolwa, SA; Ann Flynn, Eastlakes, NSW; Gaye Hilder, Strathalbyn, SA; Veronica Snellman, Arncliffe, NSW.

BAFFLER
iPod Nano 8GB with multi-touch
Joy Brooke, Waratah, Tas.

5 Electronic Crossword Solvers
Robert Cuthill, Blaxland, NSW; Mariana Jaraie, Reservoir, Vic; Rosemary Phillips, Springwood, NSW; Jan Shier, Whittington, Vic; Ludovica van Ostaden, Howick, NZ.

FINDAWORD Winners (Issue 81)

Prize Manager — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:38:51 +0000

FINDAWORD
Solution: Dragonball Z and Sailor Moon
1 x $100
Mariah Mould, Geraldine, NZ.

3 x $50 Lovatts Gift Vouchers
K Davey, Baralaba, Qld; Stella Vonensberg, Noble Park, Vic;
Gloria Waller, Shailer Park, Qld.

MATCH-UPS
Solution: Shortland Street
5 x $50 Prize Cheques
Connie Allison, Kingston Beach, Tas; Maree Carter, Aranui, Christchurch, NZ; Ronan Hume, Woodend, Vic; Rita Maurer, Tikipunga, Whangarei, NZ; Debbie Sears, Whittington, Vic.

MONSTER FINDAWORD
Solution: Captivating and Delighting the Audience
Knowledge Prize Pack
Peter Buttola, Wauchope, NSW.

4 8GB iPod Touches
Barbara Dyson, Goolwa, SA; Ann Flynn, Eastlakes, NSW; Gaye Hilder, Strathalbyn, SA; Veronica Snellman, Arncliffe, NSW.

PHOTO-FIND
Solution: Crossword Magazine
Russell Hobbs Kettle & Toaster
Milada Cernik, Blackheath, NSW.

Lovatts Crossword Puzzles Games & Trivia

MEGA Winners (Issue 73)

SUPER SUDOKU Winners (Issue 80)

E-nigma Crossword 47 Winners - January ‘12

Hello - BIG February 2012

MEGA! 71 - Judge Sums Up

Holiday Collection 77 - Judge Sums Up

BIG Crossword November - Judge Sums Up

Colossus 135 - Judge Sums Up

Colossus Competition Solutions (Issue 137)

Select a puzzle to view solution

VARIETY PRIZE PUZZLES (Issue 56)

Arms akimbo

Argy-bargy

COLOSSUS Winners (Issue 137)

HANDY SUDOKU Winners (Issue 77)

BIG Winners (Issue 226)

BIG Crossword February - gremlin

Handy Crosswords 71 - gremlin

STARHUNTS Winners (Issue 64)

CLUEWORDS Winners (Issue 94)

FINDAWORD Winners (Issue 81)