Christmas Puzzle 2024
This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.
This, the 34th annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 5 February 2025.
Gordon has posted Puzzles to those on distribution list, so these should be received in the next few days. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray.
All the money you donate, except for the prize-money, will go to charity.
Any corrections will be posted to the blog and to the corrections page.
December 8, 2024 | Permalink | Comment
Reader Comments
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December 9, 2024
,Keith Anderson Simmonds says:Good morning Gordon, thanks for a lovely puzzle which I'm enjoying. I've got the title, but am having a problem sorting out the grid. I don't quite follow the preamble: "Reading top to bottom 6, 7, 7 words, or parts of words, relating to the theme are in alphabetical order. In one column follow the instruction." I'm pretty sure about N0. 1 in the grid for which I have: [text hidden]. Any clarification would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance!
December 9, 2024
,Heather says:Loving the puzzle, cracked the first 2 columns! Can I check 19b. Should it have 3 letters after ICC?
December 9, 2024
,Keith Anderson Simmonds says:Hi Gordon, I have a nine-letter word for 19B verifiable in Chambers. Do you expect an eight-letter variant for this one?
December 10, 2024
,Bill Brakes says:Thanks for the puzzle Gordon, the sign that Christmas is really upon us! For Keith (first comment) - 'I don't quite follow' ... that's the point! Keep thinking and keep solving the clues and the penny will eventually drop.
December 10, 2024
,Gordon Gray says:To Puzzlers who received the Puzzle by post:
We found an error in 2c after I had finished stuffing envelopes It should be clued as _ _ _ ANG _
In addition a small number of other typos were fixed for the Download (and emailed) version.
December 10, 2024
,Gordon Gray says:To Heather and Keith.
My apologies. in addressing your queries I was looking at the wrong file. You are right - 19b should be clued
_ _ _ ICC _ _ _. Please see Corrections page for more details.
December 15, 2024
,Helen Donkin says:I am just getting started! The postal version of 2A has 2dashes after the N whereas the internet has one. I think the internet version is correct.
December 17, 2024
,Gordon Gray says:Helen - I believe you are correct - well spotted
December 17, 2024
,Steve Baines says:Hi Gordon, another splendid puzzle, thank you. All fitting into place. 5C, should that be [text hidden], rather than [text hidden]? Or does it need another dash? Merry Xmas!