Daily Telegraph GK.

[Aquagility]

lector has raised an interesting question about the increasing difficulty of the Kate Mepham crossword, and whether it is now too tough.

Would it not be interesting to sample the views of regular ABers? I invite answers, A B or C, to these propositions, as they apply to you personally.

A. It has now become too difficult.

B. It is now about right.

C. It is still too easy.

[patsyann]

B. Just about right.

[Bunbury]

I'm also a new boy posting on the site (although have been using the site to find that elusive final answer for some time). Thank you to Aquagility for allowing us to respond: I agree with JimJools that if you have to resort to books or the internet to break the back of the crossword, then it is probably pitched at the worng level. It's meant to be a GK crossword - so A for me.

[Annie K]

I have to opt for A. I enjoyed breaking the back of it before research but now answers from memory are very much the minority.

[GabriellaG]

I go fo A. it takes all the pleasure of crosswording if you have to spend all day on the computer in order to just get started. Its bad enough not being able to do cryptic crosswords but the GK one is entering the same realm - and I've only recently started doing them.

[ChrisHewat]

Good shout Aqua G - SHAZZA and I were discussing this in the shrubbery only yesterday and we both believe it has gone to A (for both of us).

Our maxim, generally speaking, is if one can complete circa half the puzzle without need for Reference items then that is about right. Of late degree of difficulty has been well outside that parameter!!

Interested in the final analysis / outcome.

[Gill1941]

I go for A I'm afraid.
Do not like it easy but this last one has obscure answers. I have been doing this puzzle for many years and can usually do a lot with brain and books. Lately it has needed too much Google which takes all the fun out of it.

[Gasbaggertie]

We would say B verging on A. We have found it less enjoyable now we have to revert to the Internet for so much. It gets a bit depressing to realise we have got so far in life and learned so little that is deemed 'General knowledge'!! We too like to sit with a cup of coffee and the crossword as a form of relaxing enjoyment but can't take our encylcopaedias down to the coffee shop on the seafront!

[Muzz]

I would also say B, verging on A though.
With MM, I would read the clues and have a bash at some of the answers, but now I find I am going straight into Encarta, then the Internet, and, of course, the AB.
Yesterday's took me 1 and a half hours, but that was because I didn't start it till late afternoon, when lots of the questions had been posted on the AB. Then only had a few to actually look up myself. I don't think anyone could do this crossword WITHOUT the aid of the Internet, which is a shame. I enjoy doing the research for it, but others might not. Enjoy the rest of this lovely sunny weekend!

[dwil]

Getting to A BUT we all moaned when it was far too easy and it seems a bit curmudgeonly to now complain it's too hard. Leave the poor girl alone.

[fenland]

Not too difficult in the strict sense but requires looking up many more than I ever did before - a few more 'general' knowledge would give a better balance.
Fen tiger

[wolshouse]

We would go with A , as in the past we could complete a fair amount without undue reference to books and the Internet. Now,(like JimJools and others) we have to look up a lot more items,which is not as satisfying.
It is becoming increasingly obscure and specialist based. Stil trying to win, however !!

[jan1956]

B it is good to look things up , if you can just put the answers in without research it is too easy, most things can be googled nowadays. Although many people asking for the answers just cannot be bothered
I enjoy the challenge
jan

[jan1956]

ps if lector thinks it is too tough it is his/her perogative to buy or not to buy the paper.

[Argo]

Seems to be a bit random to me - between A and C.

But that probably because she has lots of things in my area sometimes and not others.

The grids by the previous comiler seemed more consistent though....

[bricro1]

b

[bricro1]

A few weeks ago readers were complaining that the xword was too easy!!

Maybe it now separates the men from the Noise!.

[granjen]

What used to be pleasure is now quite a chore. It surely cannot be GENERAL knowledge any more!
Definitely A for me.
I contacted the DTel after the first few and THOUGHT there had been a response. Next 2 FAR too easy and now back to far too difficult again. I know some people about to give up!

[chriss]

I would say that is a B though moving towards the A.
Quite a lot of obscure answers and need to do a lot of research for them - ok if you have a lot of time which I don't!!! Still, good to have a challenge

[Valkell]

Have to rely on the internet a bit too often now to find the puzzle as satisfying as it used to be.