Posted by neildubya on 24th March 2007
As if to prove that Sudoku really does appear everywhere these day, it’s even made its way into cryptic crosswords. If you don’t know what I’m on about, have a look at the 6 unchecked letters that go horizontally through the middle of the grid. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 3 Comments »
Posted by rightback on 23rd March 2007
Solving time: About 30 minutes, plus a later look to get the last three clues (asterisked); one mistake.
Posted in Guardian | No Comments »
Posted by Colin Blackburn on 23rd March 2007
This was very tough for me today. I could only find a few windows of opportunity to look at the puzzle so I never really got into it. Three answers have left me baffled over the word play or definition.
Posted in Independent | 10 Comments »
Posted by loonapick on 23rd March 2007
I have found some of this week’s Guardian crosswords very challenging, and, given that I also had a Times blog to do today, was anxious that today’s would also be difficult. No such fears – a very straightforward puzzle by Orlando, with easy clues, fairly common words, and few tricks, so this blog entry is not very long.
Posted in Guardian | 3 Comments »
Posted by petebiddlecombe on 23rd March 2007
Solving time: about 5 hours, but I cheated.
I found the end of this puzzle extremely difficult, not being able to spot the novel for ages. After finding answers to all but a couple of the clues, the unclued entries looked like this with obvious unches filled in:
Posted in Inquisitor | 3 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 22nd March 2007
Difficulty with 16 across, but got it in the end – always a bit weak on plants – one of the crossing clues took me a while to understand also, covered below.
Posted in Independent | No Comments »
Posted by ilancaron on 22nd March 2007
Not an easy puzzle for me. Started off well and cracked the theme pretty quickly – but held up for a long time by the NE corner (got the PIGEON/pidgin homophone inverted). I liked the various meanings of PLANE sprinkled around. The central cross reads CARRY-ON LUGGAGE and PAIR OF TRUNKS. If I was a fortune-teller, I would predict a long trip is in the cards for Brendan. Hopefully, not in a MICROLIGHT or in a caravan of camels.
Posted in Guardian | 3 Comments »
Posted by neildubya on 22nd March 2007
More wizardry from Merlin. A couple of “adult” clues and some up-to-the-minute pop culture references, along with some excellent clues. There were a few I wasn’t sure about though (1A, 16A, 10D), and one I don’t understand (17D). Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 17 Comments »
Posted by bensand on 21st March 2007
I think I must be getting more used to the Independent and to Dac because this was very quick to solve, especially since the long clues were very clearly signposted and went in first. No complaints though, I enjoyed it and weekday crosswords ought to range from those that are fairly easy for regular solvers to those that lead to chewed nails and dictionary searches. All the clues were fair and accurate but generally the first reading turned out to be the correct one. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 7 Comments »
Posted by Colin Blackburn on 21st March 2007
A relatively easy Araucaria today. There were few uncommon words, resolved by their word play, that I had to check just to make sure. As is the case with Araucaria there were one or two small liberties taken and some strange surface readings. Very enjoyable though. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Guardian | 1 Comment »
Posted by michod on 20th March 2007
Quite a hard one to get going with, though fell into place reasonably once I had the theme (with one exception, see below). But there are several whose wordplay I’m unable to explain.
Posted in Guardian | 17 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 20th March 2007
As usual, Virgilius gives us an excellent themed puzzle. This one is based on days of the week appearing appropriately midway through Lent taking seven days (all fairly well-known, I’d say). Very impressed that in the central clue 16 the clue numbers appear in numerical order to match the progression of a week (Mon to Sun).
Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »
Posted by petebiddlecombe on 19th March 2007
Solving time: 15-20 minutes
These comments are written after a look back at the puzzle with answers – I discarded my original copy as I forgot I was supposed to be writing this. I found this puzzle rather easier than the last couple of Scorpions – maybe because I’m getting more used to his style. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »
Posted by linxit on 19th March 2007
Solving time approx 15 mins.
Second blog of the day for me, luckily it’s quiet at work today as I’ve still got to do last Saturday’s Times yet on the other blog! Still, this Rufus puzzle was pretty straightforward with the usual mix of cryptic and double definitions, some good, some a bit iffy…
Posted in Guardian | 1 Comment »
Posted by neildubya on 19th March 2007
A compiler I usually struggle with but not on this occasion. There are some very nice clues in this but a couple that I don’t fully understand and a couple of (I think) weak puns/cryptic defs. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »