The “easy” was purely in relative terms in that 11 mins is a fast solve for me. I also find that solving time is not directly related to enjoyment derived. Compared to some blogging on this site and on Peter B’s, I’m not that fast a solver at all. I do Everyman only occasionally – I always felt it was the easiest cryptic (as its title suggests). I tend to find it easier than Quixote in the IoS.

There was a time when I thought the Quixote IoS puzzle was pitched at an easier level than the daily Indy and I think that may be true again now, esp with more themed puzzles in the daily. So far this year my average solving time is about 30 mins with about 20 mins for the weekly regulars (Virgilius, Dac, Phi and Quixote).

I note the label ‘easy’, but remember that I am generally trying to cater for some who are used to solving The Observer’s Everyman, so what is easy for NMS (to whom I remain grateful!) may not be easy to someone in the crosword foothills. That said, I may throw in the odd tougher clue or whole puzzle. We need puzzles that the ordinary solver can enjoy, as well as the keen and very able solvers who tend to be prevalent on websites such as this.