*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def
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Something of a surprise – but by no means an unpleasant one – to see Brendan on a Monday. Brendan’s puzzles often have a theme and, after my miserable failure with Fungie last week, it was a relief to spot this *planetary one [with the sun thrown in for good measure], generously indicated by HOLST at 20ac, although clever cluing meant that none of the planets immediately leapt out as such. A most enjoyable puzzle.

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Am I alone in finding this not too hard this time?
I was getting a bit worried as my subscription copy did not arrive till Friday – which is at least a day late even allowing for the Bank Holiday Monday – so I didn’t see it till I returned home that night. I always make a rule to read the mag before tackling the crossword, else I feel I’m buying it just for the crossword, and where will that end! In fact I didn’t look at it till gone midnight – an unusual time of day for me, I’ve normally been visited by the sandman before then.
Then I was surprised to find myself writing in the last answer. Read the rest of this entry »