Independent 6370/Monk
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 … Read more >>
Month: March 2007
Guardian 24,027 (Sat 17 Mar)/Araucaria – Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Solving time: About 30 minutes, plus a later look to get the last three clues (asterisked); one mistake. After 10 minutes I think I had solved two and a half clues. Eventually I … Read more >>
Independent 6375/Phi
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 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,032/Orlando – what does doordie mean?
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 … Read more >>
Inquisitor 11 – A novel approach by Lato
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 … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 892 by Quixote – Plant held me up
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. Solving … Read more >>
Guardian 24031/Brendan – elephantine planes
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 … Read more >>
Independent 6374/Merlin
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 … Read more >>
Independent 6373 / Dac
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 … Read more >>
Guardian 24030/Araucaria
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 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,029, Puck: Wolfie and the gang
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. ACROSS: … Read more >>
Independent 6372 by Virgilius – another excellent themed puzzle
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 … Read more >>
Independent 6364 / Scorpion
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. … Read more >>
Guardian 24028/Rufus
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, … Read more >>
Independent 6371/Mass
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) … Read more >>