Independent 6402/Virgilius – A to Z…
I found this very easy – one of my rare sub-10 minute solves I think – but that’s not really the point as there’s a very clever piece of grid wizardry going on … Read more >>
Month: April 2007
Guardian 24058/Brendan – reading between the (phone) lines
Solving time about 10-12 minutes altogether in 3 short sessions. I was trying to look at it while on a conference call at work, but somebody asked me a question and I didn’t … Read more >>
New page
We’ve just added a page giving brief details about the setters – Independent only at present, but happy to add the Guardian if someone can chip in with accurate information. Like other ‘general … Read more >>
Independent 6401 by Eimi – Lots of names
Lots of references in this, but I found it fairly straightforward, with no major problems. Enjoyable puzzle. (Thanks, Peter, for pointing out below that some of the names are the real names of … Read more >>
Azed 1820 – tough for me
Solving time: 64 mins, with Chambers Not sure why this one was substantially harder than the previous week. The problems I remember a week later are finding the beer in 1A, and my … Read more >>
Everyman 3159/Irish cricket?
Solving time: 45’ I actually fell asleep solving this – not because the puzzle was boring, simply due to jet-lag (or as my aunt would say, let-jag). Probably unintended but a couple of … Read more >>
Independent 6394/Nestor
Another corker from Nestor, with lots of clever and original stuff going on. Across 5 G,LIT,ZY 11 (st)AR,GUE(st) – very nice surface reading for this one. 12 (TO A DUNCE)* – the first … Read more >>
Guardian 24,051 (Sat 14 Apr)/Enigmatist – Blue is the colour
Solving time: 22:12 I made heavy weather of this, especially the key long answer (16ac) and the top left corner, and I can’t explain 4dn. No main theme that I could spot, but … Read more >>
Independent 6399 by Phi
The usual flawless puzzle from Phi Solving time: 12 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S TRIPPER Excellent use of 2 meanings of “peel” 6 FO UR of “backing” RU Rugby Union = … Read more >>
Guardian 24056/Taupi
Solving time: 33:07 I found this tough going, and in the end had to resort to the dictionary to finish it as there were a couple of words I’d never heard of. Also … Read more >>
Inquisitor 15 – Space by Schadenfreude
Solving time: 43 minutes – and should have been faster One of those puzzles where the setting achievement seems considerably greater than the solving one. The unclued entries that must be “expanded to … Read more >>
Independent 6398 / Scorpion – Tough fare
Solving time: Most of the day! I was having to dip in and out of this between hospital appointments today and I found this experience very tough going. Like my Co-blogger today, there … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,055/Chifonie – hmmm…?
I have to admit that Chifonie is not by favourite setter, and in my opinion, this puzzle has too many loose definitions/wordplay, and at least one clue I can’t parse (see below). Sorry … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 896 by Quixote
The usual satisfying fare. Solving time: 15 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 PLAYED OUT “Play” “doubt” “said” 9 R (E) ICH STAG e is the most common letter in English so abbreviations … Read more >>
Independent 6397 by Dac – Top quality
Another excellent puzzle by Dac and they don’t have to be hard to be good. Solving time: 11 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S TRUCK 4 BIG BUCKS 15 ARIA Alternate letters … Read more >>