Azed 1843
A possibly error-free Azed! The usual mix of obscure words in both the grid and word play, some unusual devices and some great surfaces added up to a typically enjoyable Azed plain puzzle. … Read more >>
Month: September 2007
Guardian 24,189 (Sat 22 Sep)/Araucaria – Mirror, mirror
Solving time: 15:23 Not for the first time, a puzzle based on the works of Lewis Carroll, specifically Through the Looking-Glass (TTLG) and its chess ‘match’ between the White and Red pieces. About … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 51/Doc — EMPLOY
The theme required solutions to be adapted before entry but said nothing of the clues. Noticing that the answer lengths were one or two less than the grid lengths this suggested some addition … Read more >>
FT 12,575/Adamant – “Somewhat” Inappropriate?
The only real stumbling block today for me was 18A, which took me several minutes of plodding through the alphabet until I could find an answer that justified the clue. 10A doesn’t work, in … Read more >>
Beelzebub 918/Phi (16-09-07)
I found this very easy – no Chambers or Bradford needed. There were some difficult words in the puzzle (31A,19D) but I was helped on these by checking letters and the straightforward clueing. … Read more >>
Independent 6537 by Bannsider
I know with Bannsider that it will be tough and it was. Got there in the end – one or two that I cannot fully see the wordplay. Some very good clues as … Read more >>
Independent 6532/Monk
A something-for-everyone puzzle from Monk. A few easy clues to get you going, some hard ones to stretch you, a bit of innovation here and there and some good old-fashioned smut. Not forgetting … Read more >>
Inquisitor 38/Nutmeg – OI
For once I tackled the Inquisitor on the day of publication, and, by lunchtime, it was finished. This wasn’t particularly diificult by Inquisitor standards, and would be a good puzzle for soomeone who … Read more >>
Guardian 24193/Araucaria
Solving time 20:19 Araucaria’s certainly on form today. A great 28-letter anagram at 1A,8D and a lot of other very clever clues made this a real pleasure to solve. I don’t think there … Read more >>
Independent 6536/Punk – All the way home
There’s always lots of fun to be had with a puzzle by Punk (or Paul) and this was no exception. Across 1 POCKET,LL,(AIR)* in BIDS – excellent clue and a toughie to unravel, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 919 by Quixote
Quite a tricky puzzle with some novel features. More verifying needed than usual. Will concentrate on what I found the trickier or more unusual clues, but happy to explain any other if asked. … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,564 by Mudd
Following two Weekend FT puzzles that I fairly sailed through, Mudd gave me a bit of a challenge with this one. As usual, it was a satisfying challenge. I did however fail to … Read more >>
Guardian 24192/Paul – glittering
(Hope PaulB isn’t reading this since I’m late again). Another fine Paul opus – some surprising and refreshing wordplay (e.g. 7D, 1A) and sly definitions (e.g. 25A). I did this early morning but … Read more >>
FT 12573/Cinephile
Solving time :32 mins 59 secs. Thank goodness this wasn’t one of Cinephile’s really difficult ones. As always with Cinephile, one or two clues that stretch a pedantic Ximenean, but nevertheless lots of … Read more >>
Independent 6535/Dac
Some of the surface readings in this puzzle were truly superb, 1 down shone out. I was beaten by 8 down and Dac has been beaten by 25 down which has two possible … Read more >>