Independent 6545/Morph
Across 1/4 EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION – “assembled” led me down an anagram-related garden path for a while, until I realised the clue was a sort of cryptic definition, with a surface reading designed to … Read more >>
Month: October 2007
Private Eye/Cyclops 349 – Top this*
Excellent stuff from Cyclops in this issue. A few really tricky clues which I would never get without the crossing letters, but enough that could be solved cold to get going. A couple … Read more >>
Azed 1844 – Rocky bard grid puzzle
Solving time: not recorded – maybe an hour or so. Chambers used for 3 or 4 answers at the end. This is in a bit of haste before going to Cheltenham, so I … Read more >>
Guardian 24,195 (Sat 29 Sep)/Enigmatist – A tangled web
Solving time: 11:11 Lots of cryptic definitions today, a couple of which I don’t quite get, and a monster anagram at 2dn/7dn which I solved fairly late in proceedings. Music (3dn): The Box … Read more >>
Guardian 24200/Brummie
Solving time – around half an hour in small doses. I was very busy at work today and didn’t even have time for a lunch break, so I solved this in a few … Read more >>
Indy 6543/Phi
Solving time: 22 mins 38 secs. I’m sure there’s a Nina there somewhere, there being all those “loose ends” round the outside, and much of the bottom line saying FOOLS, but I can’t … Read more >>
Inquisitor 39 – a plea for help
I’m stuck on this with little time left before going to Cheltenham. I’ve solved all but three of the normal clues but have no idea about the theme. If you’ve solved it, leave … Read more >>
Independent 6542 by Nimrod
Built around a 41-letter anagram. Solving time: 52 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 9 HISTORIAN (to an Irish)* 11/13/16 CANT GET AWAY TO MARRY YOU TODAY MY WIFE WONT LET … Read more >>
Guardian 24199/Orlando – four Ms.
A good puzzle with consistently high quality defs and wordplay (the latter providing clear direction to answers in some cases even when the def was unknown to me). Incidentally had I not known … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 920 by Quixote
Fairly easy puzzle, I found. Solving time: 15 mins Will post on a limited number of what seemed the trickier clues, but happy to explain any others if asked. * = anagram ACROSS … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,570 by Cincinnus
Across 1. VERBATIM – anagram (terribly) of BRAVE + TIM (little chap) 6. CUCKOO – double definition 9. SPRUCE – double definition 10. NO LONGER – anagram of GO ON LNER. LNER was … Read more >>
FT 12,579/Dogberry
Well, I’m glad I voluntarily rescheduled my blogging duties from Tues to Wed – as this puzzle was a real humdinger. I think I only solved one clue on immediate inspection, but none … Read more >>
Guardian 24,198/Brendan – ABBA Father
Solving time: 4:27 Another cracking construction from Brendan, with the rotationally symmetric across clues forming pairs where the first is of the form AB and the second BA, e.g. SIDE ROAD/ROADSIDE and SAUNAS/NASSAU. … Read more >>
Independent 6541 by Dac
An excellent offering from Dac. Solving time: 18 mins. < = reversed * = anagram ACROSS 1 PLAY BALL “Cooperate to amalgamate drama and dance” My favourite clue. 5 TI (ES … Read more >>
Independent 6540\Virgilius
Virgilius’s theme today was just a little obvious, a mirror-symmetric grid with greyed-out rugby goal posts in the middle. Yes, it’s the Badminton Horse Trials…no, of course not, it’s the Rugby World Cup … Read more >>