Azed 1851 – in the soop
Solving time 38:18 (with Chambers and Bradford’s) I made one mistake (9ac, SOOM for SOOP) but realised when I came to do the blog, as I’d never been happy with my original answer … Read more >>
Month: November 2007
Guardian 24,237 (Sat 17 Nov)/Pasquale – Disorientated
Solving time: 17:58 About the last 10 minutes were spent on two pairs: 16ac/18dn and 19ac/20dn. The first I sorted out once I accepted that 16ac was an &lit (and realised that 24ac … Read more >>
Guardian 24,242, Quantum: Better latte than never
ACROSS: 4. JAM PAN. A guess now confirmed – it’s a kind of sedan chair. 9. BRIE(f). More familiar as a cheese than a place. 11. STATIN (patients* – pe). Complicated wordplay here, … Read more >>
Independent 6585/Math
In his blog yesterday, nmsindy was wondering why Phi had been moved from his usual Friday slot; this puzzle might provide an explanation… Across 8 A,(LIFE)* – I was all set to deride … Read more >>
Inquisitor 46, Royalty by Lato
By the time you read this I should be at the top of Manau Kea in Hawaii. Unless I turn out to get altitude sickness in which case I’ll be in a bar … Read more >>
Independent 6580/Monk
Across 3 A,MB,U,LANCES – I hesitated a bit over this as I didn’t know that LANCE=move quickly but with A,MB,U and a definition of “hospital transport” there’s not much else it can be. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 926/Phi (11-11-07)
Across 1 L in BASH – I hesitated over this at first because I couldn’t see why “go” = BASH. Then I remembered “have a bash at [something]”. 11 (SIGN BLOOMERS)* – REBLOSSOMING. … Read more >>
Our first appearance in the national press
(For those that missed it, this is the completed grid of Independent 6582 by Virgilius. Thanks to Eimi for supplying the image)
Guardian 24241: Chifonie — Know your abbreviations
A pretty straightforward daily cryptic, though you did need to know a few single-letter and two-letter abbreviations (like three ‘meanings’ of D). There were several obvious, as it seemed to me, anagrams; if … Read more >>
Independent 6584 by Phi
Phi usually appears on Friday rather than today (Thursday). Wondered if there was a date-specific reason for this, but cannot see a theme. Quite an easy puzzle, I found. Solving time, 15 mins … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 927 by Quixote
Tougher than usual, I thought. Solving time: 31 mins Notes on some clues below, happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 6 A PLACE IN THE SUN “An opportunity for the high life? … Read more >>
Independent 6583/Dac – Wednesday 21.11.07
As usual Dac’s clues are consistently excellent. Few stand out (except for 14D), but they are always sound and have clear good surfaces. It’s a bit like Mozart (although Dac might feel a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,240 Paul – “Egrets: I’ve Had a Few …”
A very pleasant and reasonably humane puzzle from Paul. The best strategy with his puzzles I find is to pick off the rare easy ones, hope they give you letters for the multi-word solutions he … Read more >>
Independent 6582/Virgilius – All Square-d!
A couple of weeks ago I had an email from someone – let’s call him E – advising me to make sure I was blogging today’s puzzle. “How intriguing”, I thought at the … Read more >>
Guardian 24239/Gordius – tough but fair?
I see that a lot of you took advantage of the chance to comment on this beforehand, so I’m glad I left the placeholder message this morning. As it turned out, I was … Read more >>