Financial Times 12,790 / Crux
Done in 30 minutes. Puzzle is of average difficulty. I got toehold with 13ac. I finished the lower half of the grid first. The very last ones were in the top left corner: … Read more >>
Month: June 2008
Guardian 24,411 (Puck)
Some difficult clues here. I couldn’t follow the clue for 24dn. Can it be that it has gone west? Across 1 HIGHLIGHT: HIGH (drunk) + LIGHT (answer to clue) 6 CLIME: CrIME with … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,783 – Falcon
From FT Monday 2 June 2008 Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram What a … Read more >>
Independent 6754 by Monk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed I haven’t done a lot of Monk puzzles but those I have done I found relatively straightforward. This was no exception and I completed it fairly quickly (about half an … Read more >>
Guardian 24410 – Rufus
Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram An easy start to the week on a … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 366 – Gagging for it? Not on your Nelly!
Solving time : 3 pints Blogging time: 1 pint (just to make up the half, like) Currently drinking: Marston’s Pedigree Across 1 BUSH BABY Yo Pres! Did Telly Savalas ever meet GWB or … Read more >>
Azed 1879
It’s a competition Azed this week. For me this means one less answer to explain! I solved this crossword very quickly for a competition puzzle, I usually find them a little tougher than … Read more >>
Guardian 24,403 (Sat 31 May)/Araucaria – Drama police
[Note: I’m posting this on Friday afternoon as I’m away for the weekend (off to Dublin to watch Radiohead on Saturday night). I hope this is ok, as the deadline for entries was … Read more >>
Guardian 24408 / Chifonie New solvers start here…..
I suppose the kindest thing I could say about this puzzle is that it probably provides a gentle introduction to daily cryptic crosswords for the novice. As a hard-bitten and long-in-the-tooth solver, I … Read more >>
Independent 6752/Radian
It was obvious that something was in store for today, Phi having been moved to Thursday. So far as I can see it’s because it’s 64 years after D-Day. But 64? Is that … Read more >>
Independent 6747/Virgilius
The theme for this puzzle is Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”. The 12, the 13, the 18, the 20, the 24 and the 8 all have their own tales, as does the Nun’s 22. Indeed,”Canterbury … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,787 – Bradman
Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram Another varied mixture of clever clues plus a … Read more >>
Inquisitor 74 – A Quotation by Schadenfreude
This puzzle was presented as a 10 row *11 columns jigsaw within a frame of 12 rows *13 columns such that the outer rim was independent of interlocking words. The central square in … Read more >>
Free book in Sunday Independent (UK)
As nmsindy says in his Quixote report, this Sunday’s edition (8th June) will include a shortened version of Don Manley’s “Chambers Crossword Manual”. For UK solvers who don’t yet have a “how to … Read more >>
Independent 6751 by Phi
Unusual for Phi to appear other than on a Friday. Not sure if this means some themed puzzle is planned for this Friday 6 June. This I found very well put together as … Read more >>