Financial Times 12,807 – Crux
From FT Monday 30 June 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram I … Read more >>
Month: July 2008
Independent 6779/Punk
The usual tough but excellent puzzle from Punk. At one stage I thought I would never get going and would have to admit defeat, but eventually all was well. Across 1 COSTIVE – … Read more >>
Financial Times 12814 / Quark
Not too easy, not too hard. First I solved Ac 15,21,9,1,25,4,13,28 and Dn 5,28,7,23,2,6,22 before a brief holdup. At the end of my allotted time, I have some four clues to go (all … Read more >>
Guardian 24435/Gordius – Bristol city
Ran into several problems here with unfamiliar definitions requiring a bit of research, 10A still available… Also feels like a theme here but I can’t quite put my finger on it: e.g. several … Read more >>
Independent 6778 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed Very tough puzzle today from Hypnos. Across 5 Leaflet: I think it’s a soundalike of Leif + Lett. 7 Stir Fry: Stir + fry. 9 Leonardo da Vinci: (on DVD … Read more >>
Guardian 24,434 (Rufus)
Across 7 FLAWLESS: F + LAWLESS 9 E-BOATS: anagram of TO BASE 10 STYE: STYLE less L (Roman numeral) 11 KICKED BACK: The back who was kicked, retaliated 12 CARAFE: A RAF in … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops Crossword 368 – VIP treatment
There seemed to me to be a lot of question mark ended clues this time, at least they were the ones I had most trouble with, probably just me then. In truth this … Read more >>
Azed 1883 – Plain (but perhaps not so plain)
Some nice clues, but – dare I say it – one or two whose surfaces are pretty vacuous. As usual, I’m afraid. Azed has produced some wonderful stuff over the years, but nowadays … Read more >>
Guardian 24,427:Araucaria: just magic!
Another brilliant offering from the maestro; I particularly enjoyed the references to the two very different books which feature in this puzzle. Solving time: about an hour and a half, except for 22 … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,801 – Dante
From FT 23rd June 2008 Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram Definitely an easy … Read more >>
Independent 6776/Phi
An unusually easy Phi today, it seemed, apart from one or two that I can’t explain properly. Rather more full anagrams than one might expect. Across 7 FORE N SIC – ‘for courts’ … Read more >>
Independent 6771/Nestor (28-06-08)
I found this very easy but very enjoyable, as always from Nestor. Across 1 (BANAL MINUTIAE N)* – UNMAINTAINABLE. Had to UNsomethingABLE really. 11 RE,CU in SQUAT 12 A RANT in TELL,A 17 … Read more >>
Guardian 24432 – Placeholder
Computer failure – will try to post by tonight but if anyone wants to step in with a blog of their own please do.
Inquisitor 78 – Closely Packed by Kea
We were told that the answers to five across clues had to be jumbled before entry. To complicate matters further, we were also told that the letters in these five answers would share … Read more >>
FT 12,810/ Phssthpok
A rare visit to the FT from the intriguingly-named Phssthpok. A well-balanced offering with some nice touches and a gentle smattering of intra-grid cross references. Feels like just the kind of puzzle that … Read more >>