Financial Times 13,140 / Neo
An enjoyable puzzle, with some clever clues and tricky wordplay from Neo. Sorry to be a 15 dn today; I didn’t have a chance to turn to the puzzle this morning. Across 1 … Read more >>
Month: July 2009
Independent 7108/Virgilius
Although it is always a delight to blog a Virgilius crossword, my heart is for ever in my mouth because of the Nina: what a fool I’ll look when I don’t see it. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,763 – Paul
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Another delightful day when Dr G and … Read more >>
Independent 7107 by Monk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def I found this very difficult, although having finished it, the clues don’t seem that hard, so maybe I was just completely off form. Most of … Read more >>
Guardian 24,762 / Rufus
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus, you know what to expect. Perhaps even more of his characteristic cryptic definitions than usual, but most of them are good fun. In any case, if I did have … Read more >>
Azed 1938: Sister act
Apologies for the late posting — this has been an unusually busy week, including the small matter of celebrating an England test victory at Lord’s; I have also been working on information about … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3277 (July 19th).
Pretty tough going this week, especially if you didn’t know the names of the film, the novel, the UK TV programme and the famous Russian(s). Legend to solution comments: * = anagram. < … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,013 (19/07/09)
I think this was all fairly straightforward, relatively speaking, although the gap between solving and blogging was perhaps allowed to grow too long for me recall in detail how I found it. I … Read more >>
Guardian 24,755 (Sat 18 Jul)/Paul – Calf pints
Solving time: 8:54 A very enjoyable puzzle from Paul with no theme that I could see but a marvellous new word for me at 12dn. Music of the day: the magnificent 5dn, Dies … Read more >>
Independent 7,100 by Scorpion (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 18/07/09)
An excellent Saturday puzzle, challenging but ultimately manageable. I’m particularly struck by the exceptional quality of the surface readings. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 BABE RUTH – BABE … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,137 / Viking
A characteristically challenging, well-crafted offering from Viking. Across 1 AMBLER [g]AMBLER (better). Ref. to Eric Ambler, English author of spy novels. 4 TWO PIECE CE (church), after (POW)< (internee) in TIE (restraint) 10 … Read more >>
Independent 7105 by Phi
Excellent puzzle from Phi, solving time, 24 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 MA (GI) C AL(l) 5 SIDECAR (is)< (raced)< 9 DEAD TREE EDITION My penultimate answer – new … Read more >>
Shameless commercial for a Charity Appeal
With apologies to those who have already seen this in other crossword places on the internet … Next Thursday, I’m cycling 60 miles along the Grand Union and Regents Canal towpaths in aid … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 871: Needs by Charybdis
A puzzle from one of my favourite setters (with another one from him in this week’s Listener as well). A quick read of the preamble and ‘Oh my giddy aunt’!! What on earth … Read more >>
Guardian 24760 / Auster
It only seems fair to give our Australian commenters first say about this fun puzzle from Auster. Across 1. PARTY HAT PARTY = “Do” + [t]HAT 5. OFFSET OFF = “inoperative” + SET … Read more >>