Never knowingly undersolved
Misprints in the majority of definitions and twelve answers to be altered before entry according to the preamble, but no indication that these could both apply to the same clue. Also, ‘majority’ had … Read more >>
It looks like another no-show so you will have to put up with me again. I’ve mixed views about this puzzle. Some clues I liked (eg 9a & 23d), some were too obvious, … Read more >>
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 JOSEPH – EP in JOSH. 8 CALTHA – CA + ((T + H) in LA). 9 EXCORIATIONS – (X in ECO) + RIA … Read more >>
I found this quite an easy puzzle, solving time 13 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 B (O OK) ENDS 6 P ARK 9 E (D WIN) A 10 AMOROUS … Read more >>
An easy, rather predictable one with many double definitions. The clue surfaces are good but a few clues like 19a, 25a don’t seem entirely satisfactory. Across 1 DEFECT dd 4 THICKSET THICK (stupid) … Read more >>
What a struggle. Firstly there was no magazine in The Independent in my local shop and none to be had in the nearest big city. A quick SOS email to my bellow floggers … Read more >>
This blog was nearly a non-event when I realised on Wednesday that I had thrown out Saturday’s paper and the recycling binmen had taken it away. Many thanks to nmsindy for coming to … Read more >>
Far from a desperately strenuous challenge overall, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that there were plenty of well-rounded clues in their own right. It’s always something of a nebulous thing, but … Read more >>
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Nimrod has been something of a nemesis of mine since I started blogging here. As with children, the workmanship is impressive, but I can't manage … Read more >>
An entertaining but quite tricky puzzle from Paul, with a lot of long answers spanning two positions in the grid and a fair amount of cross-referencing. The SW corner caused me the most … Read more >>
Solving time, 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CROTCH ETY (yet)* 9 ON PAPER (Propane)* 10 A PO (CO) PE Omission of final sound of a word 11 P (HEN) OLice 12 … Read more >>
Monday Prize Crossword on 23 November 2009 dd = double definition dud = duplicate definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden … Read more >>
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 21 Another splendid puzzle from Cincinnus this time. I especially like 16A, 20A and, most of all, 21A. Across 1, 4. WILLOW GROUSE – WILL … Read more >>
Not the friendliest of grids with the NW and SE corners only connected to the rest of the puzzle by one clue each. Add to this some misleading (not in a bad way) … Read more >>
I enjoyed this but then I always enjoy Araucaria. Across 1 DROPLET: DR (debtor, one obligated) + OP (work) + LET (for hire) 9 ATHENAEUM: A + THE (articles) + anagram of A … Read more >>