Independent 7,253 by Scorpion
I got a little bit psyched out last time I blogged a Scorpion, but thankfully this one was a bit more manageable. It was still a challenge though, and there are perhaps one … Read more >>
Month: January 2010
Financial Times 13,283 / Orense
Nothing to frighten the horses here, but there are a couple of clues that just seem flawed or – at best – clumsy to me. I couldn’t help but feel that this was … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1039 by Quixote – 10 Jan 2010
Solving time, 21 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 M (IS) USE 4 GRIM ACES 9 NO TI(C)ES 11 NET BALL ten< 12 PEPPER-AND-SALT hairstyle 14 LISTENERS (let sirens)* 16 … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,274 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 4 January 2010 No great surprises in this FT week-opener. I simply love 9Down which, in my book, is going to be a classic. ACROSS 1 TREE SURGEONS cd … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,273 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 2nd Here’s another great puzzle from Cincinnus. I especially liked 1A, 29A and 5D. I solved the puzzle fairly quickly except for 19A and 6D … Read more >>
Independent 7252 by Dac
Excellent puzzle, solving time 26 mins, lots of puns in the classic crossword style. Not sure if it is just coincidence but each symmetrical pair of 13-letter entries seemed somewhat similar to each … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,282 / Aardvark
Tricky in places today, particularly the SE corner where there was a less than familiar answer (19dn) and part of the wordplay (idle in 20dn). Fortunately I knew the latter but both answers … Read more >>
Guardian 24,906 / Orlando
An enjoyable and not-too-taxing puzzle from Orlando, with a fair number of straightforward charade clues. There are one or two indicators which some may not like! Across 9 IMPROVISE: IS in IMPROVE [revamp] … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,281 / Armonie
A generally entertaining puzzle; I learned a few new words today. I’m sure I’ve missed the boat entirely on 6 down; any comments are welcome. Across 1 OBSOLESCENT OB (old boy=former pupil) SOLE … Read more >>
Independent 7,251/Virgilius
Enjoyable stuff as ever from Virgilius. There are a lot of double defs and homophones here, but it never seems repetitive. There seems to be a mini theme with a number of references … Read more >>
Guardian 24905 – Araucaria
The Chinese character for double happiness would have been appropriate to headline today’s entry … for the second week running, I got to blog The Master and what a lovely experience. Some new … Read more >>
Independent 7250 by Eimi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Enjoyable and very straightforward puzzle from Eimi. There was less obscure stuff than is sometimes the case, although 7 down was a new word … Read more >>
Guardian 24,904 – Rufus
A typical Monday Rufus, with no difficulties apart from the obscure word at 24dn. The usual smattering of cryptic definitions, none of which particularly grabbed me, but there are two nice &lits at … Read more >>
Azed 1962
Azed starts the new year (though not, please, the “second decade of the 21st Century” – that’s next year) with a puzzle that was mostly straightforward: I manage to complete most of it … Read more >>
Everyman 3301 (3rd January 2010).
Lorraine: Another nice easy plod this week with plenty of anagrams which I enjoy doing. Comments would be welcome on 11 across as I could not think of what else it could possibly … Read more >>