Private Eye/Cyclops 426 – Crabby diddle
I got one wrong. And I even sent in my entry for the prize competition with it wrong. So I’m expecting my entry to be picked from the gazillions – and then rejected. … Read more >>
Month: September 2010
Independent on Sunday 1075 by Quixote – 19th September 2010
A much easier outing this week than last, which H did comfortably over his lunch hour. Some very nice touches (16ac and 21ac were our favourites) together with unexotic vocabulary would make this … Read more >>
Everyman 3338 (19 Sept.)
Arthur is having problems with his computer so I am standing in this week. For me this was a gentle Sunday morning warm-up prior to the stiffer challenges of Azed. The only clue … Read more >>
Azed 1999
With the exception of one or two answers that are still beyond me, I found this very much the usual Azed, with good sound wordplay. Much wading through Chambers: Azed always seems to … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,074 (19/09/10)
Almost an unaided finish this week, albeit with a couple of slips, and I wasn’t quite brave enough to guess 24dn without a bit of research. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double … Read more >>
Guardian 25,119 (Sat 18 Sep)/Brummie – Spice girls
Solving time: 8½ mins This puzzle was themed on the nursery rhyme about little boys being made of frogs and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails and little girls of sugar and spice and all … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 932 / Myth on Pariah by Charybdis
Unless I have missed something, always a possibility, I think there is a (minor) flaw in one of the thematic groups (see below). The initial (clued) grid fill was relatively quick and straightforward thanks to … Read more >>
Independent 7465 by Tyrus – Saturday Prize Puzzle 18 September 2010
I solved most of this on a long car journey and didn’t find it too difficult once the long answer at 14/29/1D had fallen. I liked the surface for TRAVAIL and TREATMENT, and … Read more >>
Independent 7470/Phi
As usual, an utterly satisfactory crossword from Phi. There are some less than A-list place names, but before anyone complains they should remember that Phi lives in New Zealand, so he has as … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,499 / Orense
A transportation-themed crossword from Orense, with clues as well as solutions covering the spectrum from airplanes to bicycles. Nice and gentle to solve. No obscure vocabulary – a commendable feat for a themed … Read more >>
Guardian 25,124 – Gordius
Many happy returns, Gordius. I got into this quickly then struggled with the last few clues. Still unsure about some wordplay, and 24dn was a new word for me. 8 and 25 made … Read more >>
Independent 7469 by Nimrod
Well I suppose I was due a tough one and in my view this was hard with several I can’t justify. There is a perimeter Nina whose significance I can’t see either. All … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,498 / Falcon
Much of this flowed pretty readily from an instantly-solved 1A. Ended up with a slight lack of “20-20” vision, as I was unfamiliar with the answers at 20A and 20D; both were generously … Read more >>
Guardian 25,123 – Paul
It’s been a good Guardian week so far, and Paul continues the pattern with this entertaining puzzle. There were a few particularly easy clues to give a good start, and the rest weren’t … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,489 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 13 September 2010 Welcome back, Dante to this familiar spot. As expected, a fun-filled easy stroll to start off the FT week; except possibly for a couple of hard-boiled … Read more >>