Independent 7,553 / Eimi – He’s behind you!
An enjoyable solve from Eimi to bring this year’s batch of Indy crosswords to an end. An unannounced seasonal theme added an extra layer of entertainment to the puzzle, with the panto season … Read more >>
Month: December 2010
Indy – Review of 2010
As in former years, I noted down my solving times for Indy puzzles in 2010. I do not approach puzzles in ‘race the clock’ mode, but always found it interesting to note the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,207 / Orlando
Orlando’s puzzles are always entertaining and I’m pleased to get one of his for my last blog of the year. There’s a good variety of cluing, with smooth, often witty, surfaces throughout, some … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 945 – Cold Comfort by Loda
Cold comfort, indeed – a wonderfully themed EV for the weather at the time! The preamble seemed fairly complex – twenty answers entered ‘in a certain way’, most clues containing a misprint – … Read more >>
My new job
Those of you who look at the Times for the Times blog will know that I’ve just started a new job. I can now tell you that I’ve been appointed on a trial … Read more >>
Independent 7,552/Anax
This was something of a tour de force from Anax. It was also incredibly difficult! On an initial read-through of all the clues – which was something of a necessity as I wasn’t … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,580 / Sleuth
Smiffy has been caught up in the aftermath of the recent blizzards in the US and is still trying to get home after his Christmas break so you will have to put up … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,573 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 20 December 2010 Crux delighted us with this selection which included some creative and amusing cryptic definitions. There are also a few devices which I have not seen before. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,206 – Pasquale
A welcome return for Pasquale after nearly two months’ absence. The Christmas gremlins are still crawling around the Guardian site, meaning this puzzle was available 24 hours early, so I had plenty of … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,572 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 18 Another fine Mudd with, what was for me, a slightly difficult top-right corner. My favourite clues here are 13A (AFORESAID), 28A (NO FEAR) and … Read more >>
Independent 7551/Dac
Dac goes on and on, week after week producing crosswords full of clues with smooth surfaces and apart from one or two very small niggles below, a high standard throughout. I found this … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,579 / Armonie
Armonie usually appears on a Tuesday so I wasn’t expecting him today, though perhaps I should have done since there was no puzzle on Monday and yesterday we had a Dante prize puzzle. … Read more >>
Guardian 25205 by Araucaria How the Monkey Puzzle….
{This is just to hide the spoiler} … … … ….got his prickles. Vintage Araucaria – highly allusive, a wide range of references, numerous liberties, a delight as well as a struggle to … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,087 (19/12/10)
Judging by the mess I’ve made of the grid, I must have found this one pretty tough going. Having said that, on blogging there doesn’t appear to be anything particular troublesome in there. … Read more >>
Independent 7550 by Math
Math today, don’t often see but pleasantly solvable. Eric and Ernie theme today Across 1 PREVIEW (VIP WE’RE)* 5 PORTICO OR in PT + 1 + CO 9 ERNIE N in ERIE 10 … Read more >>