Guardian 25,405 / Araucaria
Not the best circumstances for my first Araucaria blog, as I’m on holiday in Ireland, and haven’t much time to think things through, so I’m afraid there are two or three blanks which … Read more >>
Month: August 2011
Independent 7,751 / Phi
My first blog of an Indy puzzle – as a one-off substitute for flashling, who’s been away setting off spectacular fireworks. I know to expect a Nina or theme from Phi and the … Read more >>
Financial Times no.13,775 by ORENSE
A lovely little puzzle from Orense today. Nothing very difficult, but plenty of wit and variety; all in all, a nice way to spend a sunny ten minutes. Or maybe I’m just in … Read more >>
Guardian 25,404 / Boatman
It’s five months since I blogged a Boatman puzzle and I commented then that we don’t see him often enough. There have been only two in between, so that’s certainly true! We know … Read more >>
Independent 7,750 / Nimrod
When you have a Nimrod puzzle to solve or to blog, you know you are in for a challenge, and true to form, he has not disappointed today. For me, more so with … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,766 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 8 In a day and age that not everyone seems to appreciate Dante, I can only say that I liked this crossword very much. Despite the fact that Dante copied … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,765 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 6 I think I deemed Mudd’s last prize puzzle a bit drab. This one strikes me as much better, a fine job indeed. My top … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,774 by Gozo
Yet another great crossword from Gozo, and I’m lucky enough to get to write the blog again. It wasn’t easy, but well worth the effort to complete. The recent guest on the Desert … Read more >>
Independent 7,749/Dac
Lovely stuff as always from Dac, with the full range of clue types on show and elegant surfaces. It’s rare to have any problems with Dac, but I needed some help from the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1189: Banker by Lato
The preamble seemed quite complex on the first read through. It stated “possible associations (not themselves in the grid) of eight unclued entries must be correctly paired. Each pair is then completed by … Read more >>
Guardian 25,403 – Pasquale
A welcome return for The Don. There’s nothing too difficult here, except that 20dn was a new word for me (though easily guessable), and the phrase at 10dn may be unfamiliar to some, … Read more >>
Independent 7748/Monk
There was a time when Monk’s crosswords were the ones I anticipated most eagerly of all. Which suggests that I am lukewarm about this one: not the case; it was easier than his … Read more >>
Financial Times 13773 Armonie
An enjoyable, not too taxing puzzle and some nice surfaces. Thanks Armonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. P.S. Two of the picture sets have a hidden connection within each respective set, which … Read more >>
Guardian 25,402 – Puck
What a beautiful morning. The last time I blogged a Puck, it was such a pleasure as his puzzle was “inspired” by a term I coined, Puck the Magic Dragon. This time round, … Read more >>
Independent 7747 by Anarche
This is a pseudonym I do not recall seeing in the Indy before. It’s an anagram of Arachne so I guess it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that it has some connection … Read more >>