Guardian 25,509 / Rufus
Since I started blogging, just over three years ago, this is the third Rufus pre-Christmas puzzle that has fallen to me and, once again, Rufus has managed to include a seasonal allusion in … Read more >>
Month: December 2011
Private Eye/Cyclops 458 – He’s behind you!
The festive season seems to have started early in the Eye with a couple of pantomimes opening. Solving-wise, I didn’t have any hold-up clues, and only needed one session to finish this. As … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1138
This compiler never disappoints – wonder how many people agree ACROSS 2 Boozy concoction providing animation? TOM AND JERRY dd 10 Person across globe sporting Asiatic names? ANTISCIAN (ASIATIC … Read more >>
Azed 2063
I’m feeling even more well disposed towards Azed (and the Observer) this week than usual, having been fortunate enough to win a prize in one of the weekly competitions recently (still waiting to … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1139/Raich
My last IoS blog was a Raich, and I bag another here, which I don’t mind at all. An accessible Sunday Prize Crossword, which I enjoyed. There were a couple of what I … Read more >>
Everyman 3402/11 December
A well-constructed entry-level puzzle from Everyman this morning, with a nice range of cluing devices and some pleasing surfaces. Perfect for beginning and improving solvers. cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram … Read more >>
Independent 7848 (Sat 10-Dec-2011) by Nimrod
After the usual gulp upon seeing Nimrod at the top of the Prize Puzzle when on blogging duty this turned out to be less evil than many of his puzzles – at least … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 25,502 / Araucaria
I think Araucaria must be saving himself for his Christmas Special – and that’s something to look forward to! This was a pleasant enough puzzle to solve but there were a lot of … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.996 – Medium Rare by Jacques
The preamble doesn’t give very much away: 12 normal clues, the answers to which require ‘adjustment’. The other clues must have a letter removed before solving. The last sentence includes the always-worrying “numbers … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,878 / Hamilton
A puzzle of two halves for me. The bottom filled in fast while the top remained blank, till 7a gave me a breakthrough after looking up the French word for ‘queen’. Help invited … Read more >>
Independent 7853/Phi
For some reason I was unusually quick on this crossword, solving over half the clues on an initial read-through, something that doesn’t often happen. So I would say what a nice crossword, wouldn’t … Read more >>
Guardian 25,507 / Gordius
I tend to associate Friday with the more challenging end of the Guardian puzzle spectrum, so I was slightly surprised to see a Gordius crossword when I logged onto the Guardian website this … Read more >>
Financial Times no.13,877 by ORENSE
I’d been feeling a little jaded with the world of cryptics lately (cue violins)… but the wonderful Arachne in the Guardian yesterday and Orense here today have quite restored my faith. How’s that for … Read more >>
Independent 7852 by Anarche
Arachne yesterday in the Guardian transforms to Anarche in the Indy today. Can’t see any themes as such (I missed the Nina by Phi last week) and I had to look up 13a … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25506 Tramp
Back to the blogging schedule, and thank you to PeeDee for standing in in my Guardian slots. I have come back to an immensely enjoyable puzzle today, with lots of pop culture (nothing … Read more >>