Beelzebub 1,147
I hope this is roughly the appropriate date to post this one. Beelzebub competition closing dates seem to have shifted recently, to give solvers an extra week to get their entries in. We’re … Read more >>
Month: March 2012
Azed No 2074 “Forty Years On”
This puzzle marked the fortieth anniversary of the Azed series, a remarkable milestone. It did not disappoint. At first glance it looked formidable, with a 13 by 13 grid allowing rather more clues … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1150/Glow-worm
I enjoyed the last Glow-worm IoS puzzle that I blogged, but this one was better in my opinion – a nice lightness of touch and some very cleverly constructed clues. It was also … Read more >>
Everyman 3413/4 March 2012
Another fine Sunday morning puzzle from Everyman, with some less common words thrown into the mix. There were three solutions today that I wasn’t familiar with, but they were all clearly clued and … Read more >>
Independent 7,920 by Nestor (Saturday Prize Puzzle 03/03/12)
It took a little while to get started on this one. The first one to go in was 26d and the last one was 16a. We were half expecting a NINA with the … Read more >>
Guardian prize 25,574 / Bonxie
I have said several times that we don’t see enough of Bonxie, so I was pleased to see his name on this puzzle. However, I found it a rather mixed bag, with some … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1007 – Loyalty by Samuel
I do like Samuel. I can’t remember exactly which past EVs were his, but his name is associated in my mind with a sort of pleasant, hazy, possibly-toughish-in-parts-but-fair feeling. Perhaps I’m post-rationalising, because … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25579 Shed
This balances yesterday’s puzzle, and there should be no similar complaints today (but there are complaints…and there are complaints – and complainants). A tough one especially the right half. Though completed, I can’t explain … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,948 by Orense
Straightforward puzzle today ACROSS 1 CANNES sunny place C cold ANNE’S girl’s 4 MALDIVES islands M ‘west’ of Marshall A L[over’s] DIVES drops 10 ARGENTINA country anagram of RANGE TIN metal … Read more >>
Independent 7925/Quixote
Musical chairs have been much in evidence this week, with Phi, who has usually been on Friday, on Monday, and Quixote now in Phi’s usual place. When I saw Phi on Monday I … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,947 / Gaff
I don’t know what’s happened to Ringo today but for some reason he has failed to turn up. We were told that this was “a topical puzzle” and indeed that is so since … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,937 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 25, 2012 First I must apologize for the late posting of this blog. Fact is I simply and completely forgot about it until someone poked … Read more >>
Independent 7924 / Klingsor
Our first Thursday blog! We’re new to blogging and were somewhat apprehensive given the reputation of Thursday puzzles. Recent Indy puzzles have generated quite a bit of activity – almost as much as … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,938 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Feb 27 We (= my PinC and I) thought this was a 3E crossword. First E for ‘Easy’, another E for ‘Elegant’ and the final one, deservedly so, for ‘Enjoyable’. We do need … Read more >>