Financial Times 14,414 – Magwitch
I’m standing in as an FT locum for the first time, and I seem to have coincided with the debut of a new setter. Whether Magwitch is an ex-convict from whom I can … Read more >>
Month: September 2013
Guardian 26,049 / Gordius
Yet another mixed bag from Gordius, with several examples of what I would call loose or vague cluing / definitions. Regular readers will know that seeing Gordius’ name on a puzzle does not … Read more >>
Guardian 26,048 / Rufus
It appears scheduled blogger has gone AWOL today so here is a simple analysis of the clues. I will leave it to others to comment on the crossword in general or in detail. … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 721 / Hectence
Rather tricky for a Quiptic, wasn’t it? In addition Hectence makes very free use throughout of two devices that even moderate purists will not approve of. The first is freely running words together … Read more >>
Independent 8,394 by Quixote
Back home in the Indy with regular Monday man Quixote, feels rather like Autumn this morning. Some nice long anagrams in a generally accessable crossword. Across 1 HEADSMAN Fellow to give others the … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,228 – Crosophile
I’ve not blogged a themed Sunday puzzle for a while, so this was a nice surprise. Despite solving 1A immediately though, it took me a while to cotton on to the references to … Read more >>
Everyman 3491/1 September
Another fine Sunday crossword from Everyman. Just one clue this morning where I had to rack my brains a bit to discover the parsing. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd … Read more >>
AZED Puzzle 2,152
My first blog of an AZED as bridgesong is away at the moment. I guess it must be at the easier end of the AZED spectrum as I completed the puzzle in a single … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Prize 31/08/13 / Boatman
We normally blog Indy puzzles and so this is only our third Guardian blog after a weekday puzzle and a Quiptic. We were really pleased to have the opportunity to blog this offering … Read more >>
Independent 8387 (Sat 31-Aug-2013) Tyrus
I know many Tyrus puzzles that I’ve tackled were heavily themed or contained a Nina. Sometimes the theme was football which I did not fully appreciate and missed half the references. This grid … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1084: Means by Chalicea
What does it all ‘mean’? Do I have the ‘means’ to solve this puzzle? The preamble is fairly clear to start with – 1A and 41A are thematic, with 41A being a description of … Read more >>
Independent 8,392 / Phi
This Friday brings us the latest offering from Phi, who is occupying his customary slot. I made steady progress through this (in my view, medium-difficulty) Phi puzzle, only to come unstuck at the … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,411 by Bradman
Plenty to chew on here – not managed to explain all … Across 1 SEAFARER one attracted by waves – sounds like SEE FAIRER spot finer 6 MENACE peril … Read more >>
Beelzebub No 1226
A pleasure to solve and to blog Across 3 Unease, with male garrison going to dance DISCOMFORT DISCO (dance) M (male) FORT (garrison) 10 Trucks run out, leaving roads … Read more >>
Guardian 26046 by Paul
Good fun from Paul today, though not too difficult as once I figured out the theme there were quite a few write-ins. Theme: L is the first letter of Labour, or the “Labour … Read more >>