Private Eye / Cyclops 507 – Turn for Good
I thought I would set a new PB for solving this, … … I was whipping through it at a rate of knots when I came to a grinding halt at 19A. I … Read more >>
Month: November 2013
Beelzebub 1,235
A fairly tough week, I think, judging by the amount of cheating I had to do towards the end. 3dn still evades my best attempts to explain it. The grid seemed to fill … Read more >>
AZED 2,161
The usual very pleasant workout from Azed. I always find that I make steady progress and then reach an impasse, when I simply can’t parse one or two of the clues. But they … Read more >>
Everyman 3500/3 November
A special edition puzzle from Everyman this week. Lorraine wasn’t able to blog this one, so you’ll have to put up with me two weeks running. I’m happy to help, especially since … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1237 eXternal
No relaxed Sunday with this puzzle – I needed more than one sitting to complete it. Some clever misdirections and definitions. Thanks to eXternal, this being the 1st puzzle of his/hers that I’m … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1093: Phenytoins by Ifor
This week it’s another chance to blog one of my favourite setters. Here, we had to change the appearance of ten answers with nine clues containing a word or phrase which would help … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8441 by Tyrus (Saturday prize puzzle 02-11-2013)
Another duel with Tyrus – guaranteed a smile or two with his witty clues. And as I expected full of fun and wit with a series of short and punchy clues. 9ac probably … Read more >>
Guardian 26,095 / Philistine
A satisfying prize puzzle from Philistine, with a nice theme that I won’t reveal until the next paragraph … The theme was “palaces” – the rubric read: Five 12s are not further defined … Read more >>
Guardian 26,100 / Brendan
I’m wondering if this was intended to be one of those Brendan puzzles we occasionally get on a Monday. It was certainly one of the most straightforward of his that I’ve done – … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,465 by Magwitch
Straightforward and enjoyable Across 1 WITHDRAWAL leaving WITH (as a result) D (daughter) RAW (rough) AL (boy) 7 PIPE means of conveying PIP (signal) E (electronic) 9 SPAM junk … Read more >>
Independent 8446 / Phi
It’s Phiday again! We always look forward to blogging Phi’s Friday offerings, but unfortunately we didn’t enjoy this one as much as we had hoped. We can’t quite put a finger on the … Read more >>
Independent 8,445 / Tees
The Thursday slot is shared by a range of compilers, so you never quite know who you will be doing battle with. Today’s slot is occupied by Tees, whose work I haven’t blogged … Read more >>
Financial Times no.14,464 by Sayang
The fates – or anyway the FT – smiled on me today: I was late getting started, but the crossword was a breeze. I think this was my first encounter with Sayang, and … Read more >>
Guardian 26,099 by Paul
Relatively easy, but beautifully clued from Paul. I particularly liked 1ac, 11ac, 21ac, 27ac and 15dn. Across 1 Delivery man at the door (7) BOUNCER =”Delivery” in cricket; =”man at the door” 5 … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,455 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Oct 28 Enjoyable crossword from Crux who gives us a great range of surfaces, from semi-nudity and ‘topless’ (twice) to nursery rhymes (also twice). Crux seems to have developed a love … Read more >>