Never knowingly undersolved
Vigo has provided us with today’s puzzle to entertain us on this summer’s day. I found this towards the easier end of the Indy difficulty spectrum, but I am not complaining, since I … Read more >>
A stern test from Peto this Tuesday…
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27569.
Thanks to Moley. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Options to change the indigenous population (12) ALTERNATIVES : ALTER(to change) + NATIVES(members of the indigenous population). 8 Look back at student … Read more >>
A pleasant puzzle from Pan to start the week. There’s sound cluing, some innovative anagram indicators and elegant and often witty surfaces throughout. Thank you, Pan – I enjoyed it. Definitions … Read more >>
This was a little trickier than previous Gila puzzles with some good misdirection.
This took us slightly longer than it normally would for a Monday FT, but a great puzzle!
Cyclops has his finger on the Brexit pulse this fortnight…if it still has a pulse?… …with references to the scheming Boris, ‘pathetic Remoaners’, a ‘burnt-out’ UKIP leader and loathesome Lords. A passing mention … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3744.
I solved this quite quickly, but fully parsing some of the the clues took a while, and I’m not completely satisfied with my explanation of 11d, unless the clue is uncharacteristically loose, which seems unlikely. Thanks to Azed.
A solve of two halves for me, this one. It initially seemed like this would be a walk in the park, but pleasingly enough there were a number of points to lock horns … Read more >>
Puzzles by Tyrus are always good – this one is some sort of tour de force Solving was an absolute delight. I had read through all across clues plus half a dozen down … Read more >>
I think I’ve said before that the preamble is often the most difficult part of the blog to write. I really can’t remember a harder one than this one – it has taken … Read more >>
“In a game of LONDON SONGBOOK, six clues consist of a partial song title that can be completed in a punning fashion by adding the name of a part of London. For instance, If I Were a ____ (from Fiddler on the Roof) might be completed with the word ‘Richmond’ to give a punning version of the song title If I Were a Rich Man. Answers to these clues must be entered where they will fit. In ten across clues, the wordplay leads to the answer and an additional letter not to be entered into the grid. In clue order, these letters give a musical group and a further partial song title; solvers must highlight the eight-letter part of London which might complete the title.”
A solid challenge from MUDD to end the work week . Thanks MUDD !