Yikes! This was hard
I got 6 answers after the first pass of the clues, but 2 of them turned out to be wrong.
beermagnet
Private Eye (Cyclops/630) Let’s do the time warp …
… again. There is a central issue in this crossword. Solving was almost a clean sweep. I attempted but failed to cold solve the two down clues in the leftmost column: 1 and … Read more >>
Independent 9913 by Tyrus (Sat 21-July 2018)
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 >>
Private Eye (Cyclops) 628 Cheeky lettuces
I found this one of the most tricky Eye puzzles for a while. Looking back at it I can’t quite put my finger on why. From the off I had trouble, reading through … Read more >>
Independent 9883 by Serpent (Sat 16-Jun 2018)
I don’t think I’ve ever attempted a Serpent puzzle that disappointed. This one certainly didn’t. Sometimes I look at a blog I’ve done after it’s published and think: Cor blimey. That doesn’t give … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/626) Nuclear test site tryst
A straightforward Cyclops, quickly solved. He’s keeping up his usual standard with only a little bit of mild scatology in this one Across 7 TEEPEE Shelter provided by area of golf course … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/624) Smelly geezer
A tougher crossword this time – that’s what it seemed to me. Solving began with a bang when 1A flew in and way over half the grid was filled on the first pass. … Read more >>
Independent 9853 by Phi (Sat 12-May 2018)
Phi is well known for crosswords with themes … … but I cannot see one here. When I got Karelia and Korngold I thought there might be other twentieth century classical music references … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 622) Versace gusset
One of those Eye crossies that was over too soon. Only 5 left to go after the first pass and they were, as usual, up the “top end” – some of the first … Read more >>
Independent 9823 by Nimrod (Sat 7-Apr 2018)
I’m struggling with this month’s Genius by this setter’s Guardian alter-ego – in fact I’ve got hardly anywhere with that. Thank goodness this puzzle wasn’t quite as tricky as that. It was pretty … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/620) Rescind Break-ups
A quick solve this time which is just as well as I am a bit under the weather (*) Special mention to the wordplay of 17A for giving me a chuckle, and the surface … Read more >>
Independent 9793 by Quaiteaux (Sat 3-Mar 2018)
Very happy to see a Quaiteaux on a Saturday slot and for me to get to blog it. Though there are only a few puzzles by this setter, I remember them. Typically they … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops/618) The Truth in a stupor
I enjoyed solving this, sadly it didn’t last very long. Not only are there only 23 clues due to the grid design, but most of the answers flew in. It was nearly a … Read more >>
Independent 9763 by Tees (Sat 27-Jan 2018)
Looks like the Indy and our fifteensquared rota are aligned and brings a Tees to blog again – suits me. I remember some years ago I found Tees’ puzzles very hard. I know … Read more >>
Private Eye (Cyclops / 616) Inappropriate electorate
This looked small after the gigantic Christmas grid. Thanks to Mike for a spectacluar blog for that last time. This one was a gentle start to the year, only 7 to go after … Read more >>