beermagnet – Page 19 – Fifteensquared

Independent 8656 (Sat 12-Jul 2014) eXternal

Sat July 19, 2014 at 4:09 pmSat July 19, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

It’s about a year since eXternal and I first crossed swords over a pencil and a pint, and since then I try to have a go the puzzle when I hear it’s been set … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 523 Poor Ratbag

Mon June 23, 2014 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Solving proceeded at a pace … Several answers entered on first reading, thus I had more than half the grid filled at “first pass” (all clues attempted). Another pass left me with just … Read more >>

Independent 8626 (Sat 07-Jun-2014) Quixote

Sun June 15, 2014 at 10:58 amFri June 13, 2014 at 9:06 pm by beermagnet

Quixote gave us a bit of run around with this one. A run around of just over 12 furlongs. I hadn’t got any idea what DW might refer to – the first thing … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 521 – Abysmal Banner

Mon May 26, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Read through at least 10 clues before spotting the first answer. Not sure why as most of the puzzle filled in on “first pass” (when all clues read) – only about 10 to go. … Read more >>

Independent 8596 (Sat 3-May 2014) Nestor

Sat May 10, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

When I know I am going to blog a puzzle I try to make some notes as I solve it, roughing out the wordplay etc. So it might take a bit longer than usual. … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 519 – Flabby Manifesto

Wed April 30, 2014 at 6:30 amMon April 28, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

At the start of solving this I was absolutely racing through, slapping in answer after answer covering top left down to bottom right. Then I slowed right down and had to grind out … Read more >>

Independent 8566 (Sat 29-March 2014) Morph

Sat April 5, 2014 at 10:07 amSat April 5, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

I was very pleased to see I’d drawn a Morph puzzle this time as I always find them entertaining. Seeing 1D mentioned in several clues I naturally tried to crack that first, but … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 517 – Mayhem reporter

Mon March 31, 2014 at 12:05 am by beermagnet

This one took more effort than most recent Eye crosswords. It didn’t help that I immediately and incorrectly entered ABSTAINING at 10A – I should have checked the anagram fodder – I did … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 515 – Cheap and nasty …

Mon March 3, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

… double nasty including the dynasty. This was completed over two sessions. One on the train where half fell in during a 20 min commute home. On the second session rest I generally … Read more >>

Independent 8536 (Sat 22-Feb 2014) Hob

Sun March 2, 2014 at 10:25 amSat March 1, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Hob-goblins maybe. When writing the blog, I was considering having a moan about 6/12 because it appeared to have the word split in half in such a way that one half NAVI appeared … Read more >>

Private Eye 513 – Washed up Party

Mon February 3, 2014 at 5:52 amMon February 3, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Another relatively gentle Eye crossword for the new year I found that the top right corner was the only tricky area. Devoid until I got 9 Party Animal, then the final few fell … Read more >>

Independent 8506 (Sat 18-Jan-2014) Tyrus

Sun January 26, 2014 at 1:08 pmSat January 25, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

First Indy Prize blog of the year brings me a Tyrus that is maybe not as hard as a traditional Tyrus puzzle. Solving this was quite fun, the answers falling in gradually, and a … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 511 – Xmas 2013 – It’s a Winner

Mon January 6, 2014 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Thank goodness there were a few days over the festive period to devote to a massive puzzle or two. This one took me quite a while, not only from the sheer size … Read more >>

Independent 8477 (Sat 14-Dec 2013) Hieroglyph

Sat December 21, 2013 at 11:26 amSat December 21, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Oh here we go – a new setter – straight in at the prize slot – we’re in trouble now. Bound to be someone as tricky as a troop of tamarins, keen to challenge … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 509 – Obvious Indolence

Mon December 9, 2013 at 5:07 pmMon December 9, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

This one took me longer than most recent Eye puzzles, but in retrospect it doesn’t look that much harder than usual. Despite a flying start with the long light, I only got 8 answers … Read more >>