Private Eye / Cyclops 517 – Mayhem reporter
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 >>
beermagnet
Private Eye / Cyclops 515 – Cheap and nasty …
… 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 >>
Independent 8447 (Sat 09-Nov-2013) Bannsider
It has been a while since I blogged a Bannsider and though I have a notoriously bad memory, he still engenders a sense of trepidation… … and then he went and gave me … Read more >>
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 >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 505 Irksome Groping
Another fun-packed episode from our one-eyed friend This was classic Eye fare with the usual parochial nicknames littered among the clues, which of course have disreputable surface readings, and the central row answer … Read more >>
Independent 8417 (Sat 05-Oct 2013) Jambazi
Jambazi delivers a crossword for the prize slot which is not as tricky as expected. Some of his weekday offerings have given me more trouble. Solving progressed steadily with some answers popping in, … Read more >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 503 – Psycho diatribe
Cyclops on usual form with a bundle of profane, scatological and politically cynical clues and answers. This time the grid was enlivened by a couple of clues where some thespian knowledge was required. … 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 >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 501 – Oh Dearie Me
More Cryptic Defs (CDs) in the clues than usual this time. Across 1 THROWS UP Worth getting pissed on drink? Proves otherwise, maybe (6,2) WORTH* AInd: getting pissed, SUP drink. Def. is semi-&Lit. … Read more >>