beermagnet – Page 20 – Fifteensquared

Independent 8447 (Sat 09-Nov-2013) Bannsider

Sat November 16, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

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

Mon November 11, 2013 at 12:02 am by beermagnet

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

Mon October 14, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

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

Sat October 12, 2013 at 12:04 am by beermagnet

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

Mon September 16, 2013 at 12:10 am by beermagnet

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

Sat September 7, 2013 at 12:02 am by beermagnet

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

Mon August 19, 2013 at 12:21 pmMon August 19, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

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 >>

Independent 8357 (Sat 27-July 2013) by eXternal

Sat August 3, 2013 at 10:30 amSat August 3, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

What’s this? A compiler I’ve not seen before in the Prize slot. What’s that! Setting the Inquisitor on the same day! This is probably going to be a tough challenge. I got only … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 499 – ID

Thu July 25, 2013 at 8:36 amMon July 22, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

How did I end up on a Sunday night an hour from the usual midnight deadline scrubbling together a blog for a puzzle I solved, and made notes for(!), over a week ago. … Read more >>

Independent 8327 by Anax (Sat 22-Jun-2013)

Sat June 29, 2013 at 10:57 amSat June 29, 2013 at 12:02 am by beermagnet

“This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius … ” When I saw the references to 7 in so many clues I immediately made a special effort to crack it (failed). But … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 497 – Murky custom

Mon June 24, 2013 at 12:03 am by beermagnet

As usual Cyclops sprinkles the Grid and clues with a set of politicians of varying murkiness. The long 6-word answer had me stumped at the first sitting. I had started solving the grid … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 495 – My kingdom for a horse

Mon May 27, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

An entertaining puzzle from Cyclops that brightened up a dull Thursday morning commute … … stuck in traffic on the M25 (it never stays stationary quite long enough for a proper snooze). There … Read more >>

Independent 8297 by Monk (Sat 18-05-2013)

Sat May 25, 2013 at 12:01 am by beermagnet

Always a pleasure to tackle a Monk puzzle, but I had particular trouble finishing the last few in this puzzle … … especially in the top left corner. 1A and the 1D linked … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 493 – …lightenlightenli…

Mon April 29, 2013 at 12:34 pmMon April 29, 2013 at 12:02 am by beermagnet

I smiled at the double-light in column 12 of the grid when it revealed itself. That’s what us crossword fans want isn’t it – a spot of light enlightening. Across 1/13 DAMAGE … Read more >>

Independent 8237 (Sat 13-April 2013) Monk

Sat April 20, 2013 at 1:35 pmSat April 20, 2013 at 12:03 am by beermagnet

Here we are with Monk again and a very nice crossword that was fun to solve with the answers falling reasonably regularly, though I slowed to a halt at the last couple. But … Read more >>