beermagnet – Page 24 – Fifteensquared

Indy 7728 Klingsor (Sat 23-Jul-2011)

Sun July 31, 2011 at 9:46 amSat July 30, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I started off at a canter with this one from the bottom right, but slowed to a stop after 30 mins with just over half in place. A re-start saw 1A fall … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 447 – Portable gladioli

Mon July 18, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Nothing here to stop an Eye solver polishing this off with several chuckles and no doubtful edges, i.e. no need to reach for Chambers this time. Which is just as well, because I … Read more >>

Independent 7698 Scorpion (Sat 18-Jun-2011)

Sat June 25, 2011 at 8:52 amSat June 25, 2011 at 12:10 am by beermagnet

What a piece of work this was.

Private Eye/Cyclops 445 – Disgraced leaders

Mon June 20, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I found I had only 8 to go after the first pass so I suppose this was easier than usual. That’s enough blather – let’s have a look at the detail: How do … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 443 – Home service

Mon May 23, 2011 at 1:22 pmMon May 23, 2011 at 12:53 am by beermagnet

Some excellent surface readings in this issue’s crossword. I marked no fewer than 8 as worthy of consideration for top clue, but that honour has to go to Home Sweet Home for the … Read more >>

Independent 7668 Bannsider (Sat 14-May-2011)

Sat May 21, 2011 at 12:19 am by beermagnet

First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 441 – Escape kettle

Mon April 25, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

There’s always a bit of fun to be found in the Eye, and the crossword is the icing on the cake in the back pages. This puzzle was in the usual style and … Read more >>

Independent 7638 Morph (Sat 9-Apr-2011)

Wed April 27, 2011 at 10:29 amSat April 16, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I’m not sure but I think this is his first grid in the Saturday Prize slot. I certainly found it tougher than usual for a Morph, (only 4 answers entered on first pass … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 439 – Bad Eye

Mon March 28, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I found this Eye much harder than usual. It took till 20A Niggle to find a clue I could cold solve, and only had a handful in place after the first pass. The … Read more >>

Independent 7608 Tyrus (Sat 05-March-2011)

Sun April 10, 2011 at 5:13 pmSat March 12, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

A puzzle curiously centred on “Rear Window” – not only the Hitchcock film, but also the various signs and items that may be seen in the rear window of a car. While solving … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 437 – Chirrupy Corgi

Mon February 28, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I had trouble getting going with this puzzle. I read loads of clues before finally cold solving one with a definite answer at 6D, and then only had about a dozen answers in … Read more >>

Indy 7578 (Sat 29-Jan) Anax

Sat February 5, 2011 at 10:23 pmSat February 5, 2011 at 12:30 am by beermagnet

Congrats to Anax for a stonking puzzle that no doubt had a few in Derby scratching their collective heads over their pints. While I was struggling over this, I could imagine them all … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 435 – Telltale Claptrap

Fri February 4, 2011 at 10:29 pmMon January 31, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

First Eye blog of the new year for me. Thanks to jetdoc who is alternating the task from now on and who produced an admirable effort last time. She has certainly laid down … Read more >>

Independent 7559 / Nimrod

Sat January 8, 2011 at 1:01 pmFri January 7, 2011 at 6:30 am by beermagnet

The call goes out for a Friday sub and I stick my hand up thinking I’d get a workmanlike Phi, then Phi appears on a Thursday with an Epiphany themed doozy that gave … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 433 – Pseudocruciverbalism

Mon January 3, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Christmas at the Eye – another year – another big grid with proportionally inflated prize**. Preamble: Twelve clues, lacking definition, lead to the names of people quoted in Pseuds Corner in 2010. While … Read more >>