Independent 7423 (Sat 31-Jul) Nestor
Nother non-numerical Nestor novelty to nonplus us. In fact this was again not as hard as many a midweek puzzle, with firm wordplay once seen. Why do compilers end up picking words and … Read more >>
beermagnet
Private Eye/Cyclops 422 – Rescind sceptre
Woah! Cyclops revealing his Republican tendancies in his central down answers, and possibly extolling the virtues of early applications of antibiotics in the central across answers: Preempt anthrax. Maybe I’m reading too much … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 421 – Hanoi or bust
So there I was wondering where to do my Eye crossword this time. I thought what about another time and found myself in a smoky pub in about 1972. “The Worlds End”. God … Read more >>
Independent 7399 (Sat 03-Jul) by Nestor
Another first Saturday of the month slot for Nestor, and another non-Nina puzzle as far as I can see (Unless Nestor is now sponsored by “Savalab”) Across 1 SHOULDER PADS SHOULD (are obliged … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 420 – Three Eds
… are better, maybe. Maybe Edward Woodward would have had something to say about that, if he was foreward. The three Eds here are the ubiquitous Editor, one Miliband, and the inevitable Balls. … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 419 – Big Nancy
I must be getting better at these. Another Eye crossy that was knocked off without raising a sweat. The long giveaway answer gave away lots of crossing letters and everything else slotted in … Read more >>
Independent 7375 (Sat 05-Jun) by Nestor
Another Saturday Prize Indy that was surprisingly easy compared to previous experience of both Nestor and Saturdays. There has been a run of easier Saturday crosswords lately. After first getting one of the … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 418 – Awful, awful, awful
After last week’s triple “percent” wordplay, this week we have “awful” used as an anagrind in three different clues. So I’m afraid it walked into that blog title. Blam! But it was quite … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 417 – Percentage, percentage, percentage
I was knocking off these clues without too much trouble but did think more than once that they were quite convoluted. It took 20 Min – only about ½ pint – drinking slowly – … Read more >>
Independent 7351 (Sat 8 May) by Raich
This saturday was the 65th Anniversary of V.E. Day and this crossword had a WWII theme with several references in both clues and answers topped and tailed by two Vera Lynn songs. Raich … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 416 – Detente candidate
Pack away your soapbox now. Take down your “Sod the others – Vote for Us” posters. It’s all over for now. The people have spoken and they said “Errr”. Anyway, I don’t understand … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 415 – Bill and two Bens
I made hard work for myself with this puzzle by writing in several incorrect answers. I guess I was hurrying and didn’t read the clues properly, and sometimes wrote in what I didn’t … Read more >>
Independent 7327 (Sat 10 Apr) Scorpion – Brotherly Love?
No Nina or theme that I can see despite the perimeter of grids like this often being used for such purposes. But then I often miss them. For instance I was blissfully unaware … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 414 – Feudal Utopia
I didn’t know much about Sir Thomas More’s Utopia beyond its fame, but after finding a link for 21D and reading around I realise what a big deal this was. Utopia from the … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 413 – Drag me down
Our text today is taken from St Eter of the Managras: Yea, it is harder for a good man to answer the inquiry of Chilcot than a Queen Bee to enter a Myrtle. … Read more >>