diagacht

Second last time out I had Puck also. No surprise then to find some tricky wordplay. I enjoyed this once I got going but I had the feeling this could have been a … Read more >>

This has not been a good day for me: two clues I have not decoded and some others that I find unsatisfactory, which probably means I’ve missed something. Across 8 PRIORATE: PR (priest) … Read more >>

An interesting themed puzzle with some tricky clues. The special instructions refer to different rules for 13 and 15, and that is the way in to the theme. Across 1,16D LONDON BRONCOS: LONDON … Read more >>

Many congratulations to Rufus on this his 1,000th puzzle! Across 1 THEBES: almost THE BES(t) 5 SET ASIDE: SEASIDE around T (end of augus(T)) 9 DEMERARA: anagram of RARE and MADE 10 OTTAWA: … Read more >>

The week starts with Rufus. Exactly what you might expect with a large number of cryptic definitions. Across 1 EJECTS: (r)EJECTS with R right away 5 SHOWCASE: double definition 9 ABOVE ALL: anagram … Read more >>

Very enjoyable puzzle with a cleverly clued theme. Very Paul, very good. Across 8 CINERAMA: anagram of AMERICAN 9 ANODES: O (nothing) in ANDES (range) 11 LINSEED OIL: anagram of DEONISE in LL … Read more >>

I enjoyed this start to the week. It is all that you might expect from Rufus with the usual imaginative cryptic definitions. Across 8 RAW-BONED: RAW (uncooked) + BONED (filleted) 9 EERIE: EER … Read more >>

diagacht has web access problems today but has supplied the following analysis without a preamble. Across 8 CALABASH: A LAB (a little dog) in CASH (rhino) 9 HARTE: ART in HE (not sure … Read more >>

I enjoyed this but then I always enjoy Araucaria. Across 1 DROPLET: DR (debtor, one obligated) + OP (work) + LET (for hire) 9 ATHENAEUM: A + THE (articles) + anagram of A … Read more >>

Starting the week off with Rufus. A typical enjoyable Rufus crossword with a high number of cryptic definitions. Across 8 SICK NOTE: anagram of TICKS ONE 9 LARVA: R in LAVA (burning issue) … Read more >>

Fairly straightforward for a Friday. Across clue no. here comment here 1 PAGEANT: AGE in PANT (huff and puff) 5 PLONKER: PLONK (wine) + ER (half of beER) 9 ROOST: ROO (Australian animal) … Read more >>

Not a lot of time this morning. 15a, 4d and 19d point to lots of ‘films’. Not sure how the cryptic works with any of them. Across 8 THANKS TO: anagram of THATS … Read more >>

A themed puzzle with one clue still puzzling me (3D) Across 1 BLIXEN: BLIX (Dr Hans Blix of WMD fame) + EN (directions); Karen Blixen, author, 1885-1992 4 MIX-UPS: homophone for MICK SUPS … Read more >>

It’s Monday and Rufus is up to his usual tricks Across 1 PACIFISTS: and they don’t like to strike! 6 AGED: anagram of AGED 10 EVERY: E (cigarettE end) + VERY (a signalling … Read more >>