Guardian 24,234 – Paul – it’s been fun…
This will be my last regular blog for Fifteensquared as I can’t find the time to write blogs, compile puzzles, find time for my family and my other hobbies, oh! and work, of … Read more >>
loonapick
Guardian 24,229 – Paul (as late as a ScotRail train!)
Sorry for the delay in getting this to you, but at the time I had planned to write this blog, I was sitting in a cold train in snowy Aviemore because the windscreen … Read more >>
Guardian 24,222 – Araucaria/Is there a theme?
A typically challenging puzzle from the master himself. There are a few mini-themes such as religion (NUNNERY, WHITED SEPULCHRE, LOURDES, EXCOMMUNICATION), the Crusades (GRAIL, BALDWIN), a couple of medical terms (FEMORAL, LUSTRAL) and … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,215/Puck – the good, the bad and the ugly?
In my opinion, a mixture of brilliant clues (5, 10, 20) and some of the things I don’t like so much in puzzles (14, 24) and a couple of clues where I’m not … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,208 – Rufus/That’s better…
Didn’t realise it was my turn to do the Grauniad; my apologies for the late post. A nice easy start to the week. I am normally one of Rufus’s harshest critics, but this … Read more >>
Inquisitor 40 – New Broom by Dimitry
Sorry for the late post, but I have to admit that I really struggled with this one, and I haven’t quite finished it, as one of the answers still has me beat. Once … Read more >>
Guardian 24,206 – Brendan/Ambiguity
A clever themed crossword which shows the ambiguity of the English language. Most of the across clues and some of the down clues lead to words which have two conflicting definitions. Time taken: … Read more >>
Guardian 24,196/Rufus – Typical Monday fare
The usual mix from Rufus today – some excellent, some not quite so good. Solving time – a little under 8 minutes ACROSS 1 MA(CAB)RE 5 STOKER – shame the setter didn’t find a way … Read more >>
Inquisitor 38/Nutmeg – OI
For once I tackled the Inquisitor on the day of publication, and, by lunchtime, it was finished. This wasn’t particularly diificult by Inquisitor standards, and would be a good puzzle for soomeone who … Read more >>
Guardian 24,187/Paul – Poetic Licence?
A typical fun crossword from Paul – an enjoyable challenge as he doesn’t allow the rules to get in the way of a good clue. Time taken – 14mins, approximately ACROSS 1 see 19dn … Read more >>
Inquisitor 36/Kea – Olympic Jigsaw
Jigsaw puzzles like this add a new element to solving a barred crossword, because you have to solve a significant percentage of the clues before you can start placing them in the grid. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,180/Araucaria – One for the bibliophiles
A literary romp from Araucaria – five of the down answers are the names of books and there’s at least two more literary reference among the clues. Great fun, just a shame that … Read more >>
Guardian 24,173/Pasquale – Tuesday toughie
(Apologies for the late post – solved the puzzle earlier today, and forgot to write the blog!!) This was a toughie, especially after the usual Rufus romp yesterday. Some very unusual words and … Read more >>
Inquisitor 34/Phi – Look Here! No, Here! No, Here!
Either I am getting better at Inquisitors or this one was not as challenging as it first appeared. When I bought the paper last week, I took one look at the puzzle and … Read more >>
Guardian 24,166 – Rufus
Sorry for the late post. Don’t have a lot to say about this puzzle. Mostly fair, some good surfaces, the usual smattering of cryptic definitions that Rufus likes to use. I’m not convinced … Read more >>