Guardian 24,140 – Auster/Mixed bag
This is the first time I have blogged an Auster puzzle. This one has a real mix of very clever and very easy clues, as well as one or two that don’t pass … Read more >>
loonapick
Inquisitor 28/Schadenfreude – Changing Places
There aren’t many things more satisfying than that moment when solvers of the Inquisitor or The Listener experience when the device the setter has used to complicate the puzzle reveals itself. A light-bulb … Read more >>
Guardian 24,133/Araucaria – well content to finish this one!
A typical Araucaria crossword, which hinges on being able to solve one key clue. In this case the key answer was the one at 19ac. Once you have that worked out, the rest … Read more >>
Guardian 24,126 – Brummie (Weird Science (see 1,9)
Sorry for the lateness of this blog; I thought I was due to do Friday’s this week, and only realised that it was my turn when the puzzle hadn’t been blogged. Upon checking … Read more >>
Inquisitor 26/Nitsy – Game of Chance
As far as Inquisitors go, this puzzle by a compiler I have never come across before was relatively easy. Many of the clues were of a standard that would not be out of … Read more >>
Guardian 24,121/Quantum – hoist?
I’ve blogged Quantum 3 or 4 times before, and I think I have been fairly mild with my criticism in each case. I don’t really enjoy solving a Quantum crossword, especially a waorkaday … Read more >>
Guardian 24,114/Brendan – I may be missing something?
Given the number of black squares in the grid and the lack of difficulty in this puzzle, I was expecting there to be a theme, but, if it’s there, I can’t find it. … Read more >>
Inquisitor 24/Loda – Mucking About
Sorry for the delay in getting this blog ready, but I struggled with this puzzle, because I couldn’t work out the device required to fill the grid. As usual when I seek inspiration, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,107/Paul – whatchamacallits and thingummyjigs
A typical Paul effort with clues ranging from easy to difficult, and a collection of words some will know, and others won’t. I quite enjoy the mental challenge of a Paul puzzle, but … Read more >>
Guardian 24,100 – Audreus/challenging
This was quite tough for a Monday, with some obscure words mixed in with references to Shakespeare, mythology, ancient alphabets and poetry. All in all, it was enjoyable to solve, and took me … Read more >>
Guardian 24,098 – Chifonie/a few minutes’ work
Chifonie’s puzzles tend to be fair and on the easier side. This one was no exception (solved in about 7 minutes), although I can’t work out the wordplay for 8dn, so if anyone … Read more >>
Guardian 24,092/Quantum
This puzzle is dominated by four long down entries. Once you have solved them, the rest of the answers become much easier to fathom out. It was generally fair, and there are some … Read more >>
Inquisitor #20/Circumstances by MynoT
For reasons I still don’t quite know, this puzzle took me ages to solve. When I look back on it now, it appears to be fairly straightforward as far as themed puzzles go. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,085 – Araucaria – always a pleasure
When I opened the Guardian website today to see whose puzzle I’d be blogging, I had that familair sense of unease that comes from seeing the name “Araucaria”. Don’t get me wrong – … Read more >>
Guardian 24,071/Brendan – “almost” easy
In my mind, while solving this puzzle, I was thinking that this preamble would say how easy this crossword was, then I came across a word I didn’t know, but was able … Read more >>