manehi

Relatively easy, but beautifully clued from Paul. I particularly liked 1ac, 11ac, 21ac, 27ac and 15dn. Across 1 Delivery man at the door (7) BOUNCER =”Delivery” in cricket; =”man at the door” 5 … Read more >>

Not too difficult today, but all very well and fairly clued. I liked 9ac and especially 13dn. Across 1 What tennis players may be doing in the forces (7) SERVING Double def. =”What … Read more >>

Tough, but not as impossible as it seemed on the first run through. Had to use Google to parse 23dn. Some very nice cluing, my favourites were 10ac, 19/20ac and 6dn. Across 9 … Read more >>

All very pleasant and straightforward from Rufus today. My favourites were 19ac and 3dn. Across 1 Tyrannise work force (7) OPPRESS =”Tyrannise”. OP=”work” plus PRESS=”force” 5 Mature pine lasting many years (3-4) AGE-LONG … Read more >>

Tough, but excellent puzzle on a topical theme. Plenty of clever clues and surfaces, and I groaned aloud at 1dn. [There is a thematic nina around the edge of the grid, going clockwise.] … Read more >>

A little gentler than usual from Pasquale, but very enjoyable – I really liked 11ac, 23ac and 10dn. Across 1 Severely punish, making someone accept work forcibly? (5,3,4,2) THROW THE BOOK AT Literally … Read more >>

Got quite stuck several times, mostly in the NW corner, but really enjoyed this. Favourites were 17ac and 19dn. Across 1 Tree dweller’s westbound US ruffle work (6) POSSUM =”Tree dweller”. reversal=”westbound”, of … Read more >>

This took three sittings, even after guessing at the theme from the wordplay of 10ac early in my second attempt. 5ac, 16dn and 21dn were unfamiliar but gettable in the end. Favourites 11ac … Read more >>

Good fun from Paul today, though not too difficult as once I figured out the theme there were quite a few write-ins. Theme: L is the first letter of Labour, or the “Labour … Read more >>

Found this pretty tough, with 24ac/1dn, 11ac and 14dn all unfamiliar. Favourite clues were 8ac, 10ac and 25ac. Edit thanks to grandpuzzler Across 1 ACCRA Heading west, curve around port (5) =”port”. Reversal … Read more >>

Some tough cluing here, I struggled after getting the long 19d solution almost immediately. Favourites were 11ac, 22ac, 16dn and the groan-worthy 8dn. edited, thanks to cholecyst and Eileen Across 1 TESTIS =”ball” … Read more >>

Found this very slow going, and had to come back to it twice in the end. Lovely cluing throughout, my favourites were 14ac and 22dn. Thanks for the comments re: 9dn, and (especially … Read more >>

Nothing too tricky here, but all very smoothly done. Favourites were 15ac, 3dn and 14dn. Across 1 CURTSY =”Bob” CURT=”brusque” + S[l]Y=”heartlessly cunning” 4 ALCOPOP =”drink” A + COP=”bobby” inside LOP=”dock”=cut the end … Read more >>

Very straightforward from Rufus today. I liked 12ac, 17ac, 8dn and especially 25dn. Across 1 SERVICE cryptic def The start of proceedings on a tennis court. 5 CHABLIS =”Wine” (cash bill)*, minus L=Roman … Read more >>

Found this tough, though all the cluing was very fair. Favourites were 5dn and 15dn. Across 1 PLUNDER =”Rob” bLUNDER=”mistake”, with a “misprinting” of the “initial letter” 5 FLUSHED =”looking roseate” FLU=”Illness”, SHED=”got … Read more >>