manehi

Got through most of this quickly, but came unstuck for a long while on the last two – 21ac then 7dn. Favourite clues were 2dn and 8ac. Across 1 PAPER CLIP cryptic def … Read more >>

Not too difficult, but I really enjoyed this. 2dn in particular stood out, but there was a lot of clever cluing and surfaces here (10, 22, 24, 12dn…) Across 7 XEROXES =”runs off” … Read more >>

Found this quite tough for a Rufus – the SE corner held me up, and I had to resort to Google for 25ac given the unhelpful crossers. Favourite clues were 6dn and 8dn, … Read more >>

Fun and challenging, despite the two longer clues falling almost immediately. Favourites were 15a and 3d. Across 8 TERRAPIN =”reptile” (painter)* around R[ex]=”king” 10 STOW =”stuff” [as a verb] rev(WOT’S) – my Chambers … Read more >>

Enjoyable and not too difficult. Favourite clues were 18a, 21a and 11d. Across 1 GREAT APE =”Animal” EAT=”to have a meal” inside GRAPE=”fruit” 5 YAMMER =”Complain consistently” Y=”Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet + … Read more >>

Paul at his cheekiest, if not his most difficult. Across 1 GOBBLER double def =”One eating”; =”turkey” 5 ADVANCE =”Go on” A + TRIP=”dance” around V[enezuelan] 10 SAGA =”story” SAG=”Drop” + A 11 … Read more >>

Fun from Paul, without being too tricky. Favourites were 22ac and 1dn. Across 10 SEA ANEMONE =”water-dweller” SEEM=”appear” around A+AN=”two articles”,+ ONE 11 REVERB =”Rock guitarist’s assistant” EVER=”always” inside R and B 12 … Read more >>

Much as usual for a Monday Rufus. I did like the trio of linked double defs at 8ac, 1dn, 11dn. Across 7 OLEASTERS =”shrubs” (late roses)* 8 SPLIT double def =”Rent” in the … Read more >>

A Valentine’s crossword with a few well-worked mini-themes and lots of clever cluing – I particularly liked 13ac, 20ac/16dn, 25ac and 5dn/22dn. Groaned aloud at 19dn. Across 7 SAMOVAR =”Urn” [wiki] I think … Read more >>

Liked a lot of clues in this, especially 24ac, 27ac, 2dn and 8dn. A couple of question marks over 16ac and 7dn. Across 1 MANAGED =”Coped” M[eeting] + (agenda)* 5 TIDE RIP cryptic … Read more >>

Found this trickier than usual from Gordius, but very enjoyable. Favourite clues 12ac, 26ac and 1dn. Across 1 MONGREL =”unrefined types” hidden in “aMONG RELatively” 5 KAISER =”emperor” KA (Ford model) + IS … Read more >>

Very straightforward for a Thursday, without much misdirection in the definitions. Across 1 ON TIME =”punctual” ONE=”Somebody” around TIM=”boy” 4 PEA GREEN =”colour” PEN=”Writer” around AGREE=”match” 9 ON EDGE =”Nervous” ON=”working” + EDGE=”creep” … Read more >>

Gentle start to the week from Rufus. 7 and 13 made me smile. Across 1 ORANGE-TIP =”Butterfly” [wiki] (operating)* 6 BAIT =”lure” IT=”sex appeal” after BA=”degree” 8 SCHOONER =”vessel” as in boat &lit … Read more >>

Found this very tricky, but really enjoyed the various uses [and non-use] of the interlinked clues. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to parse 1dn yet – would appreciate any help. Edit: thanks to … Read more >>

Typically gentle and pleasant from Rufus. Favourite clues 16ac and 13dn. Across 1 IMPRECISE =”Approximate” (price semi)* 6 POOL double def. =”People available”; =”a game” 8 INSCRIBE =”Write letters” IN + CRIB=”bed” inside … Read more >>