manehi

Just wasn’t on the right wavelength today and found this very tough, even after the long 24etc solution went in. Favourite clue was 17ac. Across 1 BED REST &lit BE + DREST=”clothed no … Read more >>

Typical pleasant but gentle puzzle from Rufus. 22dn and 27ac were my favourites. Across 1 VOLTE-FACE =”A change of view” in French 6 SACK double def “Bag” + “loot” (verb) 8 DECANTER =”wine … Read more >>

Found this quite tricky to start with, but fairly enjoyable. Favourite clue 11ac. Across 7 NATALIE =”Girl” (Taline a)* 8 GALLEON =”ship” GAL=girl + LEON=boy 10 GLORIA =”girl” (original)*, minus IN=”home” 11 ALASTAIR … Read more >>

Was slightly underwhelmed by a straightforward start full of anagrams and hidden clues, then worked out the theme and smiled through the rest of the puzzle. Favourite clues 26ac and 20dn. Not too … Read more >>

Fairly standard for a Monday Rufus, albeit with a few slightly disappointing cryptic defs today. Across 1 JACKASS =”Fool” JACK=”sailor” + A + SS [steamship] 5 KNUCKLE cryptic def referring to knuckledusters [wiki] … Read more >>

Enjoyed this, with some easier solutions providing much-needed crossers to help with several tricky clues at the end. Favourites today were 12ac and 18ac. Across 1, 5 EXCUSE MY FRENCH =”pardonnez-moi” (r[evitalise] c[rêperie] … Read more >>

Mostly straightforward, but I did have to look up 5dn and 26ac afterwards. Favourite clue was 11ac. Edits thanks to tupu and NeilW Across 1 CANOPY =”Cover” AN=article inside COPY=transcript 4 PHYSIC =”traditional … Read more >>

Enjoyed this – got 8ac second last and got to play hunt-the-theme on the finished grid. Also liked 25ac. 22dn and 24dn. Across 8 FRUITFUL =”Productive” I can count 13 fruit hidden in … Read more >>

Enjoyable crossword with lots of nice surfaces and a clever little theme. Favourite clues: 2,21,22, 14 and 24. Across 9 TREACHERY =”infidelity” (Terry)* around ACHE=”desire” 10 NAMES =”Calls” rev(SE[a]MAN)=”sailor”, with an ‘a’=”one” docked … Read more >>

Excellent, challenging puzzle from Orlando today. Favourites were 13ac, 24ac and 20dn. Across 1 VANDAL =”Old German” tribe VANDA=”V and A”=Victoria and Albert museum, + L=”fifty” in roman numerals 4 LILY PAD =”FLOATER” … Read more >>

Enjoyed this a lot, especially the theme. Favourite clues 11a, 15d and 19d. Across 9 ACADEMISM =”adherence to formal rules”. An art movement influenced by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts (Madame is)* around … Read more >>

A tricky puzzle with some excellent cluing – I especially liked 14dn and 21dn. Across 9 ABHOR =”can’t stand” Hidden inside [ar]AB HO[rse] 10 NONE OTHER =”the very same” anagram of (E=”25’s first” … Read more >>

Enjoyed this, though the long down clues going in third and fourth meant it didn’t last very long. Favourite clue 21dn. Across 9 EAVESDROP =”spy” [L]EAVES DROP=”What happens in the fall, without starting” … Read more >>

Struggled with this even after getting 2,18 and then 7,5 quickly. In the end had to use the online “Cheat” button for 12ac. Favourite clue was 6dn. Across 7,5dn FRUIT AND VEGETABLES =”food” … Read more >>

A little tougher than usual for a Monday – my favourite clues were 19 and 20. Across 9 UNIFY =”Get together” UNI=”where students are” + F[riendl]Y=”extremely friendly” 10 RILLETTES =”Potted meat” [wiki] LETT=”European” … Read more >>