Beelzebub 915/Columba (26-08-07)
This was definitely trickier than the last few Beelzebub puzzles but still very enjoyable. Not sure about the wordplay for 11A though. Across 5 N in UP,LACE – LACE can be a verb … Read more >>
neildubya
Independent 6514/Bannsider (01-09-07)
Very tough but lots of fun. There are a couple of things I’m not sure about here and there and one answer I can get at all (10A) but I thought this was … Read more >>
Independent 6517/Dac – About a boy
I don’t think this was as tough as some recent Dac puzzles but I have a feeling that 9A will trip some people up… Across 1 COMMOD[-or]ES 6 SHREW,D 9 BADLY DRAWN BOY … Read more >>
Independent 6516/Virgilius
Something of a rarity for me: a Virgilius puzzle I didn’t enjoy all that much. I got the three thematic clues fairly quickly, probably because they’re not all that cryptic and I knew … Read more >>
Beelzebub 914/Phi (19-08-07)
I found this is a bit trickier than the last couple of Beelzebub puzzles and I even had to use Bradford’s on a couple of occasions. There are a couple of clues – … Read more >>
Independent 6508/Hypnos
Reasonably easy puzzle but with a sting in the tail for me. I got 4A quickly so was able to fill in the answers to the thematic clues with not much thought. The … Read more >>
Independent 6512/Nimrod
18D was the key to cracking this one although I somehow got two of the clues that refer to it before working out what was going on. I haven’t played Cluedo since I … Read more >>
Guardian 24168 / Gordius – Lock Up Your Dorters
A change of pace after yesterday’s Paul brainbuster. It still required two coffees, Mrs Stan and Crossword Buddy (http://www.loquax.co.uk/puzzles/) to complete however, which probably says more about the state of my mind than the … Read more >>
Guardian 24167/ Paul
I started slowly, and didn’t feel in tune with the puzzle at all, maybe it was the bruising effect of trying to solve Saturday’s twin puzzles……. Across 9 URTICARIA Often references to rash … Read more >>
Independent 6509/Tomohiro
I’ve only got time to say a few general comments on this puzzle so if anyone is stuck on any of the clues please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to … Read more >>
Beelzebub 913/Phi (12-08-07)
Another very entertaining puzzle in a series that I’m already mightily impressed with, even though this is only the third one I’ve solved. Couple of queries: 5D and 22D, which I’m sure are … Read more >>
Independent 6502/Virgilius (18-08-07) – Across the board
This was a very quick solve for me (8:47, since you asked) so I didn’t spot the (subtly done) theme until I had 2 or 3 answers to go in. I’ve mentioned all … Read more >>
Financial Times 12544/Jason
A nice enough puzzle but a few too many cryptic definitions for my liking. Lots for new solvers to get their 5As stuck into though. Across 1 WIND-BAG – a cryptic definition with … Read more >>
Guardian 24162/Brummie – from a Stan(d in)
I’m indebted to one of our regular commenters – stan – for this blog as we had a bit of a mix up this week and I assigned a puzzle to a blogger … Read more >>
Independent 6504/Virgilius
Thematically, there seems to be quite a bit going on in this puzzle. We have horses/ponies (1A, 10A, part of 14A, 17A, 21A and part of 26A, along with a reference to a … Read more >>