Independent 6753/Nestor (07-06-08)
Great puzzle from this consistently entertaining and challenging setter. Still don’t understand 28, 1, and 16 and not sure about the definition at 6. Across 8 L,EVERET[-t] – which is a young hare. … Read more >>
neildubya
Independent 6757/Virgilius
The 2008 US Open Golf Championship starts today at the Torrey Pines course in San Diego, CA. Virgilius commemorates this fact in his usual inimitable style. Across 1 S,T,N in ACE 4 (EGG … Read more >>
Guardian 24413 Paul – “Wat, Watt, What ?”
Harder than the average Paul today – or maybe my brain is slow in sympathy with this BT Broadband connection. ACROSS 8 THERE ARE NO FLIES ON HIM – tracksuit bottoms rarely come … Read more >>
Independent 6747/Virgilius
The theme for this puzzle is Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”. The 12, the 13, the 18, the 20, the 24 and the 8 all have their own tales, as does the Nun’s 22. Indeed,”Canterbury … Read more >>
Independent 6750/Dac
Across 1 MAT,THE,W – not sure which writer this is referring to; perhaps the author of the Gospel of MATTHEW? 5 DEFACED – the letters of which are all musical notes. 10 OB,[-a]VIATING … Read more >>
Guardian 24,406 Quantum
I was sorry to hear of the death of Eric Burge, who I’ve “only” known through his Quantum crosswords in The Guardian. To a non-crossworder, it would seem that I should therefore hardly … Read more >>
Independent 6741/Nimrod
Ran into a brick wall about halfway through this one and then spotted the Nina (referenced in 9), which got things moving again. Still don’t understand a few things here and there though. … Read more >>
Independent 6745/Scorpion
I found this easier than usual for this setter but there are still a few bits and pieces that I don’t understand. Across 1 (STOUT MUSCULAR)* – interestingly, this could have been CUMULOSTRATUS … Read more >>
Guardian 24399 Paul : “Render Bender”
Pretty straightforward Paul today, but full of fun. ACROSS 1 s(kim)py 4 pi-l-char-d 9 tackle : typical Paulish schoolboy humour – made my day 10 pa(m ay)res : author of “I wished I’d … Read more >>
Independent 6735/Morph
Across 6 MA,(HID)* – MAHDI (“Guided one”) was the prophesied redeemer of Islam. MA is the Internation Vehicle Registration (IVR) for Morocco. 9 (MESSY ST)* – SYSTEMS. 10 ANDOVER – DNA is “AND … Read more >>
Independent 6737/Monk
Across 1 PAL,(NIMROD)*,E – “sees” is an example of a PALINDROME. 9 ANT,AR(C)TIC,A – “artic” is short for articulated lorry. 12 CONSTITUTION – I know this is right because I checked it using … Read more >>
Independent 6729/Nimrod
Across 11 TESTAMENTS – the definition is “more than one will” and I think the wordplay is suggesting moving the TE from STATEMENTS to the front. 12 TARS,US 14 GIN< in THE,NO (also … Read more >>
Guardian 24390 Paul : “Cheer Up, Paul”
I did this in Oxford Services at 7 a.m after driving 2 hours from Manchester on my way to London and am blogging when I really should be working – so this … Read more >>
From the HR Department
We’ve had quite a few bloggers join us over the last few months so I thought I’d take the opportunity to introduce them all. On the Guardian side, Diagacht and Manehi share a … Read more >>
Independent 6730/Mass
I found this quite hard as birds, along with trees, are not a strong point with me. I’d never heard of a 13, a 14 or a 16 but eventually got them from … Read more >>