Independent 6680/Phi
A very nice puzzle with a mini-theme based on 28a. Eminently solvable, even for occasional wine drinkers like myself. Across 9 IN THE SOUP – “noodle” can mean a simpleton or blockhead, someone … Read more >>
neildubya
GUARDIAN 24,332 – RUFUS : Toothless
I didn’t have a lot of spare time this morning but this still didn’t fill it. I don’t usually give my solving time – but I managed to complete it during a 15 … Read more >>
Independent 6669/Bannsider
Another fantastic puzzle from Bannsider with a crop of great clues. My favourite was 21d but there are probably half a dozen others equally as good. I don’t understand 1d though and I … Read more >>
Guardian 24,330/Orlando
Pleasant mid/easy puzzle – certainly much less work than the Don-Monster yesterday. 1 CA-LI-GULA 5 BOXCAR : Didn’t quite get the Spoonerism – “Rocks Cab ?” 9 PO-CHARD-S : had to look this … Read more >>
Independent 6673/Morph
Very enjoyable puzzle from Morph – one of the easier Thursday puzzles we’ve had for a while. Across 1 BODICE RIPPER – v.amusing def + cryptic def to get us started. 9 TART,RATES … Read more >>
Guardian 24324/ Araucaria Friday Fun
I thought this was a terrific crossword, witty, entertaining and erudite. The bad news was that though I solved it I feel that sometimes I had answers without full understanding. So, more than … Read more >>
Independent 6668/Phi
Across 1 (WAS)* in DON – Les DAWSON, my favourite comedian when I was young. 10 WING,C,HAIR 11 TO[-l]KE[-i]N – Tolkein was the first name that sprung to mind when I saw “fantasy … Read more >>
Independent 6663/Scorpion
I have a number of crossword wishes waiting to be carried out by the crossword genie and one of them is for Scorpion puzzles to appear more often. Yes, they are very tough … Read more >>
Guardian 24,323 Shed : Apologies to Dafydd Gonzales …
… the Hispanic Welshman who would have been insulted by both 9a and 4d. The only bad thing about Shed crosswords are that they don’t come along often enough for my liking. Clever, … Read more >>
Guardian 24318/Rover – Flat Friday
I ended up feeling slightly deflated by this puzzle. There were a couple of clues which I really liked, and several that I thought were a bit pedestrian. Maybe it was me that … Read more >>
Independent 6657/Monk – Bullet-proof!
A puzzle of two halves for me; the Downs were all pretty easy but the Acrosses less so. All good fun though. No Nina or theme that I can see but I might … Read more >>
Guardian 24,316 Taupi – Lanstriterate
Quite straightforward, with a pleasing lack of green dolphins (see yesterday’s puzzle) ACROSS 1 PERI-PAT(h)ETIC : “peri” is a new one on me, but wiki has a good entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peri 9 E-ROSIV-E : … Read more >>
Independent 6659/Virgilius
Make the most of this puzzle, we might not see a Virgilius next week, unless he has a few puzzles in the pipeline. Not sure if this constitutes a theme but lots of … Read more >>
Independent puzzles online – an update
Good news for those of you wanting to try the Independent cryptic – puzzles are now available online on the same day as they appear in the newspaper (Saturday puzzles are still a … Read more >>
Independent 6651/Nestor
I found this very tough but a thoroughly enjoyable solve. Lots of great clues (my personal favourite is 12a), and a very clever touch at 19 and 20d. I’m still unsure about 17a, … Read more >>