nmsindy

Some unfamiliar words, in which the clues helped with friendly wordplay. Quite easy overall, solving time, 17 mins Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. * = anagram … Read more >>

The usual excellent puzzle from Dac. Good variety, some easier than others as it should be, but all yielding in the end. Solving time, 23 mins. * = anagram < = reversal ACROSS … Read more >>

The usual pleasing puzzle from Quixote. Quite easy, I found, solving time, 14 mins. Would recommend these puzzles to beginners, clues self-contained with little cultural knowledge required (either classical or modern) to solve. … Read more >>

A very, satisfying, toughish, puzzle with the puzzle number used thematically. Solving time, 29 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 4 KEBA BS (bake)* bs = US abbrev for ‘bullshit’ 9 … Read more >>

Some very good and varied material here – quick progress early on, but slow to finish. Solving time: 28 mins * = anagram ACROSS 7/19 CAPE FEAR (A preface)* 8 (St)ALL (THE SAME) … Read more >>

I found this a little harder than usual from Quixote. Solving time: 27 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. < = reversed * = anagram ACROSS … Read more >>

Not too difficult a puzzle, I thought. Solving time, 15 mins. All the four 15-letter entries were direct anagrams. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 1 … Read more >>

Another superb themed puzzle from Virgilius, with the usual crop of outstanding clues, wonderful surface readings and many a smile raised. Solving time: 21 mins. The theme is phrases with the abbreviation PC. … Read more >>

I found this easier than usual, solving time 10 mins < = reversed   * = anagram ACROSS 1 SP (A R) RING  PARTNE R   entrap<    r =right 9 SP (L) IT    … Read more >>

I found this one fairly straightforward, solving time 15 mins. Notes on some clues below, happy to explain others if asked. * = anagram ACROSS 4 SCR AMBLE Senior Common Room 11 LI … Read more >>

Not too difficult today. Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram ACROSS 10 BUTTONED UP Double definition 11 AN (G) ORA (k) 17 BEST OWER 21 CIVIL (I) TIES I = electric current … Read more >>

Theme – explicitly stated – 8 down – for those of us not too familiar with them, friendly clues made them deducible or guessable. Solving time, 31 mins. < = reversed * = … Read more >>

I found this a very tough puzzle, esp the lower half but also the long 20-letter phrase in the top half which was new to me.    But I got there in the end … Read more >>

A little harder than usual from Quixote, I found. Solving time, 31 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 6 S (last letter of chips) CUP … Read more >>