Guardian Quiptic 850/Beale
I found this a difficult Quiptic, and when I’d finished solving and blogging it, I discovered why. Quiptics with a theme are about as rare as hens’ teeth, but there’s one here. It’s … Read more >>
Pierre
Everyman 3619/14 February
A Valentine’s Day puzzle from Everyman. Apologies for the late appearance of this, but I was busy on the 14th being romanced by shedloads of attractive and rich fifty-something divorcees, which took my … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 848/Pan
I enjoyed this Quiptic from Pan, but a bit tricky in places, I thought. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) … Read more >>
Independent 9153/Radian
Given the news at the weekend about the Independent no longer appearing in print form, this will be my second to last blog of the puzzle in the paper. Just hoping that all … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1354/Kairos
Possibly the most difficult Kairos I’ve ever blogged or solved. I know that I keep banging on about this, but within the crossword universe, the IoS is meant to be an ‘accessible’ puzzle, … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 846/Moley
Bonjour. Thank goodness January is over. Slightly terse blog this morning, because I’m on a bit of a mission with work commitments. But good stuff from Moley – what did you think? … Read more >>
Independent 9135/Lohengrin
Lohengrin made his debut in the Indy/Sindy only a few months ago. It has taken me a while to get used to his style, but I thought that this was generally a well-constructed … Read more >>
Everyman 3615
Nothing too much to frighten the horses here, which is how it should be. Mostly charades, insertions and anagrams, but it’s a puzzle for improving solvers, so fair play. Abbreviations … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 844/Nutmeg
I never thought that I’d be writing this sentence, but this Quiptic from Nutmeg didn’t really do the business for me this morning. Some words that perhaps shouldn’t get … Read more >>
Indepedent on Sunday 1350/Raich
The first IoS crossword of 2016, Raich as the setter, and my turn to solve and blog. Life is good. You can always rely on Raich to provide a good Sindy offering. A … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 842/Pan
A sound Quiptic from Pan. Perhaps a bit tricky in places, but I’ll put that down to having been roughed up by Radian in the Independent earlier on this morning. … Read more >>
Independent 9117/Radian
Firstly, best wishes for 2016 from me to everyone in the Fifteensquared community. Secondly, Chuffing Nora. If the concept of the Monday Indy puzzle being ‘the easy one’ started disappearing last year, … Read more >>
Everyman 3611/20 December
My fellow blogger flashling commented that last week’s Everyman was harder than usual. I would echo that today. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 840/Moley
A good Quiptic from Moley this morning, but a bit tough in places. Or perhaps that’s just me suffering brain fade after hearing Frosty the fricking Snowman in my local Sainsbury’s just too … Read more >>
Independent 9100/Punk
Please tell me that this was hard. It took me three goes to finally pin this down, but looking back you think ‘why was that so difficult?’ I have chuntered on a bit, … Read more >>