scchua

Financial Times 13731 Courtier

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Since this setter was new to me, I searched and found that he/she makes just a single appearance in the FT every 2nd half of June, since 2008.  This coincides with another annual event, … Read more >>

Financial Times 13725 Neo

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This was a relaxing puzzle with which to restart blogging.  All straightforward, and perhaps made easier by quite a few anagrams (9 answers which are complete anagrams).  Got off to a roaring start … Read more >>

Financial Times 13707 Jason

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This was quite a challenge, partly I think because I’ve not done any or many Jasons.  After some time, though, things came together, and finally had only one iffy answer.  A 4-letter light … Read more >>

Financial Times 13701 REDSHANK

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First time I’m blogging this setter, and can’t say whether I’ve done his puzzles previously.  Slow start, but progressed steadily.  He seems to favour &lits, at least in this puzzle, and there are … Read more >>

Financial Times 13695 PHSSTHPOK

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My first FT blog was a PHSSTHPOK, so I’ve come full circle.  But this was slightly more difficult than the first.  But got there in the end, after correcting a spelling error in … Read more >>

Financial Times 13,689 / Hamilton

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Sorry if this looks ragged.  My original bells and whistles one disappeared when I hit the Publish button, and I’m now late for dinner.  Normal service will resume next week. This was enjoyably … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 599 Pan

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Quite a straightforward puzzle, putting it somewhere left of centre in the difficulty spectrum for a Quiptic.  Thanks Pan.  Also thanks to fellow blogger, flashling, from whom I’ve copied the additional idea of … Read more >>

Financial Times 13683 Jason

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This was quite relaxingly enjoyable.  Thanks Jason. Across 1 We men are at the top of church’s structure (12) STEEPLEJACKS:  JACKS(plural of male name for men) +(at)  STEEPLE(the top of church’s structure literally).  Defn:  … Read more >>

Financial Times 13677 Armonie

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This was quite a smooth solve, except for 7A which held me up for a bit.  In fact the “spare” time from the faster completion, was spent in embellishing (maybe too much, in … Read more >>

Financial Times 13672 Loroso

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 This has been gruelling!  It took me the better part of the day to finish, the last 2 being 25 and 23.  Looking back I think the difficulty was contributed by the lower … Read more >>

Financial Times 13666 Neo

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Completed this faster than I expected.  Some nice &lits and misdirections here.   Thanks Neo for an enjoyable puzzle.  A numerology believer (which I’m not) might find some significance in the number of this … Read more >>

Financial Times 13660 Armonie

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Worked myself up from the bottom row, having got none of the top half acrosses on the first pass.  But quite a quick solve in the end.  Enjoyable, straightforward clueing with no obscurities.  Thanks … Read more >>

Financial Times 13654/PHSSTHPOK

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This is my debut FT blog.  Thought I was going to be in trouble after getting only 1 in the initial run-through.  And the clue for 5D seemed to tell me something!  But … Read more >>