shuchi

Many witty clues with nice surfaces today. I found this pleasant and not too tough. Favourites: APPENDIX, ACACIA. Across 1 CUT A DASH CUT (canal, as a verb in the wordplay) + D … Read more >>

Solid, satisfying challenge from Alberich as always. Clarifications needed for 18A, 29A. // Updated with clarifications. Thanks to Gaufrid. Across 9 GUATEMALA (MET AUG)< A LA (city) 10 ABUSE AE (Scots word for … Read more >>

This was quite easy and pleasant. It helped to get the two long ones at 1,9 and 8,28 quickly. There’s a slight ‘floral inclination’ in the bottom-right (17D, 21D), the checking and wordplay … Read more >>

A nice mix of easy and tough clues in this entertaining puzzle. One or two parsings need help. Across 1 CONSTRUCTS CON (prisoner) STRUT (swagger) around C[ell] + S (suit) 7 PEST (TAPES)* … Read more >>

A super-quick solve, with pauses to smile at some amusing wordplay. I have a few quibbles here and there, like the repetition of certain devices (VICE and firm=CO) but nothing too bad. Across … Read more >>

A delightful puzzle, the two long anagrams at 1D, 10D being the highlights. Quite tough too, had to pick up my dictionary several times. The top-right corner was especially tricky taking me double … Read more >>

A stimulating, challenging puzzle from Satori. This is the first Satori puzzle I’m blogging about; it is sad that he is no more. For those who missed it, tributes to the fine compiler … Read more >>

On the easy side today, though I did have to look up UZI and BERG. All the long clues were specially good. Favourites: 10A, 12A, 3D and the little one at 25D. Across … Read more >>

A toughie today! Lots of clever wordplay, deliciously misleading definitions. A treat to solve. Across 1 SALMAN RUSHDIE &lit. Wonderful anagram to start the puzzle with. 9 MUSTARD STAR (the Sun) in MUD … Read more >>

I was pressed for time today and so I’m happy there is an easyish Friday puzzle for a change. The RHS came together very quickly; the LHS took longer as I had a … Read more >>

A fun challenge from Mudd with some creative indicators. Many clues had me entertained, and I picked up some new slang along the way. Across 9 SCARLATTI CARL (Nielsen) in SAT (day) + … Read more >>

Usual great stuff from Bradman. In particular I liked PRONOUNCE, COLORADO, LOTUS-EATER. The left of the grid came together slower than the right. APOGEE was not so familiar, and the incomplete 13a in … Read more >>

A characteristically challenging, well-crafted offering from Viking. Across 1 AMBLER [g]AMBLER (better). Ref. to Eric Ambler, English author of spy novels. 4 TWO PIECE CE (church), after (POW)< (internee) in TIE (restraint) 10 … Read more >>

Alberich is such a delight to solve. Many great clues here, my favourites were USURY, UNHINGE, INANE. Almost no specialist knowledge needed in this puzzle, the difficulty comes from clever wordplay. I found … Read more >>

Straightforward puzzle today. Some of the wordplay uses lesser-known meanings of familiar words (such as to=shut, out=seawards), but nothing very obscure or controversial. Across 1 PASTRY PA’S TRY. Nice surface. 4 TOP BRASS … Read more >>