Simon Harding – Page 16 – Fifteensquared

Beelzebub 1,207

Sun April 28, 2013 at 1:34 pm by Simon Harding

Well I never. It has been a while, but this was a rare unaided finish for your blogger. I suspect the enforced discipline of tackling the puzzle over a quiet pint or two … Read more >>

Independent 8,273 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 20/04/13)

Sat April 27, 2013 at 12:45 am by Simon Harding

A challenging puzzle, as one tends to expect from a Bannsider, but I got there. It took almost the entire week, but I did manage to finish unaided, though one or two took … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,207 by Poins

Sun April 14, 2013 at 11:14 am by Simon Harding

A very enjoyable Sunday crossword from Poins, with at least a couple of chuckles along the way. Whilst I think I’ve almost explained everything, one or two bits and pieces didn’t quite click … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,205

Sat April 27, 2013 at 12:46 amSun April 14, 2013 at 9:00 am by Simon Harding

Apologies for the tardy post, and many thanks to Gaufrid for pointing out the oversight. This was quite a tough week, so there are a couple I haven’t been able to explain fully. … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,203

Sun March 31, 2013 at 9:00 am by Simon Harding

A fairly tough challenge, I thought. There was plenty to confim in Chambers before blogging, but I think I’ve managed to explain everything this week. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>

Independent 8,243 by Anax (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 16/03/13)

Sat March 23, 2013 at 10:36 pmSat March 23, 2013 at 10:33 am by Simon Harding

A year or two ago I seemed to draw an Anax every time it was my turn to blog a Saturday Indy. Like female flatmates, it seemed that our cycles had synchronised. Strangely, … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,201

Sun March 17, 2013 at 4:53 pm by Simon Harding

A very tough week. There was plenty to look up, both definitions and wordplay elements, much of which was only to be found in Chambers. The wordplay for 7ac eludes me, while 27ac … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,203 by Commoner

Sun March 17, 2013 at 4:41 am by Simon Harding

I believe Commoner to be a new name to the IoS, and if that’s the case, then welcome! This was very much in the style to which we’ve become accustomed: a good Sunday … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,199

Sun March 10, 2013 at 12:51 pmSun March 3, 2013 at 9:00 am by Simon Harding

A good and fairly tough puzzle this week. Plenty of insertions and less abbreviations than usual, I thought, which is not a complaint. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,197

Sun February 17, 2013 at 8:50 pmSun February 17, 2013 at 6:43 pm by Simon Harding

A medium-paced Beelzebub this week, I thought. Not too hard and not too easy, but with plenty to enjoy. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 DUPE – P[ill] in … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,199 by Alchemi

Sun February 17, 2013 at 10:05 amSun February 17, 2013 at 9:32 am by Simon Harding

This seems to be the first occasion on which I’ve blogged an Alchemi puzzle. I must admit I found it fairly challenging, requiring a few sittings thoughout the week. The explanation for 3dn … Read more >>

Independent 8,213 by Monk (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 09/02/13)

Sun February 17, 2013 at 9:00 amSat February 16, 2013 at 1:14 pm by Simon Harding

Thinking back, I’m not certain that I’ve ever actually managed to finish off a Monk puzzle, so no surprises that this was a bit of a slog. I can’t add much other than, … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,195

Mon February 4, 2013 at 9:27 pmSun February 3, 2013 at 9:30 am by Simon Harding

A solve of two halves for me this week: a brisk start followed by fairly slow progress through the remainder. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 SCAPUS – CAP … Read more >>

Beelzebub 1,193

Tue January 22, 2013 at 10:49 pmSun January 20, 2013 at 2:01 pm by Simon Harding

This was a particularly challenging week, I found. In fact it’s rare that I’m completely beaten by a clue even as I blog the puzzle, but two have come along at once. At … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1,195 by Crosophile

Sun January 20, 2013 at 2:02 am by Simon Harding

I must admit to finding this one relatively tough for a Sunday. That isn’t a complaint since it was terribly good, but it did take a little longer than usual and one or … Read more >>