smiffy

More of a stroll through the woods than a machete-wielding jungle expedition.  But at least we took the scenic route, and it was fun while it lasted. Across 1 EASY MEAT – (May tease)*. … Read more >>

“A game of two halves” best describes my experience today.  Solved in a generally east-west direction, with the right-hand side providing early target practice while the left-hand side had me resorting more to … Read more >>

Suppose I should have seen the theme coming.  I thought Neo did well to stretch the thematic material as far as he did – even if it may be a little too innuendo-laden … Read more >>

Unusually scant annotation required for a Bradman puzzle, I felt; with most of the wordplay being nifty rather than nefarious.  A flurry of geographic answers and elements, coupled with an absence of any … Read more >>

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.  First, no puzzle available last night at the FT website and then no copies of the paper itself at my station this morning.  Online matters … Read more >>

One of those puzzles that (unusually and belatedly) only struck me as being potentially tricky during the blogging process, rather than the solving process.  It all seemed to drop into place quite readily … Read more >>

The pipeline of puzzles for the FT must be operating on a relatively short lead-time at present, as Redshank segues several topical clue surfaces on us today (e.g. 11A, 2D, 4D). Enough nifty … Read more >>

As good an Aardvark as I can recall.  Plenty of imaginative and diligent clueing ideas, including a salutary reminder to us all (at 6D) that a clue doesn’t have to be fiendishly technical … Read more >>

A few nice touches but, to be blunt, I couldn’t find an abundance of things to enthuse over today.  I shall be an absentee host today, as I’m travelling for much of the … Read more >>

The usual cordon bleu offering from Loroso.  Plenty of entertaining surfaces and ambitious, but fair, wordplay.  A few of the answer are at the more arcane end of the spectrum that we usually … Read more >>

This one of those puzzles that appeared quite daunting at first pass, but ended up being  plainer sailing than initially feared.  Mr/Mrs/Ms Phssthpok can usually be relied upon to inject more than their … Read more >>

A perfectly respectable crossword, with several particularly fine clues.  Just a pity for Styx that that it’s hard to escape the inevitable sense of “After the Lord Mayor’s show..” still lingering from yesterday’s … Read more >>

Plenty to get our laughing gear around today, particularly with several clues depending on a veritable diaspora of famous surnames from various realms.  I’ve simply name-checked them all, rather than provide an abundance … Read more >>

I found this one a little chewy in sections and on several occasions found myself resorting to the toothpick after digesting a clue.  In fairness to Orense, there is a reasonable sprinkling of … Read more >>

Another Thursday, another debut setter (or, at least, pseudonym).  My second new opponent in consecutive blogs – the FT editor must be broadening his church further still in 2011.  And it’s not too … Read more >>