smiffy

I couldn’t spot anything here that required more than a cursory explanation, but please leave a message after the tone if you disagree…..beep…. Across 1 EARTHQUAKE – (heart)* + quake 7 CUFF – … Read more >>

A few clues in here where the wordplay or structure seem to be a bit too forced, in order to make the idea work (e.g. 19A, 2D).  However, the impressive device at 3D … Read more >>

I found a few of the clues in this either flirted with verbosity and/or led to quite clunky wordplay. By way of redemption, we do have a couple of laudable clues (e.g. 12 … Read more >>

Probably for some, but today’s theme is certainly not a strong suit for me. I had to resort to online verification for two answers (15/21 and 29A) and outright cheating on another (12A), … Read more >>

Other than having to confirm a couple of answers post-solving (5A and 21D) this was not particularly mind-warping in nature. If anything, this puzzle struck me as having all most as much corn … Read more >>

A well-balanced smattering of general knowledge categories (and at the Trivial Pursuit, rather than Mastermind, level). A couple of Oxbridge college names cropped up early on while solving, which lured me briefly into … Read more >>

I hope that my appraisal of this puzzle is not jaundiced by having solved it in something of an already bleary-eyed mood. I found this to be an balanced  blend of innovative ideas, … Read more >>

Please excuse the drive-by blog, which I’ll aim to flesh out in a couple of hours.  (I can sympathise with the clue at 8D today.)  Not  much to explain, although I suspect that … Read more >>

I seemed to solve this one in fits and starts; with groups of answers coming in short order, but punctuated by several lulls of a minute or two.  A smattering of nifty &lit … Read more >>

Unless my mind if failing me once more it’s been a case of  “long time/no see” from Dogberry.  Regardless, I found this puzzle typically 25A. Across 1 FORELOCK – cole(rev) in fork.  Sounds … Read more >>

As usual, Alberich dishes up a healthy dollop of clues where the surfaces are uncannily natural (14A, 15D and 19D being today’s exemplars). However, overall, I couldn’t help but feel that this pudding … Read more >>

A fairly benign workout – I even managed to solve this on-screen without too much difficulty (my printer having thrown another late night tantrum). A few of the clues (e.g. 26A, 19D) struck … Read more >>

To be honest, there was little in this puzzle to get my juices flowing. Too much a sense of simply “going through the motions” in this one.  Just hope everyone is well-versed on … Read more >>

A rapid-fire, skeletal posting for now as I’m won’t have any more free time for the next several hours. At least this leaves the stage clear for others to opine until I can … Read more >>

It’s hard to say exactly why Alberich’s puzzles amuse me so much. They seem to exude a sense of attention to detail and cliche-avoidance, which suggest that the clue-writing process was a labour … Read more >>