smiffy

A rare visit to the FT from the intriguingly-named Phssthpok. A well-balanced offering with some nice touches and a gentle smattering of intra-grid cross references. Feels like just the kind of puzzle that … Read more >>

In the interests of timely publication, I’ve kept annotations to a minimum today.  Nothing too untoward here, although the repeated use of “shock”=hair seems a touch gratuitous, and a couple of the single … Read more >>

Always gratifying to lock horns with Monk on his all too infrequent FT appearances. Fortuitously, I seemed to be on a similar wavelength to him today, which isn’t always the case. Also, solving 19A … Read more >>

Given that I’m posting relatively late in the day, I’ll keep the editorial comments to a minimum – in the interests of expediency.  There’s not really anything unduly tricky in here anyway, although I … Read more >>

I didn’t detect any over-arching theme in this puzzle, although the appearance of the word NINA in the sixth column could well mean that I’m missing something. Across 1 HUM,MIN(GB,IR)D 9 W,OR,SE – … Read more >>

With apologies for the later than usual posting.  Nothing desperately troublesome in this puzzle. Given the grid structure, I was half expecting some sort of Nina message to emerge in the outside columns.  … Read more >>

No real major sticking points on this one, although perhaps a couple of bones of contention on one or two clue structures.  Was a little disconcerted by how readily familiar I seem to be … Read more >>

After slogging my way through yesterday’s Monk puzzle last night, I was expecting much easier fare today.  However, this one was no cakewalk either, and I had to use the world of Wiki … Read more >>

A rare outing for the full-perimeter (4×15-letter answer) grid. Although that does mean that quickly solving either 1A or 1D offers generous checking and a flying start. Across 1 GENERAL ELECTION – cryptic … Read more >>

Greetings earthlings! I’ve managed to resurface after something of a blogging exile – it turned out that the rehab clinic wouldn’t allow me wi-fi access during my (longer than anticipated) stay.  Good to see several … Read more >>

As one has come to expect from Bradman (or any other of his pseuDONyms), flawless technical merit receives a healthy dollop of creative/lateral thinking. ‘Twas ever thus, it seems. Across 10 L(I)LAC – … Read more >>

Quite an esoteric theme for this one, although it is readily flagged and accessible thanks to the preamble, “The beasts are 8” (i.e. 8D). I thought it strange that the creatures in question … Read more >>

I enjoyed this puzzle, which featured several satisfyingly penny-dropping clues – primarily due to some well disguised definitions and very natural surfaces. The Cinephile cross-reference at 5D led me up a couple of … Read more >>

A far later posting than anticipated. Just realised that I should probably have followed blogging best practice and posted a placeholder here earlier in the day, especially as I actually solved the thing … Read more >>

Even though the “theme” is pretty obvious, on immediate inspection of the clues, the category itself (boys’ names) is pretty expansive.  So it still took me a few minutes to figure out the last couple … Read more >>