Uncle Yap – Page 2 – Fifteensquared

Guardian 25,923 – Qaos

Wed April 17, 2013 at 1:28 amTue April 16, 2013 at 2:05 am by Uncle Yap

What a delightful solve. Qaos has taken great pain to make each clue so smooth and fluid on the surface, just like Rufus. I like the way the definition is disguised in each … Read more >>

Guardian 25,917 – Boatman

Tue April 9, 2013 at 2:24 amTue April 9, 2013 at 1:41 am by Uncle Yap

After an A1 superb start, the puzzle sort of fizzled out, with starts and splutters, apparently with a mini-theme of the author moving home soon. Cannot say this is Boatman’s best; but we … Read more >>

Guardian 25,911 – Gordius

Tue April 2, 2013 at 1:44 am by Uncle Yap

Quite a fair to middling kind of puzzle with the expected Gordian obscurities thrown in here and there. Across 1 SKINFLINT Mean injunction after non-U plenitude of drink (9) SKINFUL (plenitude of drink) … Read more >>

Guardian 25,905 – Chifonie

Tue March 26, 2013 at 12:56 am by Uncle Yap

I do hope new solvers will not get discouraged when a puzzle is described as “easy” which is a relative term. When I first started out doing cryptic crosswords as a student in … Read more >>

Guardian 25,899 – Brummie

Tue March 19, 2013 at 11:49 pmTue March 19, 2013 at 1:26 am by Uncle Yap

The puzzle today is rather straightforward except for the two clues which formed the centre-piece on the 60th anniversary of a great scientific discovery. This is Brummie’s tribute to Crick and Watson, two great … Read more >>

Guardian 25,893 – Gordius

Tue March 12, 2013 at 2:54 amTue March 12, 2013 at 1:19 am by Uncle Yap

Fortunately a relatively easy puzzle without too many obscurities. Shouldn’t trouble any of the regulars. Across 9 BATTY Get increase extremely tidily, which is crackers (5) BAT (get in crease, go in to … Read more >>

Guardian 25,887 – Crucible

Tue March 5, 2013 at 11:55 pmTue March 5, 2013 at 1:51 am by Uncle Yap

A most delightful puzzle based on a familiar theme. Most of us have been brought up with the fantastic stories of Gulliver’s Travels, an internationally well-known satire by Jonathan Swift, an Irish writer … Read more >>

Independent 8232 – Quixote

Mon March 4, 2013 at 8:39 amMon March 4, 2013 at 12:30 am by Uncle Yap

Very nice to return to the Indy blog in place of Phil who is undergoing a cataract operation today. We wish him a speedy recovery … … and what a pleasant surprise to … Read more >>

Guardian 25,881 – Paul

Tue February 26, 2013 at 2:06 amTue February 26, 2013 at 1:36 am by Uncle Yap

Blogging Paul is always a special treat and today with very many different kinds of goodies. Alas, I never had a sweet tooth and would always dole out the chestnut “No thank you, … Read more >>

Guardian 25,875 – Tramp

Wed February 20, 2013 at 11:59 pmTue February 19, 2013 at 1:40 am by Uncle Yap

A most pleasant romp this morning through some fairly challenging clues; some of which with definitions that are as mysterious as the cryptic part of the clues. Tramp has obviously taken great pain … Read more >>

Guardian 25,869 – Gordius

Tue February 12, 2013 at 1:14 am by Uncle Yap

Quite a smooth stroll across the park and just as well, too, seeing that I am in the middle of the festivities of the Lunar New Year. To those celebrating GONG XI FA … Read more >>

Guardian 25,863 – Crucible

Wed February 6, 2013 at 12:46 amTue February 5, 2013 at 1:40 am by Uncle Yap

This is a very foxy puzzle with a mini-theme that I almost missed. The clues are varied and employ many devices to bemuse and amuse. Very entertaining. Across 1 DECOCT It takes months … Read more >>

Guardian 25,857 – Qaos

Tue January 29, 2013 at 1:51 am by Uncle Yap

A brisk morning canter … nothing too esoteric or obscure although I was disconcerted by a few unusual abbreviations not found in Chambers. I have donated all my dead-tree copies of dictionaries to … Read more >>

Guardian 25,851 – Puck

Tue January 22, 2013 at 5:43 amTue January 22, 2013 at 1:57 am by Uncle Yap

It is always a pleasure to solve and blog Puck, my magic dragon from the Land of Guinness. I am always reminded about a lazy afternoon spent in a Dublin pub, drinking pints … Read more >>

Guardian 25,845 – Bonxie

Wed January 16, 2013 at 12:17 amTue January 15, 2013 at 1:27 am by Uncle Yap

Quite a smart work-out this morning but having some problems parsing a couple of clues. Across 1 APPEAL Shock inclusion of exiled premier brings call for dismissal (6) Ins of E (first letter … Read more >>