Archive

Apologies for the later than usual blog. I only found out yesterday that I was expected to work today. So anyway, here's Beelzebub 1,027, which I found to be a fair bit more … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 COCKTAIL BARS – COCK + (BAR in TAILS). 9 ASCENDANCE – DANC[e] in A SCENE. 11 PEN PAL – PEAL “involving” (N + … Read more >>

This is still one of my perhaps two favourite crosswords, the other being Inquisitor, also in the Independent the day before. Beelzebub seems to hit the perfect balance between challenging and eminently solvable, … Read more >>

This seemed a bit tougher than in recent weeks, but it all fell into place in the end. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 5 DEFLATER – DEF + LATER. … Read more >>

I managed almost all of this without opening a dictionary, but a handful of clues put up a fight to the end. Perhaps it was just the constant feline harassment I was having … Read more >>

I should probably blog these a bit sooner after solving, or at least take notes, since I have scant recollection of actually tackling this one. I do know that I once again managed … Read more >>

The online Chambers was down when I tackled this, so it was back to the big red book, and none of the fancy advanced search features. I was pleased with how swiftly I … Read more >>

Satisfying puzzle as always. Seemed to be a relatively quick solve for me, but I don't time these things so it could be an illusion. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>

A very enjoyable solve once again. I do recommend that more fifteensquareders get hold of an Independent on Sunday from time to time and have a go at a Beelzebub, as it’s always … Read more >>

Excellent crossword as always. I never time these, but I did notice that I managed more of this without Chambers than I usually would. That probably has more to do with the tight … Read more >>

A slightly late posting, on account of a fascinating day’s cricket. I can’t quite make the wordplay for 26ac work, if anyone fancies clearing it up for me. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>

I have to admit I found Beelzebub particularly challenging this week. It took perhaps three or four sittings as opposed to the usual one or two to finish off. The exact construction of … Read more >>

A bit of a hurried post from me this week, squeezed into a brief break from a mind-numbing overdue calculus assignment. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 UNPRINCIPLED – … Read more >>

The usual flawless clueing and a good handful of new words for me. Clarification would be appreciated at 24dn – I assume it’s a combination of two of the many soldier-related acronyms, but … Read more >>

I think this was all fairly straightforward, relatively speaking, although the gap between solving and blogging was perhaps allowed to grow too long for me recall in detail how I found it. I … Read more >>