FT

Difficult, and then some.                    Did I mention this was hard?  Down the left of the grid we have A GAUCHE and down the right A DROITE.  Across the top and bottom of … Read more >>

This looked daunting at first, with only scattered solutions on the first pass.  But it got better as quadrant by quadrant was completed.  After the last Gaff I blogged, where I couldn’t identify … Read more >>

Witty & ingenious         Across 1,5 STEWART GRANGER actor (TARTS GREW)* ANGER (rage) 9 AILED was suffering DELIA< 10 CHINATOWN cultured part of city CHIN (feature) A (article) (WONT)* 11 … Read more >>

An outstanding puzzle today from Alberich, by turns fiendish, witty, inventive and fun. The glut of highbrow allusions – Gerontius? Idomeneo? Borodin? – did make me blanch at first, but once I made … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/May 6 Armonie may not be the hardest of setters, his clues however are consistently concise and elegant. Nice and gentle crossword. Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate. Across 1 … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 4, 2013 I found this puzzle both easy and excellent. There are plenty of good clues but my favourite is 30A (ARGYLE). And there is … Read more >>

Four crosswords for the price of one.   This puzzle is composed of four corners that intersect by only one letter in the centre of the grid.  I’m fine with this myself but can imagine that some will … Read more >>

This was an enjoyable puzzle to solve and to blog.  There is a scientific mini-theme, especially of particle physics (and a bit of biology and chemistry), in the answers and clues, plus a couple of non-scientific/unscientific Biblical … Read more >>

Excellent way to start the day         Across 1 IMPEACH disparage I’M PEACH 5 STOMATA tiny holes TOMAT[o] (fruit) in SA (it – sex appeal) 9 FIEND monster FRIEND (chum) … Read more >>

I always enjoy Redshank’s puzzles, although my enjoyment in this instance was tempered by the fact that, having dashed through the NW corner, I spent half an hour staring at the rest of … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Apr 29 Yes, half of the clues were double or cryptic definitions, but this was once more an enjoyable offering from Dante. That said, I am always a bit annoyed when … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 27, 2013 I found this puzzle fairly easy and generally rather good. I am also a little unsure of how to characterize 4A (SPARE RIB). … Read more >>

I found this much more amenable than the previous Io I blogged which was a desperate struggle – so getting to the end of this puzzle unaided came as something of a relief.  Still not … Read more >>

Another enjoyable puzzle from Neo.  Some difficult bits, with one answer whose explanation I struggled with, and finally had to consult my crossword oracle, with thanks.  Thanks too to Neo, as always.  Definitions are … Read more >>

Smooth and 5 down         Across 1 LIQUIDISER blender I QUID (one pound) in LE (the French) R[estaurant] 7 DEAN college administrator A in DEN (study) 9 FEAT achievement FE … Read more >>