FT

This was very 24 across         All dwarves from The Hobbit marked with + Across 1 HAY BALING (making stacks) Y (unknown) BALI+ in HAG (witch) 6 SCOOP dd 9 … Read more >>

A nice mix (unless you’re anagramphobic) from the boy from Bowral this morning. I learned a couple of words, sniggered admiringly once or twice, and have a question that perhaps a Whovian could … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Sep 10 Pleasant Dante crossword that didn’t cause me too much trouble (although I had to make my brains work to fully understand 26ac). Smooth as ever, even if there were … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 8, 2012 What a stonker of a devious geographical clue is 20A (PALERMO) — loved it! Other fine clues here include 10A (MEASURE), 31A (SLOPPY) … Read more >>

A mixed bag from Cinephile today, some really great clues and some that seem a little lazy. This crossword shares the Barrett-Browning theme with the August bank holiday special produced by Cinephile for the … Read more >>

A nice solve, with only one clue that, though I think I’ve got answer, I’m not sure about half of the clue – and I could be wrong with my answer too.  The rest were enjoyable, … Read more >>

An enjoyable puzzle       Across 1 POLTERGEIST (supernatural being) (ROGET SPELT I)* 7 HOP (short journey) H (husband) OP (work) 9 SOFIA (capital of Bulgaria) SO (very) F (fine) I (one) … Read more >>

I’ve always liked redshanks, pretty and raucous little lakeshore potterers that they are, and I’m a big fan of Redshanks, too – and this minor masterpiece is one of his very best. I … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Sep 3 Sometimes it’s D-Day (i.e. Dante), sometimes it’s C-Day. C stands for Crux, a setter with a love for good surfaces. This particular puzzle which can be found here , … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 1, 2012 Ah, what a lovely puzzle! Plaudits for 12A (LA MER), 18A (EXTRACTOR FAN), 24A (LA SCALA) and 9D (TRANSFORMATION). Slight, tentative quibble about … Read more >>

Fiendishly clever       Across 1 BIOPIC (film) I (international) OP (work) in BIC  (pen) 5 DIES AWAY (disappears) (A WISE)* in DAY (24hrs) 9 BUTTRESS (prop) TT (races) RES (reserve) in … Read more >>

An enjoyable puzzle, not too taxing, though I took some time to get into it.  Don’t know why – perhaps the late night yesterday.  Thanks Jason.  Definitions are underlined in the clues.  [[The … Read more >>

Really enjoyable smooth solve       Across 1 GASBAG (chatterbox) ASB[o] (brief restriction) in GAG (joke) 4 ACHILLES (hero) CHILL (cold) in SEA< (ocean returning) 9 ASTERN (behind) like AS TERN (bird … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 25, 2012 For a variety of reasons, I am late in posting this blog entry. I apologize for the tardiness. Sorry. I found the lower-right … Read more >>

A  lovely sunny autumn morning here in Yorkshire and a trouble-free puzzle from Orense to accompany my coffee. Nothing to frighten the horses, but a salutary lesson at 24ac. in double-checking an anagram … Read more >>