FT

I’m afraid the puzzle hasn’t been posted on the FT site, and therefore I’ll only be able to blog it later than usual, perhaps even tomorrow, if it doesn’t appear today.  It would … Read more >>

Clever stuff today from Jason       Across 1 BRIGHT (vivacious) B[londe] RIGHT (Conservative) 4 SWEEPING (wide-ranging) WEEP (to pipe) in SING (to grass) 9 ASSIGN (give out) A S (small) SIGN … Read more >>

There was a pleasingly old-fashioned feel to this puzzle, I felt; plenty of double definitions, which seem to have dwindled in popularity since I was a lad. Very nice clueing throughout – thank-you, … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 6 When there’s something special going on in the world around us, the FT has its very own crossword specialist to present us a reminder: Gaff .  So, what happened … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 4, 2012 I found this to be a very strong and satisfying puzzle from Mudd. I especially applaud 13A (THAW), 17A (FOIE GRAS), 15D (TANGERINE) … Read more >>

An enjoyable cruise from Aardvark.  I’m glad this was not too difficult as I had forgotten today is Wednesday and got off to a very late start with my blog. I’m not completely sure on 6dn … Read more >>

It’s been more than a year (time flies!) since I last blogged a Redshank.  Going by previous blogs, this is another typical puzzle from him – not that easy, with many good surfaces, … Read more >>

Smashing way to start the day       Across 1 WAVE MECHANICS CH (children) in (WISE CAVEMAN)* 9 RECOUNT dd 10 VITALLY (crucially) VI (six) TALLY (match) 11 TILDE (mark) L (left) … Read more >>

A tough struggle for me, this one; no-one likes to be faced with Aztec charades and 19-letter anagrams first thing in a morning. But I got there in the end. Some very nice … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 30 A Dante crossword that can be found here (in case one needs a reminder of the grid). On the whole Dante’s on a par with himself, even though there was … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 28, 2012 This was a fine if perhaps undistinguished Cincinnus. I especially like 2D (PARODISTS), 14D (EMPATHISED) and 6D (INORDINATE). Across 1. TIPPET – TIPPET[t] … Read more >>

Smooth surfaces, witty definitions and sound clues.  I thought this was straightforward and accessible without ever being dull. I suspect this is much harder to achieve than it sounds.  Thank you Dogberry. I … Read more >>

Considerably less difficult than the last Armonie I blogged.  Still, I got nowhere starting from the NW, which I normally do, and instead had to work from the SE.  Good fun – some … Read more >>

Don’t know what’s happened to the expected blogger yesterday, but seeing as it still hasn’t appeared today, as I’m often in as the standby blogger, here’s my take on it. Nothing overly tricky … Read more >>

Fair fare from Falcon       Across 1 EMPIRE change first letter from UMPIRE (judge) 4 DARINGLY (with boldness) RING (jewellery) in (LADY)* 9 ERNST Max (artist) N (name) in ERST (long … Read more >>