FT

Running slightly late today, so I’ll keep the small-talk to a minimum.  If anything is unclear or dubious then please leave a message at the tone…… Across 1 DOS-A-DOS – A phrase that … Read more >>

This was one of my least satisfactory days – most of the clues were straight forward and easy,  but several  defeated me.  I am sure they are obvious to most people.  Au secours!!!! … Read more >>

The Weekend Prize Crossword from 4th October 2008 Cinephile seriously stumped me with 15D here. (No doubt someone will enlighten me.) I nominate 27A for the best clue Across 1. FLAT-PACK – FLAT … Read more >>

From Monday Prize Crossword on 6th October 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>

Well, that gave my brain a workout for today. At times I felt as if I was solving one of the weekend barred/thematic crosswords. An ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ primary theme and a … Read more >>

Not too easy, not too hard. For this puzzle I took full thirty minutes and a little more. After some crossings were in, I got the long perimeter entries at 1ac and 26ac … Read more >>

Smiffy has had to get his priorities right and put business before pleasure today so unfortunately we won’t be seeing his cheerful avatar. I found this an interesting and entertaining set of clues from Bradman, … Read more >>

I am not sure what the theme was here : quite a number of art references, a couple of birds, and the rest a miscellany.  Some very familiar solutions made it quite simple … Read more >>

From Monday Prize Crossword on 29th September 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>

Even a run-of-the-mill Cincinnus is jolly fine. Across 1. ALICE SPRINGS – cryptic definition 10. ROBINIA – ROBIN (boy wonder) + AI (sloth) backwards 11. GUMDROP – MUG (face) backwards + DR (doctor) … Read more >>

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve seen Monk in the FT (just under six to be precise) so this came as a pleasant change. Some easy clues, some harder ones and some … Read more >>

Just a glance at the clues and I realised that, as one coming after weekend and prize puzzles, this crossword is a piece of cake. So I adopted a different approach to my … Read more >>

This puzzle seemed, frankly, a little underwhelming compared  to Mudd’s usual standard. Not that there is anything wrong with it, per se; just seems a tad light on imagination or inspiration. I suppose … Read more >>

It’s a fair cop!  Theme of  ‘places of confinement’  today, but a light-hearted puzzle in spite of its subject. ACROSS 1.     PRISON – ( p-<no sir – the theme of the puzzle and … Read more >>

Mudd gave us a few sterling clues in this puzzle (2D, 18D, 26D), one that I think is weak (19D). Across 1. WOMBAT – TAB (bill) + MOW (cut) all backwards 4. BLACKOUT … Read more >>