Guardian

Solving time approx 20 mins. A couple of new words for me (see title) – I hope Shed gets well soon! Otherwise fairly straightforward but I made no more than steady progress. Across … Read more >>

A very quick solve (app 8 mins). Most of the clues were very straightforward and the wordplay acceptable. There were a few examples of superfluous linkwords placed in the clue to allow the … Read more >>

Solving time: 42 mins; one missing (1ac). A common feature of Araucaria’s puzzles is the inclusion of very long phrases spanning multiple clues with very complex wordplay. This week’s complementary phrases were SOMETHING … Read more >>

Apologies for the lateness and brevity of this post, but I have already blogged a Times and an Inquisitor today, and submitted a puzzle for publication in a charity newspaper, as well as … Read more >>

Solving time: 30’ Whew! I almost got blown away by this one. I’m going to say it again: I don’t see how this can be solved on the tube. I realize, having said … Read more >>

Several clues used 12 as the definition in a couple of different ways. I got three card games before I got GAME itself and assumed I was looking for card games, thus PARTRIDGE … Read more >>

Took me about 20 minutes, except for the last two clues, which I feel could take another week. Offers welcomed for 13 across and 22 down. What with these, and several dictionary words … Read more >>

Solving time about 10-12 minutes altogether in 3 short sessions. I was trying to look at it while on a conference call at work, but somebody asked me a question and I didn’t … Read more >>

Solving time: 22:12 I made heavy weather of this, especially the key long answer (16ac) and the top left corner, and I can’t explain 4dn. No main theme that I could spot, but … Read more >>

Solving time: 33:07 I found this tough going, and in the end had to resort to the dictionary to finish it as there were a couple of words I’d never heard of. Also … Read more >>

I have to admit that Chifonie is not by favourite setter, and in my opinion, this puzzle has too many loose definitions/wordplay, and at least one clue I can’t parse (see below). Sorry … Read more >>

Solving time: 42’ Well, if you know your William Cowper, you’ll have no problem with this puzzle. I don’t. Had to go off and read “The Diverting History of John Gilpin” to make … Read more >>

Solving Time: 20 mins (although aone explanation baffles me) Gosh, it seems such a long time that I’ve been here, after stays in and out of hospital. I was dreading getting a real … Read more >>

Reasonably easy Monday morning fare. At a rough count, one third cryptic definitions, generally pretty straightforward but several pithy and apposite enough to be quite satisfying even if they don’t take a lot … Read more >>

Solving time: Got out Chambers and my A-Z after about 1hr 15min. The double puzzle was based on the name ‘Leon’. Grid A contained pairs of answers which when joined with ‘le’ gave … Read more >>