Guardian Quiptic

(Prologue) This is my maiden blog.  I could say “be gentle with me” but I won’t.  All comments are welcome – part and parcel of the learning curve for me.  Commenters during the … Read more >>

I found nothing particularly noteworthy in this workmanlike puzzle.  As 10 of the 28 clues involved anagrams it was easy to solve but lacked variety. All definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition. … Read more >>

Together with the Rufus, we have a veritable blizzard of double definitions today. Across 1. Where Marco Polo went in a yacht, wandering (6) CATHAY Anagram (‘wandering’) of ‘a yacht’. Cathay is an … Read more >>

I thought this was a super puzzle from Pan – just right for a Quiptic, with everything clearly clued and some smooth surface readings.  It’s been mentioned several times since we started the … Read more >>

I cannot comment as to how this puzzle compares with other Quiptics with regard to degree of difficulty because I haven’t solved one since my original blog, published when we first started covering … Read more >>

While I enjoyed this puzzle, I thought it was a bit on the hard side for a Quiptic. All definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in … Read more >>

I was feeling particularly leaden, and made heavy weather of solving this, but in writing it up there does not seem to be anything to struggle over: mostly straightforward charades and envelopes. Across … Read more >>

It’s the first time I’ve blogged a puzzle by Moley, and I was pleased when her name came up because I’ve enjoyed her Quiptics in the past. I enjoyed this too and thought … Read more >>

A somewhat pessimistic offering from Hectence, in tune with the economic climate of recession, shortages and cuts. Most of the surfaces were good and the answers gettable, although I have one or two … Read more >>

I had the great pleasure to meet Orlando a few months ago.  If you haven’t already seen his “Best for Puzzles” site then it is well worth a look, especially for the comprehensive … Read more >>

I think this one fills the Quiptic slot very well, with no obscurities of vocabulary, construction  or references. ACROSS 1 PANATELLA Anagram (‘change’) of ‘lent  a pal’ + ‘a’. 6 COST Envelope of … Read more >>

It might have been post-Crimbo lethargy on my part, but I found this hard going in places, with some convoluted clues and a term I’d never heard of before. However, there were some … Read more >>

There are a few seasonal answers in this otherwise very ordinary crossword. As with the previous Moley puzzle that I reviewed, there are several extra words thrown in purely for the surface reading. … Read more >>

Some pretty straightforward cluing from Mr.  Putnam today – it was only my fuzziness after a poor night’s sleep that prevented me seeing most of them on the first run through.  The anagrams … Read more >>