Everyman 3328
Goodness me! This one was a toughie by Everyman standards with some less common abbreviations creeping in (RR for Bishop rather than B for example), and some less common knowledge required (including in … Read more >>
Observer
Everyman No. 3327 (4th July)
Lorraine: I got straight into this weeks puzzle, a couple had me beat for a while, 10 and 20 across were the last two I solved. Always nice to see my old favourite … Read more >>
Azed 1988
I found this puzzle considerably harder than usual, partly as a result of my failure early on to solve any of the four long clues which form the border to the puzzle. I … Read more >>
Azed 1987: Between overs…
While many of you were watching England’s unfortunate demise in South Africa last Sunday, I was sitting on the top deck of an almost deserted Lord’s pavilion, watching a T20 match between the … Read more >>
Everyman 3326
I have to say I didn’t really enjoy this one. Compared to the tight cluing of the best Everymans (Everymen?) this seemed to be quite sloppy in places. For example, 5dn is a … Read more >>
Azed 1986/Scotland Yard
Sorry for the late blog… no excuses (OK other than 48 World Cup games + Wimbledon). I thought this slightly harder than the run-of-the-mill Azed (oxymoron?). No lack of the requisite mysteries. Across … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3325 (20th June)
Lorraine: Nothing to taxing this week, made sure I read the clues properly (which helps). I was held up for a while this week as I hadn’t realised that I had spelt Altantic … Read more >>
Azed 1985
The usual pleasurable experience. All the clues are utterly sound and you know you’ll get there in the end, even if the progress is a bit slow. The words are — in this … Read more >>
Everyman 3324
A few slightly more obscure answers and a little fiendish wordplay here and there (8dn in particular) made this one a bit tricky, but hopefully pretty fair. Some lovely surfaces dotted about too. … Read more >>
Azed 1984 – Doublethink (Competition puzzle)
This puzzle reminded me (after completion) of a famous clue from N C Dexter, back in January 1984 (Azed 610), when the word to be clued was DOUBLETHINK. The winning clue was: By … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3323 (6th June)
Lorraine: No real problems this week really so long as you read the clues properly!; 6 across being a fine example, I put ‘free association’ which then messed me up for 6 down, … Read more >>
Azed 1983
A relatively easy Azed this week – I managed to solve most of it without aids, with only the SW corner causing some difficulties. I can’t fully explain 18ac, and there seems to … Read more >>
Everyman 3322
Nothing much objectionable here, but certainly not an easy one with some slightly more obscure words/phrases and once or twice I ended up knowing that it must be this set of letters, but … Read more >>
AZED No. 1,982 Plain
Nick: Typically nice AZED this week which I feel was a tad more difficult than some weeks. I had to use Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable to confirm 28dn and fully understand … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3321 (23rd May)
Lorraine: Nice easy plod along this week, had to look up 1 down and 7 down to confirm my guesses. Can’t say any one clue was particularly outstanding as I always enjoy all … Read more >>