Everyman 3154/Mar 11
Solved last week before I left for Sicily. Solved again today as I write this up upon return from Italy – where my only exposure to crosswords, let alone cryptics, was Un Mot … Read more >>
Observer
Azed 1815 – online glitches?
The four longest entries in the puzzle were fairly straightforward, so I got off to a flier. I then attacked the rest of the puzzle, and quickly worked out or guessed most of … Read more >>
Everyman 3153/Mar 4 – harder than usual
This Everyman was harder for me than the run of the mill. Me or the puzzle? Not sure why: no “dictionary words” per se. Only one reference that I needed to look up … Read more >>
Azed 1813
This review is brought to you by linxit and colinblackburn. linxit writes… After a good run of completed Azeds earlier in the year I’ve gone through a bit of a bad patch lately, … Read more >>
Everyman 3152/Feb 25 – Pee on the IRS?
I’m sure the 8th row of unches reading PEE (on the) IRS is unrelated to the fact that I’m in the middle of trying to do my taxes for 2006. Right? Across 4 … Read more >>
Azed 1812 – My first Azed blog, and just relieved to have finished the puzzle…
My first Azed blog, and I kinda left it to the last minute to start solving it (ie last night), but I got there in the end. Typical Azed puzzle, full of obscure … Read more >>
Everyman 3151/Feb 18 – 17th century
If Monday is the Day of Cryptic Definition (from Rufus), then Sunday’s Everyman is a day for well-constructed Ximenean clues without recourse to puns. Across 4 [g]O SLO[w] – “endless” removes both the … Read more >>
Everyman 3150/Feb 11 – Belgium
I really wanted to be able to say that if it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium. But sorry it’s Sunday. I’m hoping someone will explain 6D for me. Everyman has done so below… … Read more >>
Azed 1811 – waves and wave-dwellers
Solving time 16:05, without Chambers This is probably about as easy as Azed gets. Easy for me anyway, as 1A was a word I knew, and 9 first letters of relatively easy down … Read more >>
Everyman 3149/Feb 4 – don’t panic
All the long clues refer to something a bit intense: OVERBOARD, INTENSIVE CARE, PANIC STATIONS, GREAT SCOT (sic), SHOUTING MATCH, NAIL-BITER. Well, except for UPRIGHT PIANOS (uptight?). One unknown composer at 19D (COATES … Read more >>
Azed 1809 – an easy one?
Solving time just 22:44 – I normally take at least twice that if not 3 times, so either I was on fire that day or it was a lot easier than usual…(but I … Read more >>
Everyman 3148/Jan 28 – monocled tunnel vision
Far ranging puzzle: from ENFIELD to the ACROPOLIS. I also learnt that under the Mersey there are several tunnels, and I thought the only way cross the Mersey was via ferry, a la … Read more >>
Everyman 3147/Jan 21 – Newton’s cradle
I had no idea that the mesmerizing 5 silver balls swinging back and forth on my desk was called a Newton’s cradle (17A). Across 3 DAY TRIPPE,R – (pity padre)* followed by R … Read more >>
Azed 1808 – Pearst off
My first Azed. Definitely hard work: I invested at least 3 hours total. The vast majority of words I had to extract from Chambers. Azed’s saving grace is meticulous clueing – and, in … Read more >>
Azed 1807 – Hel’s Bels
Solving time: About 45 mins without Chambers plus about 10 minutes with to check/finish off. One mistake (22ac), two I can’t explain (31ac and 2dn) – offers welcome. A quick scan suggests that … Read more >>