Financial Times 13,458 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 7 Being on holiday in the Austrian Alps, I took this puzzle at a leisurely pace and it took me some time — there was … Read more >>
Independent 7,438/Dac
There’s never a chance of a bad (or even average) puzzle with Dac, but he does like to throw in the occasional tricky one. I came completely unstuck on the NW corner here, … Read more >>
Guardian 25,092 – Quantum
As usual with Quantum, I am sadly unable to summon up much enthusiasm for this puzzle. Some reasonable clues, though nothing very exciting, but also some rather weak cryptic definitions, and a couple … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,467 / Mudd
It may just be me, but Mudd seemed to be lacking some of his usual humour today. There were attempts at it, such as the definition in 8dn (though the overall surface didn’t … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1138 – Up and Down by Nutmeg
The preamble told us that in each column, one letter from the first answer is displaced to the top row of the grid, and one from the second answer to the bottom row, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,466 / Phssthpok
Apologies for the late blog; a little short on time today. Not a lot to comment on; I have a weakness for reverse anagrams, so I liked 18 across. Across 1 PEDIGREE … Read more >>
Guardian 25091 – Araucaria
Another wonderful way to start the day, solving the Master who, as usual, tantalised and teased. Like all compilers, he would gladly that we all see throught his runic ruses and devious devices. … Read more >>
Independent 7437/Mordred
All sorts of slightly odd things have occurred recently: Quite often Phi hasn’t been as usual on Fridays, although that is explicable because of the various anniversaries; Virgilius hasn’t appeared on Tuesday for … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,068 (8/08/10)
A relatively manageable week I think, albeit followed by a pretty tentative blog as I no longer have online access to Chambers. I wonder if I’m the only one having trouble re-subscribing, or … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic
Update: Due to the feedback received, and some volunteers willing to blog, we will start covering the Quiptic within the next couple of weeks next Monday (23rd Aug.). Initially the blog style will … Read more >>
Independent 7436 by Quaiteaux
Pleasing puzzle with some nice humorous touches from Quaiteaux. I found parts of it very easy, but then struggled a bit with the NW corner, tho my last two entries were 13A and … Read more >>
Guardian 25090 by Logodaedalus
A Monday and no Rufus! A good mixture of clues from Logodaedalus made this an enjoyable start to the week, and there were no naval references to throw us, which made a change. … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 423 – Awkward empathy
I made a note that I only had 10 answers in place after the first pint, which is an indication that this was harder than the last few Eye crossies. On the other … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1069 by Quixote – 8th August 2010
Morning all, and welcome to our new Sunday slot. This was the usual mixture of clue types and for the most part went in fairly quickly. However, 1dn has defeated us – I’m … Read more >>
Azed 1993
The standard, routine, par for the course, vanilla wordplays waiting for reader enlightenment. Across 1 BARON,G – it’s broad-bladed knife 6 M,AVENS – indeed AVENS is a rosaceous plant 12 ETOURD*,ERIE – stupid … Read more >>