Quiptic crossword No 585
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 >>
Never knowingly undersolved
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 >>
First Eye blog of the new year for me. Thanks to jetdoc who is alternating the task from now on and who produced an admirable effort last time. She has certainly laid down … Read more >>
Beelzebub has certainly thrown down the gauntlet with this cruciverbal challenge * anagram dd double definition () omitted < reverse ACROSS 2 JUSTE MILIEU IM JULIET SUE* 9 NAPPE NAPPE(R) … Read more >>
Another quality work from the Don with a rich variety of cryptic devices, each crafted well and creatively. I do, however, have one teeny-weeny quibble. Dr Brian Skinner, my crossword moderator, would never … Read more >>
I found this one of the hardest Azed plain puzzles for a long time, with, I think, a higher-than-average proportion of obscure words. I ended up with some rather tedious dictionary-searching to get … Read more >>
A few mild obscurities, perhaps, but plenty of smooth surfaces. Thanks to The Trafites and to PeeDee for the tools to help create this blog. Across 1. A master of light farce with … Read more >>
What a lovely day! Many posts will be posted and many photos uploaded. For now, having returned home, let us thank Peter (Kathryn’s Dad) and Eileen for their magnificent effort. Lots more to … Read more >>
Typical!! One of my (two) New Year resolutions is to adopt the practice of giving the full clues in my EV blogs. And what happens? I get landed with a puzzle that has … Read more >>
Welcome to my first blog of the Independent’s Saturday prize crossword. A very enjoyable puzzle from Nestor – not too taxing, but not without some head scratching (most notably explaining 4dn). A bit … Read more >>
Another good puzzle, not easy, but all there to be found if you look. I thought the construction of the clues was very tight indeed, only 5dn giving me any doubts, but this may just be … Read more >>
After spending a week struggling with crosswords of all descriptions and from numerous sources, and having difficulty unpicking wordplay even when I had the solution before me, Phi’s puzzle felt like a breath … Read more >>
I had mixed feelings about this puzzle. Liked some clues such as 17a, 16d, found others a bit shaky. Across 1,5 PERSIAN CARPET (APPRENTICES A[lways] R[eady])*; “principal always ready” = A R? Hmmm … Read more >>
Pondering what to say in the preamble has taken almost as long as the solve – and I still haven’t come up with anything appropriate. To say that I was surprised to see … Read more >>
Apologies for the lateness with this one – it’s been one of those days! I really didn’t get the chance to give this one the attention it deserves and needed to speed through … Read more >>
Another Thursday, another debut setter (or, at least, pseudonym). My second new opponent in consecutive blogs – the FT editor must be broadening his church further still in 2011. And it’s not too … Read more >>