Guardian 25,188 – Orlando
I generally find Orlando’s puzzles quite easy going, but I struggled more than usual with this one. I finished the bottom half quite quickly, then the NE corner rather less so, with the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1154, Belt up by Meissa
At first glance the rubric seemed pretty complicated, involving words entered normally, as anagrams and in unlocated places in the grid. A quick look at the “Unlocated” clues gave me AIT for the first … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,562 / Dante
Apologies to all — I filled in the grid to this last night, posted it as a draft meaning to complete the blog this morning, got busy at work and forgot all about … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,084 (28/11/10)
Despite a relatively sprightly start, this became quite a tough one to blog, with a lot of obscure terms knocking about. In the end I think I’ve almost explained things, with a few … Read more >>
Independent 7533/Raich
Raich’s puzzles are always good and he does not disappoint here. Some of the clues are excellent, although one or two I’m not quite sure about. Now that I look I can see the … Read more >>
Guardian 25187 Gordius – … but now I see
What a fantastic feeling to wake up, switch off the air-conditioner, have a cold shower and start the day with a nice cup of coffee and then hit the crosswords. Well, I am … Read more >>
Independent 7532 by Glow-worm
Very pleasing puzzle from Glow-worm whose puzzles generally I find at the easier end of the Indy spectrum, solving time, 22 mins. If memory serves Glow-worm has set quite a few excellent puzzles … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic No 25,186 by Rufus
Rufus’ usual gentle start to the week, with a couple of quibbles. ACROSS 1 MISHAPS Anagram (‘anyway’) of ‘pass him’. 5 ACCEDES Charade of AC (‘bill’) + CEDES (gives way’). 10 CHIT Double … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic No 577 by Orlando
A grid with a fair number of unchecked first letters, but straightforward clue construction overcame that potential hazard. ACROSS 8 MEMSAHIB Charade of MEMSA – anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘Emmas’ – + HI (‘greeting’) … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 431 – Pig!
So it was at the London Sloggers’n’Betters in The Salisbury that I realised that almost a week had passed and I hadn’t finished this puzzle. In fact I had only got 10 answers … Read more >>
Guardian Genius / 89
A very nicely constructed crossword, with a “word chain” (missing alternate links) running through the 6 letter answers. The complete chain (with the missing links emphasized) is: 1d BOTHER / HERBAL / 3d … Read more >>
Azed 2009 – say a prayer
A mixture this week of clever clues and others made relatively easy by their use of 2 or 3 letter words which regular solvers will quickly have recognised (e.g. 12, 16 and 20 … Read more >>
Everyman 3348 (28 November 2010)
My first Everyman blog, and a pleasure for me to solve it and explain it. I’ve been a fan of Everyman for many years and as usual this one didn’t disappoint. It might … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1085 by Quixote
I have been doing these Sunday Indies one week late on the Independent site and it took some nice co-operation from friends to get hold of a current puzzle without having to be … Read more >>
Guardian 25,179 (Sat 27 Nov)/Araucaria – Hob story
Solving time: 16 mins, one mistake (HOBBEMA at 24ac) This crossword was themed on the song Rising Early in the Morning from The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan, which contains the following verse: … Read more >>