Independent 7,275/Virgilius
Another very impressive themed puzzle from Virgilius. Took me a while to spot what was going on and I found the bottom half tougher than the top, but once I’d twigged the drinks-related … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,305 / Armonie
As usual, Armonie’s clues are impeccably written: clean and concise, with smooth surface readings. I found myself wishing, though, for a surprise or two. A few too many of these seemed to be … Read more >>
Guardian 24929 – Araucaria’s Party Time
Another well crafted puzzle themed on P, which I fortuitously happened to cotton on from the very beginning. As usual, The Master led us all on a fun chase … nothing too convoluted … Read more >>
Independent 7274 by Glowworm
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Nicely varied crossword that was probably a bit easier than some of Glow-Worm’s previous offerings. I was mostly held up by 2 down, which … Read more >>
Guardian 24,928 – Rufus
Traditional Monday fare from Rufus here, with the usual generous smattering of cryptic definitions. I don’t remember seeing this grid before, with four consecutive three-letter answers in the downs. … Read more >>
Azed 1966: Know-how
Better late than never, I hope. I was relieved finally to retrieve my solved copy of this from the recycling bin, as I did not want to find time for re-solving it before … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3305 (31st January).
Lorraine: Pretty straight forward this week, brain back to normal after the flu. Legend to solution comments: * = anagram. Across 1. BEDFORD BED + FOR + D 5. MORI MO + RI; … Read more >>
Guardian 24,921 (Sat 31 Jan)/Araucaria – Urned respect
Solving time: 11 mins Overall, much more accurately-clued than Araucaria’s Saturday crossword two weeks previously. In fact his puzzles vary so much in style from week to week that sometimes I wonder if … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 899 – Transported by Charybdis
It’s been the pantomime season and so here was a topical puzzle from Charybdis, with a neat little twist at the end. Some of the clues were rather tricky, even by EV standards, … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1110 – I beg your pardon by Lato
Inquisitor puzzles must be subject to the same kind of rule as umbrellas – if I fail to notice that it’s my turn to blog and do them in a hurry, they turn … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,041 (31/01/10)
A mixed week for me. I proudly managed all but a handful quite quickly without opening a dictionary, stumbled on a couple more, then failed on 4dn having inexplicably written in HORNPIPE at … Read more >>
Guardian 24926 / Rover
A quick solve for us apart from 12 across, which I don’t understand. Across 7. DANSEUSE Cryptic definition; “Nice girl” is meant to be read as “A girl from Nice”, along with “corps … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,302 / Adamant
Plenty of anagrams made this an easy ride. I have questions at one or two places, indicated along with the answers to clues. Across 1 SPHERICAL (CAR IS HELP)* 6 OASIS O (ring) … Read more >>
Independent 7272/Phi
The usual good product from Phi. Several enormous anagrams — he must have been out with his Scrabble tiles. Across 1 ‘S A MOA — I think, although ‘s for it’s I’m not … Read more >>
Financia Times 13,301 / Bradman
Bradman seems to be cropping up quite regularly in the Thursday slot of late, which is fortunate for me from a blogworthiness standpoint. 14A features a potentially new clue type (the subjective &lit), … Read more >>