Never knowingly undersolved
Oops! I should have assigned this for blogging, but have been somewhat preoccupied. So here’s a very quick, last-minute attempt at a blog. The deadline was orginally given as 6 February, but the … Read more >>
I have now published the blog — see above.
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A mostly easy puzzle with a couple of harder clues and one that’s driving me bananas trying to understand. There were some excellent clues … Read more >>
The week starts with Rufus. Exactly what you might expect with a large number of cryptic definitions. Across 1 EJECTS: (r)EJECTS with R right away 5 SHOWCASE: double definition 9 ABOVE ALL: anagram … Read more >>
Anyone would think the crossword was on Page 3 given the number of pairs of tits on view in the wordplay, usually as anagram fodder – there’s floppy tits, daft tits and of … Read more >>
As per usual a wordplay or two which I’m not sure of. Somewhat harder than my last Azed outing (1958). And a surprised groan or two were elicited (Azed isn’t the most humorous … Read more >>
Not my favourite ever – 11ac is a recent, but not very popular television show which I think is perhaps a little unfair. Also, the way that I parse is, 13dn requires BRAIN … Read more >>
A puzzle entitled Eggheads in this month’s Magpie (January 2010) and French Polish in last week’s Inquisitor (#1108, 09/01/2010) are Nutmeg’s most recent offerings, and here we are with Prime Suspect. In this … Read more >>
Solving time: Best part of a week before using references for 4ac and 1dn. Sometimes it all goes wrong; this was such an occasion, and I got totally stuck on two clues, despite … Read more >>
A good week, I think. This took me several sessions, but I was determined not to cheat. Everything was ultimately solvable, though 1ac was unfamiliar enough to require some undirected Chambers-browsing on my … Read more >>
I enjoyed this puzzle a lot, very tough and very satisfying to finish, with all understood, and some very well constructed clues, as one expects from Phi. Solving time, 40 mins. * = … Read more >>
Well, for me, the week’s ending, as it began, on a high note, with a welcome appearance by Enigmatist. There were some lovely clues, as we would expect, but one or two that … Read more >>
As usual with a Schadenfreude offering there were a lot of unfamiliar words – LYTTA, DONAT, PACHALIC and NITID to name but four! The clues were scupulously fair, though one of them has defeated us for … Read more >>
A very good puzzle, I thought. Smooth surfaces throughout, and nothing too obscure other than one look-up I needed for 11a. Picks for best clues: BLUEBOTTLE, WREN Across 1 BACKHANDER HAND (cards) in … Read more >>
This is the first puzzle by Dac that I have blogged. I didn’t find anything too difficult. I’m not sure how long this took as I did it whilst watching Saturday afternoon football … Read more >>