Azed 1958/are there any Welsh footballers?
Surprisingly fast solve for me — I spent less than an hour before breakfast doing this with a bit of help from the Usual Suspects. Until I came to a crashing halt with … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 891 — Change in Circumstance by Samuel
I usually enjoy Samuel puzzles and this one was no exception. His puzzles are usually science-based or themed on old-chestnut jokes. This one was neither of these. Instead it was based on a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,875 (Sat 5 Dec)/Araucaria – Berlin waul
Solving time: 13 mins When I first looked at this I saw the long multi-word phrases and groaned. In fact one of them (LITTLE BO-PEEP) was obvious and the rest of the clues … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,257 – Bradman
Saturday – Now that this puzzle has eventually appeared on the FT website here is an analysis. A mixed bunch of clues from Bradman, some very easy and some that exercised the mind … Read more >>
Independent 7,225/Phi
An interesting one this. I only solved one or two clues on my first pass and had no idea what the theme might be. As the grid started to fill up, I spotted … Read more >>
Independent 7,220 by Bannsider (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 5/12/09)
This was certainly a fair bit tougher than Bannsider’s other recent Saturday puzzle. I quite quickly moved from trying to solve this unaided to treating it much as I would a barred weekend … Read more >>
Guardian 24880 / Orlando
An enjoyable puzzle today, with nothing too difficult apart from the reference in 11 across, I thought. Across 1. POTHERB PB = “Lead” around OTHER = “different” 9. TRURO TRU[nk] RO[ad] 10. ANNOYANCE … Read more >>
Inquisitor 153 – COMPOSING TWIST by Hypnos
Extra letters in the wordplay lead to part of a quotation and its author, from which the (eleven) unclued entries can be deduced. There are ten thematic examples, one of which corresponds to … Read more >>
Independent 7224 by Mordred
Thursday is usually the toughest midweek day in the Indy. This was hard, but not exceptionally so, 35 mins. Top half easier than bottom half. Very enjoyable puzzle with some intricate wordplay and … Read more >>
Guardian 24,879 / Araucaria
I think we could call this a typical Araucaria puzzle, so I will say no more here. 🙂 Across 1 SPOKEN: POKE in SN [opposites] 5 GATSBY: GATS [guns] + BY [at … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,256/Mudd
A little bit of everything in here, including an admirable “path less travelled” at 7D, and a Daliesque departure at 22A. Across 1 TACKLE – (elk + cat)<. Somewhat surprisingly, I cannot recall … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,246 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 28 I enjoyed this puzzle from Mudd. I especially liked 25A, 28A and 2D. Across 1. BRIGHT – double definition 4. DETACHED – TED backwards … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1034 by Quixote – 6 Dec 2009
Pleasing puzzle as always, not too difficult, solving time, 18 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 6 OP (little work) U (university) LENT (austere time) Definition: rich 8 BA (TT IN) … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,247 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 30 November 2009 dd = double definition tichy = tongue-in-cheek type cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,255 / Aardvark
I did not expect to see Aardvark again quite so soon and particularly on a Wednesday. Nothing too tricky today and nothing to quibble about with all clues being fair, if a little … Read more >>