Beelzebub 1,044 (21/02/10)
My ongoing quest to complete a whole Beelzebub unaided led to a full grid, yet with a couple of silly errors. Still, a good week and always a pleasure to work out the … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1113 – Origins by Samuel
Samuel is a setter I have come across in The Listener and Magpie as well as here in the Inquisitor series. I have always enjoyed his puzzles. This was no exception. Like all … Read more >>
Independent Prize Puzzle 7285 by Bannsider – Saturday 20 February 2010
As I only blog Independent puzzles once a month, I don’t have a great deal of experience of individual setters. A little research though shows that I have solved Bannsider’s puzzles before as … Read more >>
Independent 7,289/Morph
A nice puzzle from Morph with some great cryptic definitions and humourous touches, as appears to be his wont! I found the NW corner very hard, but overall a very satisfying solve. Across … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1045 by Quixote – 21st February 2010
Two unknown words and one unknown spelling made this a tougher challenge for your faithful correspondents. One clue we haven’t successfully parsed. ACROSS 4. POUND triple definition. 6. HE I NOUS 8. CONNIVER … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,319 /Orense
A paddle in the shallow-end today, with the waters only getting above knee-depth with the slightly obscure – but readily deducible – answer at 17D. Puns and cryptic standalones seem to feature more … Read more >>
Guardian 24,943 – Paul
Quite a tough one from Paul, with some characteristic humour. I don’t fully understand 1 across, and I have some niggles about a couple of other clues. Across … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,310 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword on 15 February 2010 I solved this puzzle while ushering in the Year of the Tiger and hope that the year ahead will be as smooth as the puzzle; nothing … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,309 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 13 Yet another excellent puzzle from Cincinnus. My favourite clues in this one are 19A, 28A and 2D. Across 9. BON VOYAGE – anagram of … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,318 / Gozo
A pleasant, gentle stroll today with nothing too 13ing, but I think there is an error in one of the clues (20dn) unless my parsing is incorrect. It became clear quite quickly that … Read more >>
Guardian 24,942 – Quantum
Maybe it’s the time of night, but I found this quite a slow solve for a Quantum and got held up in a few places despite the long clues falling early. A few … Read more >>
Independent 7288/Dac
Typically mellifluous surfaces. I found one or two of the clues unusually hard for Dac. Across 1 I would never have got this, because I never knew that a bertha was a woman’s … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,317 / Phssthpok
A good offering from one of the less frequent FT setters. Apologies for the late posting; I had solved this last night but didn’t have a chance to fill in the explanations until … Read more >>
Independent 7287 by Virgilius
You could not ask for much more from a puzzle than is in this one. I found it quite difficult, solving time, 48 mins. 7/1 is POETS’ CORNER and the name of several … Read more >>
Guardian 24941 – Gordius
A mixed bag from Gordius. Some excellent clues, somewhat spoiled by a couple of mediocre ones. ACROSS 1 SEPTIC TANKS Ins of TANK (reservoir) in *(cesspit) Nice surface 9 NOISOME Ins of OM … Read more >>