Everyman No. 3283 (August 30th)
Lorraine: I guess Everyman knows when I have to blog, as it is would appear that it is only difficult every other week – always my week! Nick: I apologise for the doo’s … Read more >>
Azed 1944 – lots left for the reader
Another wordplay debacle in the SE corner. I had the rest done in an hour or so (The Big Red Book consoling me as needed) — however, I struggled through the bottom-right for … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,019 (30/08/09)
A very enjoyable solve once again. I do recommend that more fifteensquareders get hold of an Independent on Sunday from time to time and have a go at a Beelzebub, as it’s always … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 877: Adjustments by Rustic
A quick comment that I’m glad I didn’t have last weeks blog, What You’ve Got to Do by Syd Lexis; it looks like I made a complete Horlicks of the final step! Luckily, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,791 (Sat 29 Aug)/Araucaria Bank Holiday Special – Honey-trap
Solving time: 70 mins, 4 wrong/missing (45dn, 52ac, 33dn, 1ac) After 5 minutes I had solved two clues so was quite pleased to get most of this cracked in an hour, especially since … Read more >>
Independent 7141 by Phi
Not for the first time, a puzzle from Phi with a musical flavour. Four musical instruments in symmetrical positions in the corners and a fifth in 11 down. A pleasing solve, with everything … Read more >>
Guardian 24,796 / Araucaria
A devilish theme from Araucaria today, and a puzzle of mixed difficulty, I found, with some rather obscure references. Key: * = anagram dd = double definition < = reverse Across 1. IRREMEDIABLE … Read more >>
Independent 7136 by Virgilius (Saturday Prize Puzzle – 29 August 2009)
I solved this in an afternoon whilst watching sport on television, so the fact that I could multi-task probably means that the sport wasn’t too engrossing and the crossword wasn’t too difficult. The … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,173 / Satori
A stimulating, challenging puzzle from Satori. This is the first Satori puzzle I’m blogging about; it is sad that he is no more. For those who missed it, tributes to the fine compiler … Read more >>
Inquisitor 139 – PAIRS by Nutmeg
My thanks to Ho for this one as neither Hi nor Ba could do it. We found it much harder than Tennyson’s Maud and the poets a few weeks ago, though Ho didn’t! There … Read more >>
Independent 7,140 by Nimrod
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Interesting puzzle. Despite only having to blog about six clues, I’ve failed to manage them all: 1dn is still searching for an explanation. Across 8 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,795 / Orlando
Nothing too taxing or controversial here, I think, but the usual good value from Orlando, with some clever surfaces and a few smiles along the way. Across 1 ITHACA: C[irca] [about] in TABITHA … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,172 / Mudd
Some people may be unhappy with one or two of the definitions (eg 12a & 6d) and the number of double/cryptic definitions but I enjoyed this puzzle because in each corner there were … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1020 by Quixote (30 Aug 2009)
I found this quite easy, solving time 14 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 DEC (December) A MP 5 DRAW BACK (vb) 9 ME S(M)ERISED (desires)* – it’s also reversed, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,163 – Falcon
Monday Prize Crossword on 24 August 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>