Guardian 24,858 / Orlando
It’s one of the occasional non-Rufus Mondays. This was harder than a typical Rufus, but mostly not too difficult. There’s a theme involving characters from the TV series M*A*S*H, who are collected up … Read more >>
Azed 1954
I’m hoping that this puzzle from last Sunday does not have a similar deadline extension to last week’s prize puzzle. If you know that it does, please let me know with a comment, … Read more >>
Independent 7,196 by Radian (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 07/11/09)
After the splendid classical music themed Indy 7,148 of a few weeks ago, I was pleased to open the newspaper and find that I was blogging a further Radian puzzle. The theme here … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3293 (8th November)
Lorraine: Another straight forward everyman this week, a real pleasure to solve. Legend to solution comments: * = anagram. < = word reversed. Across 1. BUDAPEST BUD + A + PEST 5. PLAY … Read more >>
Azed 1953
“Words may be false and full of art; sighs are the natural language of the heart”, by Thomas Shadwell is the quotation referred to here. The second part is obtained by the letters … Read more >>
Guardian 24,851 (Sat 7 Nov)/Araucaria – Shaw thing
Solving time: 37 mins, one mistake (9ac) This was enjoyable but I found it very difficult. There was a theme based on George Bernard Shaw’s Three Plays For Puritans, of which I was … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 887 – Generic by Syd Lexis
I made good progress during the first session, solving most of the clues fairly quickly but was held up for a while at the end by 16a and, particularly, 51a. With these resolved … Read more >>
Independent 7,201/Phi
A characteristically lovely offering from Phi rounds off what has been a really rather good working week of Indy puzzles. The last 5 days have given us pretty much everything cryptic crosswords should … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,233 / Bradman
Apologies for the delay in posting. I couldn’t finish the puzzle in my lunch hour as I normally do. I found this extremely challenging. Words beyond my vocabulary (SKIDDOO, EDENTATE, to name two), … Read more >>
Guardian 24856 / Gordius
I enjoyed this one – quite a few nice clues. (3 of my last 8 blog posts have been on Gordius puzzles, as it turns out…) Across 4. SADDEN ADD = “increase” in … Read more >>
Inquisitor 149 – Out of Pocket by Ikela
I think this was Ikela’s second Inquisitor (update: I gather it his third). I blogged a previous one just under 6 months ago. That one, entitled Fatal Attraction, was based on Bonnie and … Read more >>
Independent 7190 by Eimi (Saturday Prize Crossword 31 October 2009)
This blog has been delayed a week due to the threat of postal strikes around the normal submission time. Consequently many of you will probably have forgotten about the puzzle. The grid was one … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,232 / Flimsy
Apologies for yet another late Thursday blog. I found this something of a Punk 19a (mixed bag), a couple of good &lits (particularly 20d), some decent surfaces (eg 23a & 25a) but also … Read more >>
Guardian 24,855 – Araucaria
I’ve had a run of Araucaria recently, and was hit by a pang of fear when I saw how many clues referred to 11ac today. However, once that clue fell I relaxed as … Read more >>
Independent 7,200 by Punk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't recall blogging a Punk for some time, though maybe that's for the best as I can rarely get to grips with them! This … Read more >>