Financial Times 12,971 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 10 A few minor challenges here made a typically enjoyable puzzle. Cincinnus came up with some great anagrams for the long downers. (Yeah, I know … Read more >>
Independent 6947/Dac
An unusually tricky Dac today. I don’t remember ever, in one of his crosswords, making so many marks by clues reminding me to look things up afterwards. This does not itself reflect on … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,980 / Aardvark
This was similar in a way to the Aardvark I blogged two weeks ago including some ‘different’ indicators, a couple of which I would question, as indicated below, though these didn’t impede the solving … Read more >>
Guardian 24,602 – Paul
Another toughie from Paul. The theme was enjoyable for a film buff, but a few clues didn’t quite sound right for me. The only solution I couldn’t explain was 22D, but the answer … Read more >>
Independent 6,946 by Radian
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Hands up who didn’t foresee a presidential-themed crossword for today? I do tend to enjoy Radian’s outings, and this was no exception. Pretty easy overall, … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,979 / Jason
A minor theme relating to bugs runs through this crossword. These clues are Across 1 HORNET – H, OR, net 15 LOCUST – lo(Cu)st 21 MANTIS – man, rev. of ‘sit’ 31 CICADA … Read more >>
Guardian 24,601 – Rover
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Not at all a difficult puzzle although … Read more >>
Guardian 24600 / Rufus
Apologies for this being a bit late today; I’d forgotten that I was supposed to be doing the post today. There are a couple of questions below that people can easily clear up, … Read more >>
Independent 6945 by Monk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this extremely tough and struggled to get going. Repeatedly misreading 20 down as “hackneyed phrase” didn’t help. However, all the answers made sense to me. Across 1 … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 382 – Gentle start
A gentle start to 2009. Nothing here held me up – which is just as well as my accountant tells me I’m supposed to be preparing my tax return right now. I don’t … Read more >>
Guardian 24,593 (Sat 10 Jan)/Paul – Vowel mouthed
Solving time: 15:26, the last 4 mins of which on 18dn. I found this a little harder than other recent Paul puzzles, but this may have been through unfamiliarity with the theme author, … Read more >>
FT 12,976/Viking
A rapid-fire, skeletal posting for now as I’m won’t have any more free time for the next several hours. At least this leaves the stage clear for others to opine until I can … Read more >>
Independent 6938/Morph (Prize puzzle 10-01-09)
Great puzzle. I can’t believe how long it took me to spot what was going on at 1a and 29a. Across 1 (NOTA BENE I MOVED)* – ABOVE-MENTIONED. A self-referential clue as it … Read more >>
Guardian 24598 / Paul
I’ve very little time for this today, so apologies for any errors – I needed quite a bit of research to get or confirm the song titles, but I don’t mind that. As … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 844 (4th Jan): A Bit on the Side by Glow-worm
No EV last week, it got bumped by a £500 Cryptic (I bet that had a few entries). However, the number still got used, so it’s onwards to 844 this week. The EV … Read more >>