Guardian 24,572 – Orlando
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A painless start to the week. Quite … Read more >>
Guardian 24,565 (Sat 6 Dec)/Paul – Icky end
Solving time: 6:50, with a self-induced hold-up on 13ac (ICKY) at the end. How difficult you found this probably depended on how quickly you spotted one of the long multi-word phrases; the central … Read more >>
FT 12,949/Mudd
A healthy assortment of subject matter and chicanery today, with nothing being too obscure (although 22A may have perplexed those who have never dared to cross the threshold of a betting shop). Across … Read more >>
Independent 6914/Phi
I didn’t time myself for this as I was listening to England’s heroics in India at the same time, so probably not giving it quite the usual attention. It seemed the usual Phi thing, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,570/Chifonie
After Araucaria’s Miltonic epic and Paul’s Queen/Chess combo this week it was almost a relief to return to milder waters today with Chifonie. I found this mostly very easy, with just a couple … Read more >>
Independent 6909/Bannsider (Prize puzzle 06-12-08)
Brilliant puzzle. Rock-solid cluing with some excellent surface readings and very clever definitions. 18 and 20 will no doubt annoy those who don’t like too much pop culture in their puzzles and I’m … Read more >>
Inquisitor 101 – HKL by Raich
I suspect this puzzle should have been published the previous week rather than the 29th November when it did see the light of day. It obviously got bounced by Inquisitor 100 with its … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 840: Late by MynoT
I don’t know whether I feel relieved that the first two puzzles I’ve blogged have been so easy, or cheated out of a few hours entertainment. I know that the EV is generally … Read more >>
Independent 6913 by Scorpion
I enjoyed this puzzle a lot. Scorpion is one of the harder Indy setters and clues with great rigour, it was very enjoyable teasing it all out. Solving time, 43 mins. Great surface … Read more >>
Guardian 24,569 – Paul
A very enjoyable puzzle today, with two interlinking themes that I would say are reasonably unobscure. c.d. = cryptic definition d.d. = double definition < = reversed * = anagram “” = homophone … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 982 by Quixote (7 Dec 2008)
Solving time, 30 mins * = anagram ACROSS 6 P (O TAT) O The river Po, well-known to solvers 8 REST RAIN definition: hamper 9 TAKING THE LEAD Double definition 10 HE SIT … Read more >>
Financial Times, No. 12,948, Set by Falcon, December 11, 2008
Not a lot to say about this one. Some familiar words and nothing which needed a great deal of explanation. 8A was not entirely clear to me, but seemed the likely answer. ACROSS … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,939 – Crux
Monday FT Prize Crossword on 1 December 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,938 by Mudd
FT Weekend Prize Puzzle from November 29 I found this puzzle moderately easy. 29A took me a while though. Mudd has a few fine clues here, such as 14A and 17D. And how … Read more >>
Guardian 24568 / Arachne
Good clues with some excellent surface readings; there are a couple I’m not quite convinced by, but maybe people can clarify them. Across 9. ABSORBENT ABS = “Sailors” + OR = “soldiers” + … Read more >>