Independent 6885/Merlin (Prize puzzle 08-11-08)
There’s a Nina here which I spotted during solving but only just worked out what it’s about. From the top left-hand corner we have GABRIELLE, BREE, SUSAN, LYNETTE and EDIE (the first E … Read more >>
Guardian 24,546/Orlando
After a rather contentious week, I was a bit apprehensive about what to expect for my blogging slot today, so it was quite a relief to get this fairly straightforward but enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations — 836 Tribute by Loda
Solving Lest We Forget in the Independent’s Inquisitor series I mistakenly guessed that it might be about the Armistice, I was fooled. On this occasion, Remembrance Sunday, it seemed that there might be … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,925 by Viking
A mixed bag today with some very easy clues and some that required a little more thought. Overall, probably tending towards the simpler end of the FT range of difficulty (unlike yesterday’s). A … Read more >>
Inquisitor 97 – DISASTROUS EFFORT by Lato
Ho (of Hihoba) had inconsiderately gone on holiday this week, so Ba and I were left to struggle with this, and struggle we did! We worked on the normal clues for some time … Read more >>
FT 12,924, Set by Aardvark, November 13, 2008
I found some of this puzzle quite tricky, and could not discern anything in the way of a theme. Sharper minds may discover one. The bottom right corner held me up longest, with 17d … Read more >>
Guardian 24,545 – Paul
A fairly topical theme, with the Turner Prize nominees being exhibited at the moment. Like a lot of people I find this sort of puzzle, with a large set of related answers, fairly … Read more >>
Independent 6889/Scorpion
Across 1 (TIE FOR)*,PA’S,SAGE – RITE OF PASSAGE. 8 MAC’S (reversed) 9 SOMERSAULT – sounds like “summer salt”, which are both types of “season”. Not sure about “pouring out” as the homophone indicator … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 978 by Quixote (9 Nov 2008)
Not too difficult. Solving time, 16 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 U MP IRE 4 OB SERVER Nice seamless join at see/old 9 CHE RUB 10 TORT ILL A … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,915 – Falcon
From Monday Prize Crossword on 3 November 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,914 by Mudd
Mudd stretches a couple of things here to make some good, interesting clues (13A, 20A, 26A, 11D). I finished most of it fairly quickly but the upper right-hand corner took me a while. … Read more >>
Independent 6,888/Dac
Sorry for the late, quick blog. Busy day! Nice puzzle as always from Dac, some of which I found a little tricky Across 1 SPRY – [afte]R[noon] in SPY 4 SEAM BOWLER – … Read more >>
Guardian 24544 / Auster
A fun puzzle, which wasn’t too difficult because of all but three of the across clues having anagrams. 10 down was much the hardest, I thought, since there was weak checking in the … Read more >>
FT 12,923/Gozo
An earlier than usual online appearance online for this puzzle allowed me to solve before turning in for the night Stateside. All very accessible stuff, with the gimmick being a slew of longer … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,922 by Crux
Rishi is usually an early poster so I think it is safe to assume by now that he is unable to join us today. I have therefore produced this relatively brief substitute blog. … Read more >>