Independent 6887/Eimi
A Remembrance Day-themed crossword from Eimi most of which was pleasant and accessible but which I found hard to finish. Help needed with 22dn, please. Across 1 MIMI C — I’m not keen on the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,543 – Pasquale
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram This delightful puzzle reminds me of Alfred … Read more >>
Independent 6886 by Morph
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After my abject failure with last Monday’s puzzle, I got up half an hour earlier to give myself extra time to complete this one. I needn’t have worried, since … Read more >>
Guardian 24,542 – Rufus
Blogging in a hurry – luckily nothing too difficult today. Across 7 CATARACT As in waterfall, and as in the eye disease. 9 EQUALS (squeal)* 10 TIER TIE R[iver] 11 COMPANY CAR an … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 377 – Load of Balls
If there is a theme to this crossword it is that Cyclops has used “Balls” in many clues in several different senses. Ed Balls naturally gets a thorough workout, and there are clues … Read more >>
Azed 1901: Jigsaw
A bit of a treat this week — the most challenging Azed for a while. For those who have not tried this kind of puzzle before, the first step in fitting the answers … Read more >>
Marking our second birthday
For those that haven’t seen it, here’s the completed grid for yesterday’s Independent crossword by Math: If you’re still wondering why I’m showing you this, look at the unchecked letters around the perimeter … Read more >>
Guardian 24,535 (Sat 1 Nov)/Araucaria – The Neville you know
Solving time: Gave up on 14dn after 20 mins, and wished I’d done so earlier! Most of this I managed to rattle through, but then I got stuck for ages on the final … Read more >>
FT 12,919/Bradman: Un-12A-d
On of the more tractable of late from Bradman. Not that I’m complaining, as I was strapped for time this morning and feared a more protracted than average solving time. In the interests … Read more >>
Independent 6879/Bannsider (01-11-08 Prize puzzle)
Bannsider’s puzzles are consistently excellent and this was no exception. Funny grid though, with that blob of white squares in the middle. I’ve never read anything by Arnold Bennett so I have to … Read more >>
GUARDIAN 24,540 / PUCK
I’m sure there’s a witty title that could be given to this very ingenious and entertaining puzzle, with its themes of days and British pop but I found the puzzle itself challenging enough! … Read more >>
Independent 6,884/Math – Now we are two
Well well, this was very nice! If Phi gets bumped from a Friday, there’s usually something afoot. For any newcomers (and, with any luck, there will be some), today is the 2nd anniversary … Read more >>
Inquisitor 96 — LEST WE FORGET by Charybdis
Charybdis always guarantees a nicely worked out theme and that is what we had here. The title, the mention of a war film and the date all suggested a slightly early puzzle looking … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 835 – Mobile Watch by Hypnos
I thought this was the hardest EV for quite a while. It took me over twice as long as usual to complete and I needed my full arsenal of ‘aids’. The extra letters … Read more >>
Independent 6883 by Phi
There’s a Nina/theme in this puzzle, which I refer to after the clue explanations. Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 SERF frees< less the central e 4 … Read more >>