Guardian 24,437/Araucaria – Pure Gold
After yesterday’s walk in the park with Logodaedalus I was braced for a tough challenge today, and it was a delight to get this celebration of Araucaria’s 50th anniversary (even though I didn’t … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 960 by Quixote (6 Jul 2008)
Some less familiar words this week, solving time, 25 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 TA R (AD) IDDLE 9 S (L) INGER This was my last – I thought … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,806 by MacCinephile
Here’s one of those Cinephile’s that falls out fairly easily once one detects the theme: in this case, Scottish things. Across 1. REGICIDE – IC (in charge) in RIDE (journey). I learned something … Read more >>
Guardian 24,436 – Logodaedalus
Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram First, a word of … Read more >>
Guardian 24436 – placeholder
I haven’t heard from today’s blogger so I’m going to assume he can’t post for some reason. So feel free to start discussing the puzzle now…
Independent 6,780/Dac
Fairly easy today, I thought. No major stumbling blocks, but some very nice clues as always from Dac. Across 1 SOAP DISH – ‘One with role of bar keeper’ is a nice definition … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,807 – Crux
From FT Monday 30 June 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram I … Read more >>
Independent 6779/Punk
The usual tough but excellent puzzle from Punk. At one stage I thought I would never get going and would have to admit defeat, but eventually all was well. Across 1 COSTIVE – … Read more >>
Financial Times 12814 / Quark
Not too easy, not too hard. First I solved Ac 15,21,9,1,25,4,13,28 and Dn 5,28,7,23,2,6,22 before a brief holdup. At the end of my allotted time, I have some four clues to go (all … Read more >>
Guardian 24435/Gordius – Bristol city
Ran into several problems here with unfamiliar definitions requiring a bit of research, 10A still available… Also feels like a theme here but I can’t quite put my finger on it: e.g. several … Read more >>
Independent 6778 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed Very tough puzzle today from Hypnos. Across 5 Leaflet: I think it’s a soundalike of Leif + Lett. 7 Stir Fry: Stir + fry. 9 Leonardo da Vinci: (on DVD … Read more >>
Guardian 24,434 (Rufus)
Across 7 FLAWLESS: F + LAWLESS 9 E-BOATS: anagram of TO BASE 10 STYE: STYLE less L (Roman numeral) 11 KICKED BACK: The back who was kicked, retaliated 12 CARAFE: A RAF in … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops Crossword 368 – VIP treatment
There seemed to me to be a lot of question mark ended clues this time, at least they were the ones I had most trouble with, probably just me then. In truth this … Read more >>
Azed 1883 – Plain (but perhaps not so plain)
Some nice clues, but – dare I say it – one or two whose surfaces are pretty vacuous. As usual, I’m afraid. Azed has produced some wonderful stuff over the years, but nowadays … Read more >>
Guardian 24,427:Araucaria: just magic!
Another brilliant offering from the maestro; I particularly enjoyed the references to the two very different books which feature in this puzzle. Solving time: about an hour and a half, except for 22 … Read more >>