Beelzebub 927/Columba (18-11-07)
A very enjoyable puzzle from a very reliable setter. It might be my imagination but there seemed to be a few more obscure words than there usually are in Beelzebub puzzles but I … Read more >>
Inquisitor 47 – Missing Letter by Schadenfreude
The preamble stated that ‘before solving, one letter must be changed in the definition part of 25 clues, the new letters all being different. The missing 26th letter is to be revealed as … Read more >>
Independent 6590 by Merlin
An excellent puzzle, as usual, from this top setter. Solving time: 19 mins * = anagram < = reverse ACROSS 4 H AND M (Clothes shop) AID 11 A LEX (Luthor – Superman’s … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 928 by Quixote
A St Andrew’s Day theme in the appropriate week. One or two tricky clues, but I found it fairly easy overall. Solving time: 16 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,618 by Cincinnus
Another lovely puzzle from Cincinnus. I particularly like 13A, 19A, 25A and 5D. I found 26A and 20D hard. Across 1, 28. MAKING TRACKS – double definition 4. THE CHAMP – THE (article) … Read more >>
Independent 6589/Dac
Across 4 SCHNAPPS – cleverly done. A drunkard might pronounce “snaps” (pictures = shots) as SCHNAPPS. The literal reading works too. 10 D in LANG,RAVE – this was new to me but fairly … Read more >>
Guardian 24246/Orlando – A rum clue
A good puzzle to learn a few new words via clear wordplay (e.g. SATINY, ASGARD, COLUMBA). One unusual river (AMUR) and an unfamiliar actress (ANNA NEAGLE) and a couple of other more familiar … Read more >>
FT 12,626/Quark
Just when you thought that the FT blogs had become extinct…. Apologies for going AWOL last week, when short-notice travel plans scuppered my schedule again. Incidentally, the FT puzzles seem to have become … Read more >>
Guardian 24,245 – Gordius : “This island race, this happy breed”
Apologies if you checked in earlier – a work crisis of Biblical proportions had wiped out my leisure time and my solution was sparse. Across 12 KENTISH = (THESKIN)* 16 A-TT-OR-NEY GENERAL – … Read more >>
Independent 6587/Virgilius – Tuesday 26.11.07 – Recurring Melodies
The usual brilliant crossword from Virgilius. His clues are consistently excellent, but there is nearly always a very clever theme, which is usually signposted by the fact that the grid is a bit … Read more >>
Independent No 6587 by Tees – Paradise Made Difficult
I found this very tough, although the Milton theme helped a lot if you were at all familiar with his work. My favourite clue was 25 – a superbly hidden anagram. Across 8 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,244, Rufus: high tea?
A gentle start to the week as ever. Most of the clues are pretty straightforward, so I’ve only given a few explanations – more can be supplied on request. Across: 1. GRAFTS. Double … Read more >>
Azed 1851 – in the soop
Solving time 38:18 (with Chambers and Bradford’s) I made one mistake (9ac, SOOM for SOOP) but realised when I came to do the blog, as I’d never been happy with my original answer … Read more >>
Guardian 24,237 (Sat 17 Nov)/Pasquale – Disorientated
Solving time: 17:58 About the last 10 minutes were spent on two pairs: 16ac/18dn and 19ac/20dn. The first I sorted out once I accepted that 16ac was an &lit (and realised that 24ac … Read more >>
Guardian 24,242, Quantum: Better latte than never
ACROSS: 4. JAM PAN. A guess now confirmed – it’s a kind of sedan chair. 9. BRIE(f). More familiar as a cheese than a place. 11. STATIN (patients* – pe). Complicated wordplay here, … Read more >>