Azed 1879
It’s a competition Azed this week. For me this means one less answer to explain! I solved this crossword very quickly for a competition puzzle, I usually find them a little tougher than … Read more >>
Guardian 24,403 (Sat 31 May)/Araucaria – Drama police
[Note: I’m posting this on Friday afternoon as I’m away for the weekend (off to Dublin to watch Radiohead on Saturday night). I hope this is ok, as the deadline for entries was … Read more >>
Guardian 24408 / Chifonie New solvers start here…..
I suppose the kindest thing I could say about this puzzle is that it probably provides a gentle introduction to daily cryptic crosswords for the novice. As a hard-bitten and long-in-the-tooth solver, I … Read more >>
Independent 6752/Radian
It was obvious that something was in store for today, Phi having been moved to Thursday. So far as I can see it’s because it’s 64 years after D-Day. But 64? Is that … Read more >>
Independent 6747/Virgilius
The theme for this puzzle is Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”. The 12, the 13, the 18, the 20, the 24 and the 8 all have their own tales, as does the Nun’s 22. Indeed,”Canterbury … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,787 – Bradman
Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram Another varied mixture of clever clues plus a … Read more >>
Inquisitor 74 – A Quotation by Schadenfreude
This puzzle was presented as a 10 row *11 columns jigsaw within a frame of 12 rows *13 columns such that the outer rim was independent of interlocking words. The central square in … Read more >>
Free book in Sunday Independent (UK)
As nmsindy says in his Quixote report, this Sunday’s edition (8th June) will include a shortened version of Don Manley’s “Chambers Crossword Manual”. For UK solvers who don’t yet have a “how to … Read more >>
Independent 6751 by Phi
Unusual for Phi to appear other than on a Friday. Not sure if this means some themed puzzle is planned for this Friday 6 June. This I found very well put together as … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 955 by Quixote (1 June 2008)
With Listener puzzle 4000 due this year (20 September to be exact) we should not forget Quixote has less than a year to make the 1000. If my calculations are correct this is … Read more >>
Guardian 24407 – Paul
Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram I am ever so blessed with my Guardian … Read more >>
FT 12,786 – Adamant
Given that I’m posting relatively late in the day, I’ll keep the editorial comments to a minimum – in the interests of expediency. There’s not really anything unduly tricky in here anyway, although I … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,776 by Mudd
Mudd kept me busy for a while with this one. 21D strikes me as an interesting case: I believe it works perfectly as a cryptic definition yet the cryptic-ness of it seems rather … Read more >>
Independent 6750/Dac
Across 1 MAT,THE,W – not sure which writer this is referring to; perhaps the author of the Gospel of MATTHEW? 5 DEFACED – the letters of which are all musical notes. 10 OB,[-a]VIATING … Read more >>
FT crossword no. 12,785 Set by SATORI, June 4 2008
Some clever clues by SATORI. I especially liked 21a, 7d. and 14d. Would appreciate comments on 20d. Boards made me think of theatre, but the anagram seemed clear. ACROSS 1. ROSARY – ros(em)ary … Read more >>