Independent 6707/Virgilius – Placeholder
Full blog to appear soon…
Guardian 24363/Brummie
Several very easy hidden clues mingled in with some more difficult clues. One word I had to cheat on and look up, another I just couldn’t get despite it being easy, with hindsight! … Read more >>
Financial Times 12742 / by Highlander
I breezed through this crossword, taking less than 15 minutes. This time around I solved all but a couple of Down clues first before looking at the Across set. When once these were … Read more >>
Guardian 24,362 : Rufus
Short of time to give much explanation here, but the answers were pretty straight I thought. The only ones I had a problem with were SOURDOUGH (it is North American prospector) and I … Read more >>
Independent 6706 by Tees
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed The nuclear accident theme of some of the clues helping me to get off to a flying start on this, but then I started to struggle, with my lack of … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 362 – Naughty Capitalisations
A couple of capitalisations in the clues here attempt to misled that extra step – some might say a step too far. Across 1 EGGCUP e.g. G-Cup 5 TO BE SURE T(ime) RU … Read more >>
Azed 1871: I ain’t a blinkin’ thickie
A pretty straightforward Azed — a few obscure words, but with plenty of checked letters to help, and mostly uncomplicated wordplay (though I did not fully persevere with 20a). There was a slip-up … Read more >>
Guardian 24,355 (Sat 5 Apr)/Araucaria – Mixed bag
Solving time: 13:05 A definition/letter-mixture puzzle from Araucaria this week. Please say in the comments if you found this a welcome change or a bit of a chore. Some definitions are given in … Read more >>
Independent 6704 by Phi
Very much on the easy side, I thought. Good puzzle from Phi as ever. Solving time, 13 mins. < = reversed * = anagram ACROSS 5 BESIDE ONESELF Double definition, the second slightly … Read more >>
Independent 6699/Nestor
Tough-in-places but enjoyable-all-over puzzle from Nestor. Still not sure about 19a and 4d though. Across 1 P in ELM,AXED,ABATES – SET A BAD EXAMPLE. Cleverly constructed clue although the wordplay completely passed me … Read more >>
Guardian 24,360 – Paul : “Excuses, excuses”
Paul’s salute to the ever-inventive British train companies and their feeble excuses for shoddy service. Not as difficult as some Paul crosswords can be, especially once you’ve cracked the theme, but very satisfying. … Read more >>
Placeholders
Following on from the non-appearance of a post on an Araucaria puzzle this week, we’re going to start using placeholders. This is how it will work: Either a full post or a placeholder … Read more >>
Inquisitor 66 ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK by Phi
What an excellent puzzle, almost ruined by poor proof reading! Editor please note!! First the moans: Wrong word length for 1A – to be consistent with the other clues with unchecked blanks it should … Read more >>
Guardian 24,358/Araucaria – Roma and Firenza
I saw Eileen’s plea in puzzle G24359 comments and agree with her – this puzzle needs a blog – and made some notes. Then Real Life got in the way. Then I saw … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,738 (Bradman)
Yesterday Cinephile, today Bradman – it’s been an interesting couple of days. Some rather odd words in here! Across 9 BALALAIKA: BALA (Welsh Lake) + LAIKA (dog breed) 10 SCHWA: SA (salvation army) … Read more >>