Inquisitor 24/Loda – Mucking About
Sorry for the delay in getting this blog ready, but I struggled with this puzzle, because I couldn’t work out the device required to fill the grid. As usual when I seek inspiration, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,105 (Sat 16 Jun)/Araucaria – Green lights
Solving time: 7:16 I’m not sure I’ve ever solved an Araucaria puzzle faster than this. ‘Collie’ was my first solve, followed (via a look at 27ac) by ‘flour’ and then somehow an inspired … Read more >>
FT 12491 by Falcon
An enjoyable puzzle and just about the right degree of difficulty for a Friday, I felt. A pretty eclectic spectrum of clues, including everything from a couple of pre-historic chestnuts (e.g. the ETON/NOTE … Read more >>
Independent 6453/Nimrod
When I swapped to Friday this week I expected a nice Phi puzzle, instead I got Nimrod! A little more difficult than Phi for me with some clues still a mystery. However, much … Read more >>
Guardian 24,110, Brummie: Numbers game
My blog day falling conveniently on a day off, I settled down at 8.30 to get the crossword out of the way,but it was not to be. Several hours of partner stranded by tube … Read more >>
Guardian 24109/Araucaria
Apologies for this being a day late. I had to go to a customer site yesterday and didn’t get back till 8pm, when I found that my ADSL connection was still down. I … Read more >>
Independent 6448 – Eimi
Solving time 11:40 Here’s the explanation for the gentle ribbing about “strange characters turning up on Saturday” in the comments on last week’s Virgilius puzzle. For those who don’t know, Eimi is Indie … Read more >>
Independent On Sunday 905 by Quixote
Solving time: 26 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CU POL(e) A 4 S CRAM S The athlete Steve Cram 11 PA THAN(e) 12 ERLANGEN (Greenlan)* D = Germany German university city. 16 … Read more >>
Independent 6452 by Monk
Monk is among the toughest setters, with some very original treatments, and very rigorous logic in the clues. Usually his puzzles in the Indy are themed, but I cannot see one here. (Later … Read more >>
Guardian 24108/Orlando – nippy
Some nice well-disguised wordplay here – especially wrt use of head and tail letters – while preserving good surfaces. Two identical nippy clues here which are well-handled. Across 1 DAWDLER – (Edward, L)*: … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,480 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 9, 2007 Across 1. PAWNSHOP – PA*(SHOWN)P. I had to look up “uncle” in a dictionary to learn that it has a slang meaning of … Read more >>
Independent 6451/Dac
A fair and satisfying crossword but I’m still missing an explanation (25) which always niggles! No theme as far as I can see. Across 1 RANSOM – RANSOM(E) refers to Arthur Ransome, famous … Read more >>
Financial Times 12489/Gozo
Good fun, and reasonably easy although 15A and 4D held me up a bit for reasons explained below. I didn’t realise the FT had so many setters on their team; as well as … Read more >>
FT 12,488 by Neo
This turned out to be more of a challenge than I anticpated at first; plain sailing initially, but then got becalmed on the last few clues. At the time of solving, I wasn’t … Read more >>
Guardian 24,107/Paul – whatchamacallits and thingummyjigs
A typical Paul effort with clues ranging from easy to difficult, and a collection of words some will know, and others won’t. I quite enjoy the mental challenge of a Paul puzzle, but … Read more >>