Financial Times 12483/Cinephile
Pretty tough. I haven’t got a convincing answer for 14D, I can’t work out the wordplay for the long clue and I needed Google to get 15D. Across 1 S.E,WAGE – overseas solvers … Read more >>
Coming Soon – New Premises
The crossword solving blog currently here will soon be moving here. As they say, watch this space.
Independent 6444/Virgilius
Always a pleasure to do a Virgilius. Not especially taxing on the obscurity of answers (although 19 was new to me) but inventive and amusing. As indicated in 16/17 there are plenty of … Read more >>
Guardian 24101/Shed
Very enjoyable puzzle from Shed. As you’ll see, there were a few bits and pieces I wasn’t sure about but was still able to make educated guesses thanks to some excellent clueing. Across … Read more >>
FT 12,482/Quark – chaussez les étriers
Solving time : 21 mins approx Solving this crossword at 6pm here in San Francisco was interrupted by, of all things, a Scottish pipe and drum band playing outside my window. Across 1,4 … Read more >>
Guardian 24,100 – Audreus/challenging
This was quite tough for a Monday, with some obscure words mixed in with references to Shakespeare, mythology, ancient alphabets and poetry. All in all, it was enjoyable to solve, and took me … Read more >>
Independent 6443/Mass
The last time I blogged a Mass puzzle I introduced it thus: “A compiler I usually struggle with but not on this occasion. There are some very nice clues in this but a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,093 (Sat 2 Jun)/Araucaria – Mosley harmless
Solving time: 28 minutes for all but 22ac; one other mistake (9ac). I still can’t work out 9ac, for which I entered ‘anivorous’, but I should really have got 22ac, even though I … Read more >>
Everyman 3166
This would have been a pretty quick solve were it not for 5D; I also hesitated for a while over 19D as I didn’t fully understand the clue. Across 1 AB,DUCT – “seaman” … Read more >>
Independent 6436/Nimrod – on Nimrod and others…
An appropriately timed and themed crossword as the date of publication (June 2nd) was the 150th anniversary of 28A’s birth. It’s also fitting that Nimrod (Enigmatist in the Guardian) should be the compiler … Read more >>
Independent 6441 by Phi
A pleasing puzzle from Phi, with a couple of good arts and literature references. Some very nice, very wry cryptic defs. Across 7 KEEP OFF THE GRASS Witty cryptic definition. 9 LEGIT Double … Read more >>
FT 12,479/Aardvark O Picasso Embargo Duomo
Solving time : about 30 mins with phone calls interrupting This is my first FT blog. All week the FT online site has been one day behind with the crossword and I was … Read more >>
Guardian 24,098 – Chifonie/a few minutes’ work
Chifonie’s puzzles tend to be fair and on the easier side. This one was no exception (solved in about 7 minutes), although I can’t work out the wordplay for 8dn, so if anyone … Read more >>
Inquisitor 22 – MMM by Schadenfreude
Note: This was actually posted early in January 2010. Whilst compiling an index to the Inquisitor blogs, I noticed that there was an early one missing from May-07. So here’s a highly … Read more >>
Financial Times 12478/Jason
A very enjoyable puzzle from Jason with a few top-notch clues and a couple of nice ideas. Not too tricky either. Across 9 (CHESS I TRY)* 12 ETERNAL – I don’t think I’ve … Read more >>