Azed 1861 — mind your language
I don’t know my solving time so I’ll break with the tradition of the last few blogs. I often solve puzzles piecemeal, here and there, and interspersed with bits of Listener solving, daily … Read more >>
Inquisitor 56 THREESOMES by Lato
It’s always difficult starting a puzzle with several different clues types. Here we had extra words in eight clues, misprints in six and no definition in two. That still leaves plenty of normal … Read more >>
Guardian 24,295 (Sat 26 Jan)/Araucaria – Whodunnit?
Solving time: Lost, but about 11 mins I think. One wrong (2dn). A mini-theme in this crossword of detectives and their authors, with three pairs plus ‘Sherlock’ at 4dn. I didn’t think this … Read more >>
Independent 6644 by Phi
Theme – explicitly stated – 8 down – for those of us not too familiar with them, friendly clues made them deducible or guessable. Solving time, 31 mins. < = reversed * = … Read more >>
Guardian 24,300 – Enigmatist : Xenon the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
I always find Enigmatist crosswords difficult, and I’m prepared to accept that may be because of a shortage of horsepower between my ears. But this time I did get there. Lots of great clues … Read more >>
Independent 6639/Bannsider
In a comment a few weeks back, Eimi mentioned that his favourite clue of the year so far was in a forthcoming puzzle by Bannsider. Assuming this is that puzzle, then I’m none … Read more >>
Guardian 24299/Orlando – calling for a fatwa?
Well-phrased wordplay and clues on the whole. I struggled with several, to my mind, esoteric refs (SQUEERS, OSBERT, TREVELYAN) but I’m sure someone better educated (in Britain!) than myself would not have been … Read more >>
Independent 6643 by Tees
I found this a very tough puzzle, esp the lower half but also the long 20-letter phrase in the top half which was new to me. But I got there in the end … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 937 by Quixote (27/01/2008)
A little harder than usual from Quixote, I found. Solving time, 31 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 6 S (last letter of chips) CUP … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,669 by Mudd
A fairly routine puzzle from Mudd here. I completed it fairly quickly because I found the clues for the three long answers easy. Still, 11A and 5D took some puzzling over. Across 9. … Read more >>
Guardian 24298/Araucaria
Blimey, that was tough! It didn’t help that I’m nursing a hangover from last night (beer tasting event) but I think I’d have struggled anyway. Took about 45 minutes, but I had to … Read more >>
Independent 6642/Dac
One of Dac’s easier puzzles I think, but none the worse for that. Consistently excellent clueing as usual. Across 1 DOMINICANS. The islanders and the monks. 9 AMOROSO, which is both a lover … Read more >>
Guardian 24297/Brendan
An absolutely superb Brendan. Many of the clues were outstanding, in fact the weaker ones were the thematic clues. The theme was a rambling one connecting John DONNE (10) and Ernest HEMINGWAY (14) … Read more >>
Independent 6641/Virgilius
Another thematic tour-de-force from Virgilius; this time almost every clue or answer has a royal flavour to it. Across 8 BALMORALS – which is a type of brimless cap. I think I half-remembered that … Read more >>
Guardia 24,296, Rufus: I hope you like jam in too
As Bob Marley used to sing, though I don’t think that’s what he put in his cylinders. That one at 8down’s my favourite cryptic definition in a mixed bag. Overall, though I think the best clues are … Read more >>