Financial Times 12,657 by Mudd
I had some trouble finishing this one. One reason was that I was unfamiliar with the expression “to wet the baby’s head”. It stems, I understand, from baptism but has come to mean … Read more >>
FT 12,666/Cinephile – Number of the Beast
Quite an esoteric theme for this one, although it is readily flagged and accessible thanks to the preamble, “The beasts are 8” (i.e. 8D). I thought it strange that the creatures in question … Read more >>
Independent 6630/Dac
A bit harder than the usual Dac, I found. Some of the bottom-half clues were peculiarly impenetrable, although in the end there was the usual satisfaction with Dac’s skills. Across 1 HIT THE … Read more >>
Guardian 24,286 – Paul : Fizzy Pop
A man notices a blonde sucking on the bottom of a Coke can. Curious, he asks her what she’s doing. “Duh! It says for best taste drink by date on the bottom.” ACROSS … Read more >>
Guardian 24,285, Chifonie: He-rewarding in the end
This was tough stuff indeed, but ultimately satisfying, with some fine clues. It took a good half hour all told, i.e. half of my tube journey (the needs of work oblige me to … Read more >>
Independent 6629/Virgilius – Marginally wrong
Some Virgilius themes leap out at you, others reveal themselves slowly. This puzzle was definitely in the latter category for me, although I expect it would have been quicker had I got 7/32 … Read more >>
Guardian 24283/Rufus
Sorry this is late — I completely forgot. A pretty nice puzzle with a couple of clues that I wouldn’t have been surprised to have enountered in an Araucaria: e.g. 22D and 23D … Read more >>
Everyman 3197
The last Everyman blog was back in August. As with some of the other weekend competition puzzles the feedback was low and bloggers wanted to concentrate their efforts on the daily puzzles or … Read more >>
Independent 6628 by Math – “Left, Right; Left, Right..”
A relatively easy puzzle from Math, with a few tricky clues in the lower part of the grid. I was only able to get 23 across after I’d noticed that the extreme left … Read more >>
Guardian 24,277 (Sat 5 Jan)/Araucaria – Sin city
Solving time: Turned to references after 45 mins (in two sessions) with 6 answers missing (asterisked) and one wrong (2dn). The thematic element of this puzzle was the inclusion of the seven deadly … Read more >>
Azed 1858 – Competition Puzzle
In theory I should delay this another hour but I’m sure anyone intending to write a clue to HUMONGOUS will have done so by now. Solving time: 22:20 – no books – and … Read more >>
Guardian 24282 / Brummie – Lights, Camera, Action!
Solving time: 22 minutes A lovely cinematic experience from Brummie today. Many of the clues shared the solution to 9 as a definition. The usual smattering of clever and nudge nidge wink wink … Read more >>
Independent 6626/Phi
I raced through this puzzle much more quickly than usual for Phi. Then I hit the buffers with 11 and 13. I’m sure I’m missing something very simple. Across 1 RHODES SCHOLAR — … Read more >>
Independent 6621/Dac (05-01-08)
Dac is well-known amongst Indy solvers but we’re used to seeing him on a Wednesday so it was something of a surprise to see his name next to the Saturday prize puzzle. This … Read more >>
Inquisitor 53 SOME OF THE THINGS by Quixote
It’s that time of year! “In the Bleak Midwinter” last week and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” this week. Two of our tiumvirate went to the Temple Church Choir’s carol service at the … Read more >>