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 >>
Independent 6640 (Mass)
Initially I thought this was going to be very easy. I got through most of the clues fairly quickly but then got hopelessly stuck on 8 across, 25 across and 24 down, some … Read more >>
Azed 1860
Solving time 47:10, with one clue left (which I eventually got while writing this blog entry). This one was split roughly half and half between entries using familiar vocabulary and those that had … Read more >>
Guardian 24,289 (Sat 19 Jan)/Araucaria – Horseplay
Solving time: Gave up on 10ac and 7dn after 18 mins, with 9dn also wrong. A horsey theme this week, with THE SPORT OF KINGS and HUNTING WITH DOGS forming the outer columns. … Read more >>
Independent and FT Crosswords for new solvers
This post is a short guide to Independent and FT cryptic crosswords for those trying them out in their new free online forms. It’s particularly directed at any US-based solvers who haven’t seen … Read more >>
Independent 6638 / Phi Where was Les SylPHIdes?
Pirouetting into sight today is Phi with a puzzle containing some well-known (and not so well-known) ballets. Solving time: 20 Minutes, (plus a couple of Google checks for titles). Very enjoyable with the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,294, Taupi: Poetic licence
Easier than it looked at first glance. Some nice clues, with concise and convincing surfaces. One or two slightly loose definitions, but I guess you can put that down to 8down! ACROSS: 1. RE(COR)D. … Read more >>
Independent 6633/Nimrod
Having just blogged Nimrod’s Thursday puzzle (6637) I can say that I found this one the easier of the two. I’m not really a big fan of long anagrams and I was lucky … Read more >>
Inquisitor 55 SLOPING OFF by Kea
This was a corker!! I’m still not completely convinced that we’ve got it right, but here goes. The missing letters of the across clues instructed you to “INCLUDE PUNCTUATION” while the down clues … Read more >>
FT 12,674/Bradman
As one has come to expect from Bradman (or any other of his pseuDONyms), flawless technical merit receives a healthy dollop of creative/lateral thinking. ‘Twas ever thus, it seems. Across 10 L(I)LAC – … Read more >>