Guardian 24042/Orlando
Solving time 15:01 – should’ve been much quicker but for a wrong answer and stupidity at 12ac. Sorry for the delay, couldn’t take my eyes off the cricket. No way we should have … Read more >>
Independent 6384/Virgilius — a light breeze.
It’s Virgilius so there must be a theme. Hmm, 6 long across entries; definitely a theme. The anagram at 11ac jumped straight out at me as did the one for 14ac, which is, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,041/Shed – Religion? Bah, humbug!
An enjoyable and challenging Tuesday puzzle from Shed. Once you get the two longer answers, the rest is just clever enough to keep you interested, which is a good trick to carry off. … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 45 by Araucaria – Italianate
The trouble with blogging a monthly crossword comes if you don’t write your blog after solving. It’s a month since I solved this, I’ve dug out the paper and it looks like random … Read more >>
Independent 6383 by Mordred – Very tough
I found this one very tough and there are some where I do not fully understand – some confirmed by a theme spotted late on – I refer to this after the clue … Read more >>
Guardian 24040/Audreus – where’s Rufus?
Audreus has picked up Rufus’s Monday gauntlet with panache: a straightforward puzzle as befits Monday but nothing cliched nor run-of-the-mill. In particular, I like her charades (e.g. 8D, 16A) and a couple of … Read more >>
Everyman 3156/live at Leeds
Solving time: intermittent Solved on and off on the tube last Sunday with only 18A refusing to yield until I got home. Not sure I’ve fully worked out the wordplay for EXTRAVAGANZA. Across … Read more >>
Azed 1,817: A rare slip of the pen?
When I made an error in a competition puzzle last year, after failing to confirm a guess in Chambers, Azed was kind enough to drop me a note pointing out my ‘lapsus calami’, with … Read more >>
Guardian 24,033/Paul (Sat 24 Mar) – Symphonious
Solving time: 10:36 The ‘same person’ referred to in the preamble is Ludwig van Beethoven: “E 1”, “O 1” and “N 1” refer cryptically to “Beethoven’s 3rd“, “6th” and “9th” symphonies (see 1dn), … Read more >>
Independent 6381 by Phi
After yesterday’s super-difficult Bannsider, this was easier from Phi, with some pleasing clues and all is clear. Solving time: 22 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 BIRDSEED Excellent cryptic definition punning … Read more >>
Guardian 24038/Arachne – relieved
Solving time: 45′ Nice (comic?) relief from yesterday’s Independent for which I’ve exonerated myself for not knowing Nigella Lawson (she’s probably never heard of me after all). Some clever &lits and overall a … Read more >>
Inquisitor #12/Phi – Cousin R.I.P.
Despite the sombre occasion which inspired the theme of Phi’s puzzle, this was an enjoyable crossword to solve. The clues were not overly complex, and, despite taking an inordinate amount of time to … Read more >>
Independent 6376 / Nimrod – very Nimrod!
A disadvantage of having Sloggers and Betters 2 on a Thursday was that we lost John Henderson (Nimrod and Enigmatist for those who don’t know) to a quiz night – depite being in … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 893 by Quixote – Quite easy
No particular problem with this one, with the two longest words in the centre coming straightaway from the definitions. Solving time: 12 mins ACROSS 1 P SHAW The playwright George Bernard Shaw 2 … Read more >>
Independent 6380/Bannsider – bruising
Solving time: 59′ (missing two answers) This felt like a fairly hard Times — and I’m going to hazard a guess that Bannsider slums there as well. I spent too much time on … Read more >>