Azed 1813
This review is brought to you by linxit and colinblackburn. linxit writes… After a good run of completed Azeds earlier in the year I’ve gone through a bit of a bad patch lately, … Read more >>
Everyman 3152/Feb 25 – Pee on the IRS?
I’m sure the 8th row of unches reading PEE (on the) IRS is unrelated to the fact that I’m in the middle of trying to do my taxes for 2006. Right? Across 4 … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 44/Paul – O bald man!
I’ve not done these before but the Genius series is monthly series in the online (only) Guardian that offers a preambled themed puzzle which doesn’t require frequent round-trips to Chambers. Yet. This month’s … Read more >>
Independent 6352 / Bannsider – More Ashes!
A prize crossword and I found it trickier than a weekday with some fairly current references and well hidden definitions. As far as I can see, which is not always far in such … Read more >>
Guardian 24,009/Paul (Sat 24th Feb) – Enigmatic Variations
Solving time: 20:15 I was pretty slow to spot the thematic bits, which were many and crucial, so I’m not too disappointed with the time. In fact I’m pleased just to have completed … Read more >>
Guardian 24,014, Chifonie: Chiming a chord
A pretty straightforward puzzle, with no obscure German towns or archaic words and only one two fairly minor quibbles for me. A couple of the anagrams give themselves away rather too cheaply, but Chifonie makes … Read more >>
Independent 6357 by Phi All you expect from Phi (and more!)
This had everything I expect from Phi, clear precise, clues, easier wordplay to the less familiar words, everything fully understood. The extra bit was that, like some other of this week’s puzzles, there … Read more >>
Inquisitor #8/Overcooked by Charybdis
This was a very frustrating puzzle for me. It appeared very easy at first, but then I hit a wall with the last six or seven clues. It wasn’t that I couldn’t work … Read more >>
Guardian 24013/Pasquale
I expected a Pasquale puzzle to be straightforward with good cluing, and for the most part it was. However, I had to use TEA to find the final answer, 14ac. Even with maximum … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 889 by Quixote – not too hard
Fairly straightforward, with the SW corner the slowest. As always with Quixote, everything stacks up unambiguously. Solving time: 21 mins * = anagram ACROSS 8 TI PP ER Slightly unusual construction in which … Read more >>
Independent 6356 / Punk – Wot no choo-choo?
Solving time 11:07 (if correct) A theme that kept me guessing for a while, as the crucial no. 5 didn’t fall until I’d got one of the theme answers, most of which are … Read more >>
Independent 6355 / Dac to Normal
Solving time: 24 minutes (one dubious answer) Another sound puzzle from Dac which held my enjoyment right the way through. Not terribly sure about 13 across, I wondered if the countries had been … Read more >>
Guardian 24012/Araucaria – this is a really hard week!
I was at a beer-tasting event last night, so was hoping for an easy puzzle today – no such luck! I groaned when I saw it was Araucaria, but after looking over the … Read more >>
Independent 6354/Virgilius
Ah what’s the theme, I thought as I opened the back pages of the Independent. Momentarily distracted by the pictures of weekend’s big fight between Arsenal and Chelsea, I returned to wondering if … Read more >>
Guardian 24,011/Gordius – very difficult for a Tuesday
Apologies for the lateness of this entry, but I had technical problems earlier today, and have since had to sit through a mind-numbing Property Strategy meeting for a couple of hours. The delay … Read more >>