Guardian 24232/Rufus – trickier than average today
Solving time 13:10 9 across and most of the top right-hand corner held me up today, also putting GREEN BEAN in for 28 across at first didn’t help. Across 7 POLICEMAN (Cop in … Read more >>
Independent 6568/Bannsider (03-11-07)
Cracking puzzle, with lots to get your teeth into. Across 1 ED in BECK – ED is Ed Balls, currently Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. “Flower” is not really a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,225 (Sat 3 Nov)/Araucaria – Syracuse Problem
Solving time: 18:07 Today’s theme is WASHINGTON (14ac), DISTRICT (1ac) of COLUMBIA (16dn). President GEORGE (21dn) is said to have told his FATHER (5ac) “[I] CANNOT TELL A LIE” (10/27ac) when asked if … Read more >>
Azed 1849: Lucky bleeders*
*(Ref: the late, great Ian Dury, ‘There Ain’t Half Been Some Clever Bastards’) When I say that I found an Azed relatively straightforward, I always seem to get responses from people who say … Read more >>
Inquisitor 44 – patience please
There will unfortunately be a delay on Inqusitor 44. ‘loonapick’ hasn’t had time to do this puzzle and has decided to stop writing reports. So hold on while I tackle the puzzle. The … Read more >>
Last Saturday’s Bannsider puzzle in the Indy
I’ve written a blog for this but complete forgot to post it. Check back on Monday morning…
Guardian 24230/Brendan – literally challenged
I thought I’d made a mistake and printed out the TLS Crossword instead today! At least there were no unfinished quotations, and actually the only answer I wasn’t familiar with was 5dn. Amazing … Read more >>
Today’s FT/Bradman – placeholder for discussion
As requested, this is an entry to allow people to discuss today’s FT puzzle.
Independent 6573/Phi
If it didn’t say “The Friday Crossword by Phi” in the paper, then the completed grid would give you a few clues as to who compiled it! Across 7 (HELP IM)*,ON – the … Read more >>
Beelzebub 924/Phi (28-10-07)
Apologies for the longer than expected break in blogging these puzzles – normal service should be resumed from now on. Across 1 SUBS,TANTIV[-i]ES – a “tantivy” is a hunting cry (took me a … Read more >>
Guardian 24,229 – Paul (as late as a ScotRail train!)
Sorry for the delay in getting this to you, but at the time I had planned to write this blog, I was sitting in a cold train in snowy Aviemore because the windscreen … Read more >>
Guardian 24,229: Paul (not a blog)
No blog for this yesterday, doubtless due to unforeseen circumstances. This isn’t a blog, but I think Paul’s puzzle deserves a mention. Six of the clues were of a kind, with no further … Read more >>
Independent 6572 by Punk
A tough puzzle, I found. Was slow to get the 15-letter entries, but got all in the end. As always, some excellent clues from Punk. Solving time: 41 mins. * = anagram ACROSS … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 925 by Quixote
Mostly fairly straightforward, I found, but some tricky clues. Solving time: 18 mins. Notes on some clues below – happy to explain others if asked. ACROSS 11 RED EEM Definition is ‘deliver’ … Read more >>
Independent 6571 – Dac / Memo to Self…….
Solving Time: 15 minutes Dear Diary Woke up to doorbell ringing, stumbled downstairs and found delivery man with nice box of goodies from Amazon. New Bradford’s plus the new set of Guardian compilers’ … Read more >>