Inquisitor #6/Military Marches by Kruger
If I had looked up Kruger’s bio before tackling this puzzle, I may have saved myself some time, as he has listed among his hobbies long-distance walking. The title of the puzzle had … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 887 by Quixote – All clear in the end
Not quite as easy as some recent puzzles in this series, but all clear in the end. Solving time: 21 mins ACROSS 1 GE(R)T RUDE R = King Queen Gertrude of Denmark, mother … Read more >>
Guardian 24,001/Gordius – I really must get round to swallowing a dictionary…
A preliminary scan through the clues had me worried, as I only got a couple on first reading. It eventually took me at least 30 minutes, probably longer, to complete this, and I … Read more >>
Independent 6344/Dac – DIAZEPAM
Solving time: 30’ (except for DIAZEPAM) This is my first Independent blog and I’m lucky I got Dac who I’ve done a few times and found him quite amenable with nothing too subtle … Read more >>
Independent 6343 by Virgilius – Valentine’s Day Special
When Eimi indicated on this Board that Virgilius, whose themed puzzles appear on Tuesdays, was moving to Wednesday this week, I was pretty sure we would get a themed puzzle for the day. I … Read more >>
Guardian 24000/Puck – well dressed
Solving time: 35’ A feeling of deja-vu crept over as I solved yet again a long anagram for AT THE DROP OF A HAT (in yesterday’s Times as well). I found the across … Read more >>
Guardian 23,999, Paul: ‘Goodbye!’
Apologies for late posting – I’ve been for lunch with the ‘gruntlings’, a group of contestants in the Azed monthly clue-writing comp who meet the week after to compare notes, or just eat, … Read more >>
Independent 6342/Morph
A new setter, I think, and a welcome one. This was a very enjoyable crossword with some excellent witty cluing including a few that might not appeal to Ximenean purists. Morph got a … Read more >>
Guardian 23998/Rufus
Another very easy Monday puzzle from Rufus, although with a better mix of clue types than the last time I blogged one of his puzzles. Still, most of the answers are so obvious … Read more >>
Independent 6341/Mordred
There was a lot to admire in this puzzle but I can’t say that I enjoyed it that much. I found it a bit of slog and I filled in too many (for … Read more >>
Guardian 23,991/Araucaria (Sat 3 Feb) – England’s Mountains Green
Solving time: 30 mins or so, plus about another 10 with Wikipedian assistance to solve 1dn, 10ac and 2dn in the top left and 22ac and 18dn in the bottom right. In stark … Read more >>
Everyman 3149/Feb 4 – don’t panic
All the long clues refer to something a bit intense: OVERBOARD, INTENSIVE CARE, PANIC STATIONS, GREAT SCOT (sic), SHOUTING MATCH, NAIL-BITER. Well, except for UPRIGHT PIANOS (uptight?). One unknown composer at 19D (COATES … Read more >>
Independent 6334/Phi – 4Ding
A trickier than usual puzzle from Phi, which is to be expected for a Saturday. A few words I didn’t know but the wordplay is as fair ever so they weren’t too tricky … Read more >>
Inquisitor #5 / Psyche – ON STAGE
Solving time: at least 4 hours – maybe 6 A theme with an echo of Phi’s Inquisitor #3 – can’t remember doing a Psyche puzzle before, and have no idea who it is. … Read more >>
Guardian 23996/Chifonie
Solving time – around 20 mins, but I had more than half an eye on the cricket! And what a great result for England! A typical Chifonie I suppose – a set of … Read more >>