Never knowingly undersolved
Posted as the scheduled blog did not appear! 30 minutes (with one error!) From Paul’s very first appearance, it became clear that he possessed an amazing talent to provide the most wonderful puzzles … Read more >>
It’s 4am and yesterday’s Guardian hasn’t been blogged yet, so as I have ‘flu and can’t sleep I thought I’d fill the breach. Please excuse any mistakes. Easier than usual for Paul, I … Read more >>
Solving time 8:48 As soon as you see the 8-block black lumps in the NE and SW corners you know something’s up, and the huge gap at the bottom of the across clues … Read more >>
Solving time 25 minutes I have really enjoyed the Indy daily puzzles recently and I know that a number of crossword chums have also done so, so I feel a bit odd about … Read more >>
When I began this puzzle I expected a fairly easy ride as usual with Dac. In the end this puzzle took me way too long mainly due to the time spent looking at … Read more >>
Araucaria, love him or loathe him, rarely fails to produce an enjoyable puzzle to solve and you always learn something new to boot. This is typical fare – there aren’t many examples that … Read more >>
I did most of this puzzle within my 30 minute bus journey (the schools aren’t back yet!) However, I failed to get a couple of answers on the Eastern edge until a few … Read more >>
…at least I think it’s new. I certainly don’t recall ever seeing it before. It’s a nice idea although it does make things very easy for you, once you’ve got the first one … Read more >>
Very unusual puzzle, with some (for me) original treatments. Solving time: 31 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 CONVENIENCE Double definition (or punning definition) – just 7 letters to clue an 11-letter word! … Read more >>
The things you learn: my basic knowledge of cricket and opera has increased significantly since I started doing cryptics regularly. A nice selection of Rufusian puns and cryptic definitions. You’d think there’d be … Read more >>
Puzzles 1 – 53
Some explanation first: Since handheld computers first appeared I’ve kept personal records of my times solving the Indy Crossword (including the IoS), mainly to compare the setters. When those handhelds went into the … Read more >>
This was last week’s Christmas Eve puzzle so not surprisingly another seasonal theme but not cloyingly so: some toboggans, crackers, a carol, a miracle, a portent and bit too much drinking. WHITE CHRISTMAS … Read more >>
Solving time 33:50 It’s good to be writing our first posting about a kind of puzzle I’ve looked forward to ever since I started solving cryptic crosswords. Back in the late 1970s, when … Read more >>
Slightly trickier than usual offering from Phi, with an appropriate mini-theme. Across 1 S,WIPED 5/10 THE FIRST NO,EL 9 N in DISCO,TENT 12 B,I,RE,ME – new to me but I’d come across TRIREME … Read more >>