Beelzebub 915/Columba (26-08-07)
This was definitely trickier than the last few Beelzebub puzzles but still very enjoyable. Not sure about the wordplay for 11A though. Across 5 N in UP,LACE – LACE can be a verb … Read more >>
Inquisitor 35 – Three Sixes by Loda
I lied when I said I’d solved this and lost it – I solved most of it and lost it as I discovered in my re-solve. The theme was very easy to spot … Read more >>
Independent 6514/Bannsider (01-09-07)
Very tough but lots of fun. There are a couple of things I’m not sure about here and there and one answer I can get at all (10A) but I thought this was … Read more >>
Independent 6518 by Punk
An excellent puzzle from this very talented setter. Getting some of the longer phrases quickly made it a faster solve than usual for me in the case of the occasional Indy setters. Solving … Read more >>
Guardian 24175, Paul: Going bananas
I’m struggling with computer problems (a dead monitor), so was relieved that this one was pretty straightforward. Across 1 RUGBY FOOTBALL — *(golf brutal boy) 10 TOP BANANA — The star entertainer (see … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 916 by Quixote
I found this fairly straightforward. Solving time: 16 mins. In line with recent practice, will note a fairly small number of what may have been the trickier clues, but happy to explain others … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,546 by Cincinnus
Yet another beauty from Cincinnus. This one had several words/terms that I did not know but they all proved fairly easy to figure out. My favourite clues are 12A, 24A and 25A. Across … Read more >>
Chumbawamba
It’s good to see that even the crazy anarcho-punk-folk ensemble Chumbawamba like to turn to a decent cryptic puzzle in between demos and gigs… scroll down a little …it would appear to be … Read more >>
Independent 6517/Dac – About a boy
I don’t think this was as tough as some recent Dac puzzles but I have a feeling that 9A will trip some people up… Across 1 COMMOD[-or]ES 6 SHREW,D 9 BADLY DRAWN BOY … Read more >>
Guardian 24,174, Araucaria: Disraeli Gears
Despite some complex wordplay, I found this less difficult than the average Araucaria (a relief after yesterday’s Pasquale, where I failed on four clues). The theme is the 19th century Tory PM Disraeli, so … Read more >>
Guardian 24,173/Pasquale – Tuesday toughie
(Apologies for the late post – solved the puzzle earlier today, and forgot to write the blog!!) This was a toughie, especially after the usual Rufus romp yesterday. Some very unusual words and … Read more >>
Independent 6516/Virgilius
Something of a rarity for me: a Virgilius puzzle I didn’t enjoy all that much. I got the three thematic clues fairly quickly, probably because they’re not all that cryptic and I knew … Read more >>
Guardian 24172/Rufus
Solving time 4:32 I suppose I should thank Rufus after last Friday’s battle with a really tough Araucaria, but this was just too easy! I’m no speed demon, but I got nearly every … Read more >>
Independent 6515/Mordred
I found 90% of this crossword a doddle and then struggled filling in the last few answers. There was the odd word in the wordplay that I’d have expected more in a Morded … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 50, Enigmatist: Lights, camera, action
Thematic answers are all types of of light, camera or action. These clues don’t have definitions, apart from the number referring to 1d, 2d or 3d. Once you work that out, without a … Read more >>