Everyman 3136/Gently bestial
Solving time: probably 35’ total with lots of interruptions Everyman grew up in the post-war Observer as Ximenes’s relatively easy puzzle. His guidelines (as I just learned in his “Art of the Crossword”) … Read more >>
Independent 6257/Scorpion – a tough workout
Solving time 15:40 I like to see Scorpion puzzles, and I’m pleased to be writing the first Scorpion posting here on “225” – here’s why. From time to time, would-be setters send me … Read more >>
Guardian 23915/Bunthorne – A tough final challenge
The last puzzle from one of the very best setters. Across 1 ACHILLES TENDON – I saw “heel” and stupidly assumed it was there to lead you away from Achilles. Unless it was … Read more >>
Independent 6262/Phi — Gentle end to the week.
Solving time : about 20 minutes A classic Phi puzzle, very fair Ximenean clues with a few cryptic definitions thrown into the mix. Across 1 PAST+ORAL — ORAL is always a good guess … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday/Quixote 873 – V good as always
Quixote is, as most will know, Don Manley of the Chambers Crossword Manual, the 4th edtion of which has recently appeared. Highly recommended, especially for help in explaining all the clue types and … Read more >>
Guardian 23920/Auster – quite straightforward
An easier day today after yesterday’s toughie from Paul. Auster is a very occasional setter for the Guardian – one or two puzzles a year I think. Across 5 HOARDED – anag of … Read more >>
Independent 6261/Math – Eightsquared
Solving time: 6:04 An impressive 11 answers on a 24dn theme, though only 13ac, 14dn and possibly 16ac are likely to have caused any difficulty for anyone with only a passing knowledge. I … Read more >>
Guardian 23919/Paul – just my luck for my first post!
According to Hugh Stephenson, the Guardian crossword editor, Paul is the toughest of all the setters on the team. This puzzle certainly suggests that he’s not fibbing! My solving time was 29:44. I … Read more >>
Guardian 23918/Gordius – A reasonable amount of 11A.
Across 1 QUAKERS – r, square (anag). The formal name for the Quakers is the Religious Society of Friends. 5 PELISSE – a long cloak, often with a fur lining. Homophone clue as … Read more >>
Independent 6260 by Dac – Excellent, varied, fair
This had all the attributes I associate with Dac – flowing clues, variation, trickery, always accessible in the end. Average in difficulty for a Dac for me – solved in 17 mins. ACROSS … Read more >>
Guardian 23917/Taupi — Bad start for me!
Solving time : 45 minute bus journey plus some looking up when I got to work. I had hoped that a Tuesday Guardian puzzle would be a gentle start to my blogging, instead … Read more >>
Independent 6259/Virgilius – A fairly easy 4A.
If you’re familiar with Virgilius (Brendan in the Guardian) you were probably expecting some sort of theme or grid wizardry when you saw today’s puzzle. Somewhat surprising then, to discover that today’s is … Read more >>
Guardian 23916/Rufus
Solving time: 29’ Rufus puzzles are always fair, fairly straightforward with sensible surface readings and rarely does he use obscure vocabulary. He’s considered at the easy end of the Guardian scale. In this … Read more >>
Guardian 23,915 by Bunthorne
Today’s Guardian puzzle is the last by the late Bunthorne. More from someone after the competition closing date…
Guardian 23,914 by Brummie – Pretty tough
I found it hard to get going with this; I did about 6 clues in 20 minutes and then got stuck. So I did something else for a while, came back to it … Read more >>