Private Eye/Cyclops 346 – N.O.R.W.I.C.H.
NORWICH is an acronym for “kNickers Off Ready When I Come Home” as used by WWII soldiers when writing to their loved one to avoid the censors. Basically SWALK for the randy. Did … Read more >>
Azed 1838
Solving time 31:34, but Chambers and Bradford’s used throughout. Either they’re getting easier, or I’m improving! Azed always used to take me at least an hour, even with all the solving aids. Maybe … Read more >>
Everyman 3177/cats and dogs
Last regular Everyman blog… Lots of dogs and a cat or two. None of whom hailed from Scotland as far as I could tell. Across 1 BAS,SET – our first dog 4 DOGGY … Read more >>
Guardian 24,159 (Sat 18 Aug)/Enigmatist – Tube test
Solving time: 11:50 Having seen the thematic cross-referencing I looked at, and solved, 17ac (TUBING) straight away, so should really have been quicker than this; slowness on two of the three long thematic … Read more >>
Guardian 24, 164/Brendan – Questionable?
This was quite tough, and I had to give up after I’d done about 75% of it. When I got home from work, I attaked the NW corner, and eventually finished after more … Read more >>
Independent 6507 / Phi Relaxing fare
Solving Time: 23 minutes The usual demonstration from Phi that simple clear clue writing can be elegant and humorous – and a delight to solve. ACROSS (*) = ANAGRAM (CD) = CRYPTIC DEF … Read more >>
Inquisitor 33 – Holiday by Schadenfreude
Solving time: c. 45 mins, no books, but one mistake found on checking answers After a tough battle with Kruger a couple of weeks ago, this was a straightforward “treated answers” puzzle. All the … Read more >>
Beelzebub 913/Phi (12-08-07)
Another very entertaining puzzle in a series that I’m already mightily impressed with, even though this is only the third one I’ve solved. Couple of queries: 5D and 22D, which I’m sure are … Read more >>
Independent 6502/Virgilius (18-08-07) – Across the board
This was a very quick solve for me (8:47, since you asked) so I didn’t spot the (subtly done) theme until I had 2 or 3 answers to go in. I’ve mentioned all … Read more >>
Guardian 24163/Rover
Solving time 5:44 That was probably the easiest crossword I’ve ever done in the Guardian. Probably the only tricky word was 19ac, but it was an expression I knew from somewhere, so no … Read more >>
Independent 6506/Monk — Nina!
The football theme stands out from the clues if not the grid entries, only 9a is a footballing term. I thought that was it then I noticed the letters in the first and … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 914 by Quixote
As indicated eslewhere, the first of a shorter blog on Quixote puzzles. Will try to concentrate on a small number of clues focussing on the trickier ones and those I liked the most. … Read more >>
Financial Times 12544/Jason
A nice enough puzzle but a few too many cryptic definitions for my liking. Lots for new solvers to get their 5As stuck into though. Across 1 WIND-BAG – a cryptic definition with … Read more >>
Guardian 24162/Brummie – from a Stan(d in)
I’m indebted to one of our regular commenters – stan – for this blog as we had a bit of a mix up this week and I assigned a puzzle to a blogger … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,534 by Cincinnus
Tougher than usual Cincinnus perhaps with some challenging clues (for me 1A, 1D, 17D and 25D) and a couple of beauties (28A, 15D). Across 1. LOBELIAS – ELIA (essayist) in LOBS (throws). It … Read more >>