Independent 6422/Nimrod
After a long day at work documenting code I just wasn’t ready for a Nimrod puzzle. It finally defeated me a few minutes ago when I used TEA to check the last but … Read more >>
Guardian 24078/Paul – rearends
Just some quick notes about this puzzle written up a day after I solved (and re-solved!) the puzzle. Quite a few clever Pauline (not Paulene!) fun and games. Some post-post editing thanks to … Read more >>
Independent 6421/Dac
Quite a cavalier sort of solve with this one – a few clues filled in without completely understanding them, anagrams guess-timated rather than properly worked out – but luckily no mistakes. Would have … Read more >>
Independent 6420/Virgilius
Done in a slightly distracted fashion as I was in a soft play centre for children with half an eye on a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. Slick as ever from Virgilius without a … Read more >>
Guardian 24077/Rover – whimsical
Solving time: 30’ Quite a few whimsical and cryptic allusions. I didn’t really enjoy this puzzle but probably because I’m a bit burnt out having just done The Times as well (“it’s not … Read more >>
Guardian 24076 / Rufus – Straightforward start to the week
Solving time: 13 minutes A straightforward start to the week from one of the masters of the cryptic definition. Nothing too troublesome, although a tiny grumble for the purists might be he use … Read more >>
Situations Vacant: Financial Times solvers
We would like to start including the Financial Times puzzles in this blog. The FT puzzle is set by many of the same people that also set the Independent and Guardian crosswords, and … Read more >>
Independent 6419 by Hypnos
A, pleasant, excellently crafted, puzzle a little on the easy side of average for me. Solving time: 14 mins * =anagram ACROSS 5 MAGICIAN GI in maniac* Joe is US usage … Read more >>
Everyman 3162/no longer a greenhorn
Solving time: 15’ Rather fast solve for me… nothing really held me up with the long clues falling almost on first read. I think this means that I’m no longer an Everyman GREENHORN. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,069 (Sat 5 May)/Araucaria – China, see
Solving time: About 20 mins for all but 19dn and 23ac. One other mistake (16dn). A porcellanous theme this week, featuring Crown Derby, Royal Worcester, Wedgwood, Spode and Minton. Not exactly my specialist … Read more >>
Independent 6412 / Punk – tough but very good
Solving time 14:05 Punk is also Paul in the Guardian, where I sometimes think he takes the odd liberty too many. Not in this puzzle – I can find nothing to quibble about, … Read more >>
Inquisitor 18 by Dysart ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY!
I thought this was an excellent puzzle from Dysart who debuted in the Listener last year and has since appeared twice in the Indy, this being the second one, and also very recently … Read more >>
Guardian 24074 / Araucaria – Doubling Up
Solving time: 27 minutes It is lovely to be able to blog the doyen of crossword setters, but we get off to the wrong start with the grid design. I really dislike this … Read more >>
Independent 6417 by Phi
After yesterday’s super-difficult puzzle by Nestor, a straightforward one to follow – such alternation is a good policy if it is intended. Solving time: 10 mins (compared with yesterday’s 71) * = anagram … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 899 by Quixote
Solving time: 15 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 BACK Pleasing double definition 10 LIME (RICK) S 11 Don’t cast a CLOUT till May is out. Old proverb re clothes. Puzzle is first … Read more >>