Independent 6398 / Scorpion – Tough fare
Solving time: Most of the day! I was having to dip in and out of this between hospital appointments today and I found this experience very tough going. Like my Co-blogger today, there … Read more >>
Guardian No 24,055/Chifonie – hmmm…?
I have to admit that Chifonie is not by favourite setter, and in my opinion, this puzzle has too many loose definitions/wordplay, and at least one clue I can’t parse (see below). Sorry … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 896 by Quixote
The usual satisfying fare. Solving time: 15 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 PLAYED OUT “Play” “doubt” “said” 9 R (E) ICH STAG e is the most common letter in English so abbreviations … Read more >>
Independent 6397 by Dac – Top quality
Another excellent puzzle by Dac and they don’t have to be hard to be good. Solving time: 11 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 S TRUCK 4 BIG BUCKS 15 ARIA Alternate letters … Read more >>
Guardian 24054/Araucaria – diverting history
Solving time: 42’ Well, if you know your William Cowper, you’ll have no problem with this puzzle. I don’t. Had to go off and read “The Diverting History of John Gilpin” to make … Read more >>
Independent 6396/Virgilius
I always enjoy Virgilius puzzles. This was no exception, lots to enjoy and very rarely anything dissatisfying in any way. No theme or nina as far as I can tell although 1A and … Read more >>
Guardian 24053 / Pasquale – All-round Good Fun!
Solving Time: 20 mins (although aone explanation baffles me) Gosh, it seems such a long time that I’ve been here, after stays in and out of hospital. I was dreading getting a real … Read more >>
Guardian 24,052, Rufus: Looking after crossword site’s cool
Reasonably easy Monday morning fare. At a rough count, one third cryptic definitions, generally pretty straightforward but several pithy and apposite enough to be quite satisfying even if they don’t take a lot … Read more >>
Independent 6395/Math
Across 1 MP in TRUED UP 9 ACK(nowledge) in BLOG – nice to see words like BLOG appearing in crosswords but, if you know the word, “online journal” is something of a giveaway. … Read more >>
Azed 1819 – making haste fairly slowly
Solving time c. 45 mins in two sittings (without Chambers), but one mistake (or maybe more – see 8D). I’m surprised more crossword setters haven’t had fun with clues for FESTINA LENTE (35A). … Read more >>
Everyman 3158/crosstown traffic
Solving time: 20’ except for one answer This puzzle number as printed in the paper is No. 00. So even The Observer isn’t free of Graudian Gremlins. I did this in a minicab … Read more >>
Independent 6382 / Morph – better late than never
Solving time: 15 mins? In a bit of blogging confusion I asked eimi for a copy of a puzzle I’d thrown away and thought I had to blog. He sent it with this … Read more >>
Guardian 24,045 (Easter Special, Sat Apr 7) – Things of Leon
Solving time: Got out Chambers and my A-Z after about 1hr 15min. The double puzzle was based on the name ‘Leon’. Grid A contained pairs of answers which when joined with ‘le’ gave … Read more >>
Independent 6388 by Nimrod
Nimrod is Nimrod: got almost everything, I think. Solving time: 17 mins (quick for me for Nimrod) * = anagram ACROSS 1 M I A OW Mow is a pile of hay 4 … Read more >>
Inquisitor #14/Just in Case by Nutmeg
Just in time for Easter, Nutmeg provided us with a crossword about that most ubiquitous of nannies, Mary Poppins although more exactly, it was based on one word used in that movie. Generally, … Read more >>