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 >>
Independent 6393/Phi
My first blog after a two and a half week break away from crosswords and luckily for me and my sleep-deprived brain, it’s a Phi. I did actually manage to solve a few … Read more >>
Guardian 24,050, Gordius: Am I hotep or notep?
An averagely-hard Friday puzzle, I’d say – took 25 minutes or so of a somewhat stop-start tube journey. A couple I had to guess in the absence of reference works, including 8 Across, which … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 895 by Quixote – Easter
Another pleasing puzzle from Quixote on Easter Sunday, with appropriate references. Solving time: 11 mins ACROSS 9 I M (A GIN) E Quixote = me 11 CAR (PEN) TER Jimmy Carter “gets writer … Read more >>
Guardian 24049/Araucaria
Solving time: approx. 25 mins Araucaria’s outdone himself with this one – bit of a nightmare to solve with the number of clues referring to others, obscure wordplay, plain cheating and general skulduggery. … Read more >>
Independent 6392 by Nimrod – Very tough, some gems
This was very tough indeed, some less than familiar phrases, finally tracked down, with some real gems when all became clear. Solving time: 45 mins * = anagram ACROSS 8 CUTTING BOTH WAYS … Read more >>
Independent 6390 by Virgilius on Wednesday 11 April
Please note that this puzzle, due to a slip-up at the Indy, was the same as the previous day, already reviewed on this site.
Guardian 24,048/Quantum – quick post
Apologies for the tardiness and brevity of this post, but I have been at a full-day seminar in sunny Perth all day, so have not been able to get online until now. When … Read more >>
Guardian 24047/Paul – come to think of it
Solving time: 35’ I stared at this for a long time post-solving convinced there was a theme (after all, the competition in The Independent is Virgilius) but I can’t tease anything to the … Read more >>
Independent 6390 by Virgilius – hidden theme
Another great themed puzzle from Virgilius . 15 gave HIDDEN AGENDAS and every across row had the word AGENDA in order with every across answer contributing something. Solving time: 18 mins * = … Read more >>
Independent 6389 by Glow-worm – Shapely
Themed in line with recent Indy trends. Very pleasing puzzle. Solving time: 20 mins * = anagram ACROSS 1 OVAL OFFICE In the White House off-ice (less likely to slip) 10 S HAP … Read more >>
Guardian 24,046/Rufus – another CD collection
When you see that the compiler is Rufus, you know you are in for a glut of cryptic defintions, some more cryptic than others, and today’s puzzle had seven or eight of them, … Read more >>