Independent 6347 by Mass – Very tough
Mass is the only one of the setters, there when I first tackled the Indy, who still sets in the daily paper, though he appears less often. His puzzles were among the hardest with great skill … Read more >>
Guardian 23,997/Brummie (Sat Feb 10th [corrected from 3rd]) – Gunned down
Solving time: 10 minutes, one mistake (7 dn). This felt a cavalier solve, with numerous across clues to which I didn’t look closely at the wordplay while solving (e.g. 1, 11, 14, 18, … Read more >>
Everyman 3150/Feb 11 – Belgium
I really wanted to be able to say that if it’s Tuesday it must be Belgium. But sorry it’s Sunday. I’m hoping someone will explain 6D for me. Everyman has done so below… … Read more >>
Azed 1811 – waves and wave-dwellers
Solving time 16:05, without Chambers This is probably about as easy as Azed gets. Easy for me anyway, as 1A was a word I knew, and 9 first letters of relatively easy down … Read more >>
Independent 6340 / Nimrod – a bit of a puzzle …
Solving time: about 38 minutes. Timing is a bit rough – I was traversing London by train and tube, and there were various interruptions for changes. There is some kind of theme here, … Read more >>
Guardian 24002/Logodaedalus
I haven’t reviewed a Friday Guardian before and I admit that upon opening the paper and seeing Logodaedalus I did consider reviewing the excellent Phi puzzle in the Independent and simply pretending I’d … Read more >>
Independent 6345 / Phi – Enjoyable fun
Solving time: 22 minutes After a short stay as a guest of the NHS, I came out with the prospect of a long rest and recuperation period with the anticipation of being able … Read more >>
Inquisitor #6/Military Marches by Kruger
If I had looked up Kruger’s bio before tackling this puzzle, I may have saved myself some time, as he has listed among his hobbies long-distance walking. The title of the puzzle had … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 887 by Quixote – All clear in the end
Not quite as easy as some recent puzzles in this series, but all clear in the end. Solving time: 21 mins ACROSS 1 GE(R)T RUDE R = King Queen Gertrude of Denmark, mother … Read more >>
Guardian 24,001/Gordius – I really must get round to swallowing a dictionary…
A preliminary scan through the clues had me worried, as I only got a couple on first reading. It eventually took me at least 30 minutes, probably longer, to complete this, and I … Read more >>
Independent 6344/Dac – DIAZEPAM
Solving time: 30’ (except for DIAZEPAM) This is my first Independent blog and I’m lucky I got Dac who I’ve done a few times and found him quite amenable with nothing too subtle … Read more >>
Independent 6343 by Virgilius – Valentine’s Day Special
When Eimi indicated on this Board that Virgilius, whose themed puzzles appear on Tuesdays, was moving to Wednesday this week, I was pretty sure we would get a themed puzzle for the day. I … Read more >>
Guardian 24000/Puck – well dressed
Solving time: 35’ A feeling of deja-vu crept over as I solved yet again a long anagram for AT THE DROP OF A HAT (in yesterday’s Times as well). I found the across … Read more >>
Guardian 23,999, Paul: ‘Goodbye!’
Apologies for late posting – I’ve been for lunch with the ‘gruntlings’, a group of contestants in the Azed monthly clue-writing comp who meet the week after to compare notes, or just eat, … Read more >>
Independent 6342/Morph
A new setter, I think, and a welcome one. This was a very enjoyable crossword with some excellent witty cluing including a few that might not appeal to Ximenean purists. Morph got a … Read more >>