I found this mostly on the easy side with a few that I struggled to get at the end.
Guardian 29,256 – Vulcan
It’s not often that I can complete even an easy crossword in a single pass, but that was the case today. Definitely one for beginners and those in a hurry… Thanks to Vulcan. … Read more >>
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, etc.
As 2023 is drawing to a close, please take a moment to remember those friends we’ve lost during the year. Please join me in raising a glass to the following: Geoff Moss Tony … Read more >>
Everyman 4,025/10 December
Nothing to frighten the horses here, I would say. Which is as it should be. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1764 Tees
Thank you to Tees. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Innocent Bobby binding hand initially cut (4,4) LAMB CHOP : LAMB(an innocent/a simple person) + COP(a police office, nicknamed a “bobby” … Read more >>
Azed 2686
For grid-spotters, this one is slightly unusual in having 90-degree rotational symmetry, though that doesn’t seem to have any special significance. Just another quality puzzle from the master. Thanks to Azed. Across 1 … Read more >>
Independent 11,601 by Monk
Monk makes a welcome appearance this weekend. He now only appears in the Indy four times a year and it is more than two and a half years since we last had the pleasure of blogging one of his puzzles.
Guardian Prize 29,249 by Brockwell
Brockwell’s sixth Guardian cryptic and his third in the Prize slot.
Financial Times 17,596 by Julius
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 9, 2023
Financial Times 17,601 by JASON
This is a super-quick blog write-up to fill in for Turbolegs, who reports technical difficulties. Please note any deficiencies, and I will edit at leisure.
Independent 11,600 / Phi
Phi, our usual Friday setter, is occupying “his” slot this week too. I found this to be a medium-difficulty puzzle through which I made steady progress. I ground to a halt with the … Read more >>
Guardian 29,254 – Vlad
I got off to a good start by guessing the long answer to 1,12 from the definition and enumeration, and it was reasonably plain sailing (by Vlad’s standards) from then on. There was … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 29,253 by Pangakupu
Confession time: I agreed to stand in for scchua today but got myself confused – easily done just after midnight – and I thought I’d agreed to do the FT.
FT 17,600 by Aardvark
Aardvark is today's setter in the FT
Independent 11599 / Methuselah
I’m always happy to see a puzzle from Methuselah. Methuselah covers a lot of subjects in the clues – today we had allusions to language, geography, sport, biology, music, literature, … Read more >>