“‘Twas the night before Xmas (almost: go with it), when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring…”
…except perhaps the moans of pain from Leedsclimber trying to solve this absolute beast of a crossword from Tyrus.
Guardian Prize 29,255 by Boatman
This is my inaugural blog in the Guardian Prize slot, so I hope that my parsing does this very fine puzzle justice.
Financial Times 17,602 by Rosa Klebb
Puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 16, 2023
Guardian Cryptic 29260 Brendan
Thank you to Brendan. Definitions are underlined in the clues. There are numerous references to things Roman, Latin, and American, though I can’t come up with a connection for all three. Across 8. … Read more >>
Independent 11,606 by Phi
It’s Phiday again!
Financial Times 17,607 STEERPIKE
Brisk workout from STEERPIKE this Friday.
Independent 11,605 / Bluth
Bluth has set today’s cruciverbal challenge, on a more unusual grid that accommodates a wide variety of word lengths. The fact that the solutions to the perimeter clues are divided between two grid … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,606 BUCCANEER
Buccaneer is today's FT setter.
Guardian Cryptic 29,259 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/29259.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1620: Land Race by Kruger
Hello everybody. As this is my last 225 blog before CHARTISMS, I would like to take the opportunity to wish all you lovely people peace and joy. Now, onto the joy of another entertaining EV …
Guardian 29,258 / Qaos
It was something of a relief, as well as the usual pleasure, to find a Qaos puzzle today: we haven’t had one since September and I was beginning to be concerned. There are … Read more >>
Financial Times 17,605 by BASILISK
Lucky me to get to blog two Basilisk puzzles in a row.
Independent 11604 / Umpire
Umpire is a fairly new setter in the Independent stable, with a few puzzles appearing in the past 12 months. I found this quite difficult, but very fair. The only … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1833: £25 Club by Vismut
Vismut sets the Inquisitor this week with a puzzle entitled £25 Club. The preamble was fairly short and told us that "Grid cells for thematic requirements, which are answers to … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 29,257 by Pasquale
A slow and tricky solve today. My favourites were 21ac, 12dn, and 1dn and 22dn. Thanks to Pasquale for the puzzle