Independent 10,476 by Poins

A reasonably straightforward puzzle, though with a few rather tricky constructions that took some working out. There’s only one really obscure word, at 14a, where the wordplay is clear enough to allow the … Read more >>

Everyman 3,838/3 May

My fellow blogger Quirister described last week’s Everyman as ‘quirky’. I think that’s not far off the mark for this one too. Whether you are a fan of such quirkiness is, I suppose, … Read more >>

Independent on Sunday 1576 Tees

Thanks Tees for an enjoyable puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 9 Subcontract abroad before spring (9) OUTSOURCE : OUT(abroad/out of the country) plus(before) SOURCE(a spring/a place, person, or thing from … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 28,128 by Nutmeg

The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28128. That slipped down a treat. What more is there to say? ACROSS 1 AFTERNOON TEA Meal for four? (9,3) Cryptic definition. 8 ORGANZA Widely differing characters … Read more >>

Guardian 28,127 / Qaos

I’m always pleased to see Qaos’ name on a puzzle – but there’s always the niggling worry, when I’m blogging it, that I’ll miss the theme, since he always has one. [It has … Read more >>

Financial Times 16,470 by BASILISK

Basilisk offered today’s lockdown challenge.  I didn’t realise this was a repeat puzzle (Hovis has pointed out that it is a repeat from a few days ago!).  Still that allowed me to go back and see what was written then.

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