An enjoyable and slowish solve, followed by even slower parsing of a couple of clues afterwards. Both long down clues were new words to me, but gettable with a few crossers. Favourites 5dn and 6dn. Thanks to Puck.
Independent 10,053 / Tees
Tees has provided our second puzzle of 2019 and my first opportunity to blog. After some rather taxing Christmas puzzles, it was a relief to find Tees’ latest puzzle here today, to ease … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1574: Doctor’s Orders by eXtent
The eXtent team served up this year’s seasonal fare in the Pantomime Season. The rubric read: The clues for four thematic entries lack definitions. Nine other clues must each have a string of … Read more >>
Guardian 27,706 – Philistine
Philistine brings in the New Year with an entertaining puzzle.
Independent 10052 / Nimrod
Nimrod ushers in 2019 with a challenging puzzle and the parsing of one entry still eludes me. Those of you who solved Eimi’s puzzle of yesterday may have experienced a … Read more >>
Inquisitor index: 2019
Puzzles 1576 – 1627
Guardian Cryptic 27,705 by Qaos
A themed offering from Qaos.
Independent 10,051/eimi
The player-manager pulls on the shirt to take the field for the final game of the year. Will it be a puzzle of two halves? Will the solver be over the moon on … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 998/Anto
Anto has the Quiptic for us this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed … Read more >>
Another Year Ends …
… or should that be another year is about to start?
Well, as we come to the end of another year it is time for me to say thank you to all the bloggers and comment posters who have contributed so much to this site during the past twelve months and to the setters, and their editors, who have provided the cryptic puzzles for our delectation.
Guardian Prize Puzzles
Due to the recent festivities, the closing date for entries has been extended so the blogs of Maskarade and Azed 2,428 will appear on 3rd Jan and 5th Jan respectively.
Everyman 3,767
The Observer crossword from Dec 23, 2018
I did this one on Christmas Eve after a day full of Trains, No Boats & Planes.
Despite being rather tired, I experienced no problems whatsoever. And so, it must have been Everyman Lite, I guess.
Independent on Sunday 1505/Hoskins
Hoskins brings us the last IoS crossword of the year. I have been a fan of this setter and his style since he came on the scene a few years ago, but I … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1361 Everywhere by Oxymoron
Something to be removed from all across answers – specified by 2 down answers. The down answers are normal. And nothing to highlight! Two unclued entries to find, which define what needs to … Read more >>