Never knowingly undersolved
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus, we know what to expect – a generous supply of double and cryptic definitions (five of each today). Thanks to the setter. By the way, I see the Guardian … Read more >>
Thank you to Hectence for a Quiptic with, I think, about the right level of difficulty. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Wrong to send volunteers round on service call (2,5) … Read more >>
I seemed to be quite well tuned in to Beelzebub’s wavelength this week, getting through this reasonably swiftly. That said, I did slip up by entering AINO incorrectly at 26 down. I felt … Read more >>
A standard plain Azed this week, in a standard 12 x 12 grid.
Possibly the most difficult Kairos I’ve ever blogged or solved. I know that I keep banging on about this, but within the crossword universe, the IoS is meant to be an ‘accessible’ puzzle, … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3617.
It looks like we have another new setter today, or at least a quick search of Fifteensquared doesn’t suggest otherwise. In which case, welcome Anglio. I found this quite a challenge, and never … Read more >>
Another delightful box of tricks from Picaroon, brimming with wittily inventive and misdirecting clues, along with brilliant story-telling surfaces – a joy to solve, from beginning to end. I didn’t have many entries … Read more >>
A whodunnit this week – based on Cluedo. Five innocent suspects to be eliminated and 5 weapons too – all hidden in the clues. The murder room is then the room defined by … Read more >>
Yet another riveting challenge from Wanderer to bring a neat close to the FT work week. I enjoyed this solve thoroughly and hope others had a similar experience. Thanks to Wanderer!! I do have a bit of a struggle in being fully convinced about my parsing for 20ac, 26ac and 17dn so if anybody can improve upon it, much appreciated.
This puzzle has still not been published on the Guardian site – I’ve been hanging back hoping it would appear, but no joy yet. There’s a pdf version here, but, as the setter … Read more >>
So many of these clues can be neatly and simply parsed that sometimes I feel as if I’m not doing the job properly. Some would say that I should be taking three lines to expound everything that’s happening, but I’m afraid I take the view that anyone who has got as far as reading this blog will have some ability at least to cope with the inclusions, synonyms, etc and if it can be explained simply then that is actually clearer.
Definitions underlined.
A pleasant Thursday diversion
We were really excited by the prospect of a Donk puzzle today, but although we enjoyed the solve we had hoped for more of his ‘risqué’ clues which usually raise a smile in … Read more >>
(Please click here for this same blog but with a picture quiz added. Please do NOT post hereinbelow any comment relating to the picture quiz. Thank you.) A relatively easy and enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>