Good morning, back to Rufus after last week’s unexpected Nutmeg appearance
Independent 9034 by Morph
() = abbreviation e.g. a(mpere) hom = homophone [] = letters removed I found the parsing of a few of these a bit of a struggle, but on reflection they are mostly reasonable … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 828/Pan
The lunar eclipse was awesome. Was this Quiptic awesome? Perhaps not, but I’m only your ‘umble blogger. I wouldn’t pay too much attention to my opinion of this puzzle, since I’ve been up … Read more >>
Cyclops 556: A bit of a challenge
A much more challenging Cyclops than I have blogged of late, and perhaps more enjoyable for it. I will give 17d my accolade for clue of the fortnight, for its clever and misleading … Read more >>
Everyman 3,598
A relatively mild Everyman for me today
Independent on Sunday 1,335 by Kairos
Another good Sunday workout from Kairos, if perhaps a shade gentler than last time. No Ninas (ninae?) that I can spot this time around, just a good variety of clues. Last one in … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1333
No double or cryptic definitions today but that is not unusual for a Beelzebub puzzle. There was the customary hidden, and a handful or so of anagrams, but I do seem to have … Read more >>
Azed 2259
A plain Azed this week I found this to be a fairly standard Azed where 99% of the time you know whether you have got it right. There is one … Read more >>
Independent Saturday Prize Puzzle 9027 / Donk (19th Sept 2015)
When we saw that it was a Donk Prize Puzzle this week, we knew we were in for a treat – and we weren’t disappointed. There were some very straightforward clues to get … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1191 – Briefing Received by Gaston
Prior to this puzzle, there have been a couple of weeks where the EVs had misspellings in the clues’ definitions, which I tend to find rather hard. I’m therefore heartened to see in the preamble that this one has extra letters in the wordplay. There’s some highlighting too, which can sometimes give the puzzled puzzler an extra hint.
Guardian Prize 26,681 by Paul
A most entertaining crossword that I found very difficult. Usually I solve Paul’s puzzles much more quickly than I did this one. Was it just me having a bad day or did other people think this was hard too?
Independent 9032 / Tyrus
Tyrus has given us an interesting and quite challenging puzzle. It looks like the puzzle is celebrating the WEDDING (19 across) of ANTONIO [unchecked letters in top row] and ELEANOR [unchecked … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26686 Paul
(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 slow start, but it worked … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26686 with Picture Quiz
(Please post comments on ONLY the picture quiz hereinbelow. To post comments on the crossword puzzle, please click here.) A slow start, but it worked out okay in the end. Thanks to Paul. … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,045 by FALCON
An easy pleasant challenge from Falcon. Recommended for beginners on the FT grids. Straightforward with a dash of inventive cluing. Thanks Falcon.