A quick solve and a quick blog.
Beelzebub 1331
With only four solutions entered during my first, quick pass through the clues I thought this one was going to be tough but thereafter I made steady progress and was able to complete … Read more >>
Azed 2257 — Right & Left
It seems that Azed gives us one of these specials, or something like it, every two or three years, and very enjoyable it is. Although, as he says himself in his preamble, ‘The … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1333 Hypnos
An enjoyable puzzle, with the northwest corner being the last one in. Thanks to Hypnos. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Girl outwardly loving and enchanting (9) GLAMOROUS : The 1st and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No 1189: A Quest by Raffles
Raffles is a relatively new setter with his first EV last November, no. 1149 Common Usage with its Nancy Mitford theme. His first Listener was a few weeks ago — no. 4356 Mashonaland, … Read more >>
Guardian 26,669 / Paul
We certainly found this tough going – lots of lovely clues to enjoy along the way, though. Thanks to Paul for a difficult but fun challenge. Across 1. Lean to one side, then … Read more >>
Independent 9015 Scorpion (Sat 05-Sep 2015)
When I first saw the grid I thought there would be a Nina message on the perimeter somehow. This grid is surely crying out for it. But no, forget the perimeter this is … Read more >>
Independent 9020 – Phi
Many thanks to Gaufrid for standing in for us while we were out of internet range the last couple of weeks. Also thanks to Gaufrid and Pierre for sorting out a blog at … Read more >>
Guardian 26,674 by Picaroon
Enjoyed this a lot, and got stuck on the top half for a while. Favourites were both 5ac/dn, 9ac and 23dn.
Financial Times 15,033 by HAMILTON
Been a while since I saw Hamilton on a Friday. Today’s FT challenge was meaty, refreshing and in parts, fiendish. I had to refer to googling to confirm a couple of my solutions, and still have one clue whose complete parsing eludes me. In all, a very welcome challenge so thanks to Hamilton.
Missing Comments
I received an email from our hosting company yesterday regarding the site’s move to a new server, quote: “We will be migrating your website(s) and email to our new, high performance hosting platform on … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,032 by GOZO
Thanks, Gozo, for a clever crossword with some good clues.
Guardian 26,673 – Philistine
Although Philistine has been setting in the Guardian since July 2011, I don’t ever seem to have blogged one of his puzzles, at least not for some time. But better late than never, … Read more >>
Independent 9,019 / Knut
Knut’s latest offering fills the Thursday compiling slot this week. And a first perusal of the clues suggests that this puzzle has not appeared today by chance: the clues are littered with references … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,023 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword / Aug 31, 2015
Some might say ‘just another Dante’ but this crossword took me a bit longer than usual (mainly due to the SW).