Guardian 24766 – Araucaria
Posted by manehi on 31st July 2009
As often with Araucaria, I’m still a little puzzled but thoroughly entertained. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Guardian | 55 Comments »
Archive for July, 2009
Independent 7,111 by Phi
Posted by Simon Harris on 31st July 2009
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition.
Posted in Independent | 6 Comments »
Financial Times 13,143 / Bradman
Posted by shuchi on 31st July 2009
Usual great stuff from Bradman. In particular I liked PRONOUNCE, COLORADO, LOTUS-EATER.
Posted in FT | 10 Comments »
Inquisitor 134 MICKEY MOUSE by Charybdis
Posted by Hihoba on 31st July 2009
Excellent puzzle from Charybdis – no extra words or letters in the clues, just a nice conceit in his letter from the editor. This was most confusing at first, but the meaning fell out as the grid neared completion. A lot of dictionary work was required for unusual words and meanings.
Posted in Inquisitor | 7 Comments »
Enigmatic Variations No. 872 – Spinneroosms by Salamanca
Posted by Gaufrid on 31st July 2009
In the asterisked clues the wordplay for the grid entry gave a Spoonerism of the answer suggested by the definition. The normal clues were for the most part (too) easy, though some (presumably) unintentional added difficulty was provided by incorrect enumeration in three clues.
Posted in Enigmatic Variations | No Comments »
Financial Times 13,142 / Sleuth
Posted by Gaufrid on 30th July 2009
Smiffy has been sidetracked by some unforeseen commitments so apologies for the lateness of this post.
Posted in FT | 3 Comments »
Independent 7,110/Bannsider
Posted by Ali on 30th July 2009
Given the general tendency for Thursday’s puzzle to be on the tough side, it’s usual practice for me to check online at midnight. Probably just as well really, as we very rarely see Bannsider during the week and I’ve never had the honour before. His are the kind of puzzles which are usually best solved over the course of a week rather than a morning!
Posted in Independent | 10 Comments »
Guardian 24765 / Rover
Posted by mhl on 30th July 2009
I made very heavy weather of this, although I’m not sure why, apart from picking the wrong letters as anagram fodder over and over again :)
Posted in Guardian | 22 Comments »
Independent on Sunday 1015 by Quixote (26 July 2009)
Posted by nmsindy on 30th July 2009
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »
Financial Times 13,133 – Dante
Posted by Uncle Yap on 30th July 2009
Monday Prize Crossword on 20 July 2009
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
rev = reversed or reversal
ins = insertion
cha = charade
ha = hidden answer
*(fodder) = anagram
Posted in FT | No Comments »
Financial Times 13,132 by Cincinnus
Posted by Pete Maclean on 30th July 2009
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 18
Well I found this Cincinnus considerably harder than usual. How about you? Especially 1A, 20A and 16D. And I especially like 12A and 21D.
Posted in FT | 2 Comments »
Guardian, 24,764 – Enigmatist
Posted by Ciaran McNulty on 29th July 2009
I found it quite challenging today, but that may be a reflection on my own circumstances having started a new job! Managed it all in the end, although 22dn and 5ac felt a little unfinished. I thought 24ac was pretty good once the penny dropped, although 7dn tries a similar trick which fell a bit flatter for me.
Posted in Guardian | 32 Comments »
Financial Times 13,141 / Cinephile
Posted by Gaufrid on 29th July 2009
After last Wednesday’s romp, this week’s Cinephile, though easy in places, proved to be more of a challenge. One clue (24a) has defeated me completely so far and I have been unable to parse another (5d). I also have question marks against a few more clues (12a,18d & 20d).
Posted in FT | 7 Comments »
Independent 7109 by Dac
Posted by nmsindy on 29th July 2009
Usual excellent offering from Dac, solving time, 24 mins. I found SE quarter the toughest.
Posted in Independent | 9 Comments »
Albie Fiore
Posted by Colin Blackburn on 29th July 2009
John Henderson posted the following notice elsewhere yesterday. I thought bloggers and readers here would like to know.
Posted in Announcements | 20 Comments »
Financial Times 13,140 / Neo
Posted by Agentzero on 28th July 2009
An enjoyable puzzle, with some clever clues and tricky wordplay from Neo. Sorry to be a 15 dn today; I didn’t have a chance to turn to the puzzle this morning. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in FT | No Comments »
Independent 7108/Virgilius
Posted by John on 28th July 2009
Although it is always a delight to blog a Virgilius crossword, my heart is for ever in my mouth because of the Nina: what a fool I’ll look when I don’t see it. And that’s happened here. Lots of As, Bs and Cs and evidently this has something to do with it, but I can see no more. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 9 Comments »
Guardian 24,763 – Paul
Posted by Uncle Yap on 28th July 2009
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
rev = reversed or reversal
ins = insertion
cha = charade
ha = hidden answer
*(fodder) = anagram
Posted in Guardian | 11 Comments »
Independent 7107 by Monk
Posted by NealH on 27th July 2009
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 11 Comments »
Guardian 24,762 / Rufus
Posted by Andrew on 27th July 2009
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus, you know what to expect. Perhaps even more of his characteristic cryptic definitions than usual, but most of them are good fun. In any case, if I did have any criticisms they would be dispelled for me by the wonderful anagram at 10dn (and 12ac is a nice one too). Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Guardian | 27 Comments »
Azed 1938: Sister act
Posted by jetdoc on 26th July 2009
Apologies for the late posting — this has been an unusually busy week, including the small matter of celebrating an England test victory at Lord’s; I have also been working on information about one of the main anti-flu medicines, so ‘deadline’ had a whole new meaning.
Posted in Azed | 10 Comments »
Everyman No. 3277 (July 19th).
Posted by The Trafites on 26th July 2009
Pretty tough going this week, especially if you didn’t know the
names of the film, the novel, the UK TV programme and the famous Russian(s).
Posted in Everyman | 12 Comments »
Beelzebub 1,013 (19/07/09)
Posted by Simon Harris on 25th July 2009
I think this was all fairly straightforward, relatively speaking, although the gap between solving and blogging was perhaps allowed to grow too long for me recall in detail how I found it. I think I’ve explained everything, at least.
Posted in Beelzebub | No Comments »
Guardian 24,755 (Sat 18 Jul)/Paul – Calf pints
Posted by rightback on 25th July 2009
Solving time: 8:54
A very enjoyable puzzle from Paul with no theme that I could see but a marvellous new word for me at 12dn.
Posted in Guardian | 32 Comments »
Independent 7,100 by Scorpion (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 18/07/09)
Posted by Simon Harris on 24th July 2009
An excellent Saturday puzzle, challenging but ultimately manageable. I’m particularly struck by the exceptional quality of the surface readings.
Posted in Independent | 13 Comments »