Andrew

As usual with Chifonie, very straightforward clueing, with lots of charades; a good puzzle for beginners that would fit well (and better than some) in the Quiptic spot. Thanks to the setter.   … Read more >>

Another puzzle where I made a slow start, but then steady progress to the end. Looking back there’s nothing too difficult here, but a nice variety of clues. Thanks to the setter. I’m … Read more >>

Only two cryptic definitions today, but seven doubles (though in several of those the two definitions are very closely related), together with mostly very straightforward clues of other types, suitable for those who … Read more >>

A very entertaining puzzle from Picaroon, where I realised early on what was happening in 10 across (after getting 23/12), but that didn’t make the other thematic phrases any easier to solve. I … Read more >>

A typically straightforward puzzle from Chifone, with the usual preponderance of charades. Perhaps a couple of slightly obscure answers, but nothing to delay regular solvers for long.             … Read more >>

My hearyt sank rather when I saw the Logodaedalus, as his puzzles tend to be on the excessively easy side (and sometimes with irrelevant rhyming couplets). However, while there were still quite a … Read more >>

This was another of those looks-hard-at-first-but-comes-out-nicely-once-you-get-going puzzles, which is just the kind I like, so thanks to Nutmeg for the entertainment. For those who missed it, Nutmeg (Margaret Irvine) appeared on Woman’s Hour … Read more >>

Slightly trickier than the average Rufus, I thought, with fewer cryptic definitions than usual, making it seem more like a “normal” puzzle. Thanks to Rufus.             Across 9. … Read more >>

I didn’t enjoy this as much as some other Qaos puzzles, as I think there are some dodgy constructions, and a couple of rather weak CDs. However, there are are some great clues … Read more >>

I found this a lot easier than some of Nutmeg’s recent offerings in the Cryptic spot; in fact some of the clues seem more in the style of the Quiptic. There seem to … Read more >>

An enjoyable puzzle from Crucible that wasn’t too hard once I spotted the theme (even though I didn’t get the linking word at 9d until quite late on). A couple of slightly obscure … Read more >>

Things got off to a bad start when I went to the Guardian site and saw that “this crossword is not yet available” (as it’s still saying as I write this at 9.20am). … Read more >>