beermagnet – Page 24 – Fifteensquared

Independent 7878 Bannsider (Sat 14-Jan-2012)

Sat January 21, 2012 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

The man from the banks of the Bann gives us a characteristically tricky prize crossword challenge with several clues that had me foxed for quite a while. Several of them up to and … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 458 – He’s behind you!

Mon December 19, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

The festive season seems to have started early in the Eye with a couple of pantomimes opening. Solving-wise, I didn’t have any hold-up clues, and only needed one session to finish this. As … Read more >>

Independent 7848 (Sat 10-Dec-2011) by Nimrod

Sat December 17, 2011 at 1:48 pmSat December 17, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

After the usual gulp upon seeing Nimrod at the top of the Prize Puzzle when on blogging duty this turned out to be less evil than many of his puzzles – at least … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 457 – Whizz Kids Own Up

Mon December 5, 2011 at 2:45 pmMon December 5, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I tackled this one on the train home from the Derby Sloggers and Betters. For some reason I fell asleep. I was roused by a hearty chant from the carriage-load of football fans … Read more >>

Independent 7818 Anarche (Sat 5-Nov)

Sat November 12, 2011 at 10:32 amSat November 12, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

A Bonfire night themed crossword with enough horrible death by burning to satisfy the most extreme of sado-pyro-necro-philiacs. Indeed for people with a fear of fire or otherwise of a nervous disposition, like … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 455 – 50 Not out

Mon November 7, 2011 at 2:13 pmMon November 7, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

50th Anniversary of the Eye and I was half-hoping for a special Cyclops. What did I get? A relatively easy crossie made hard by being printed in the fuzziest print I’ve seen since … Read more >>

Private Eye / Cyclops 453 – Rat-proof Flatmate

Mon October 10, 2011 at 12:03 am by beermagnet

This was one of the fastest solves of an Eye crossword for some time. Everything slotted in steadily from start to finish with none of the clues holding me up for any appreciable … Read more >>

Independent 7788 by Monk (Sat 01-Oct 2011)

Sat October 8, 2011 at 12:19 am by beermagnet

Is it a Double Pangram? – Yes it is! First pass 10 answers in 10 mins which is good going for me, and by the end of the first session I was stuck … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 451 – Prison ambience

Mon September 12, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I expect newcomers to the Eye Crossword would find this tricky but to us long time Eye solvers this was a classic of its type. Cracking surfaces as usual, with the typical sexual … Read more >>

Independent 7758 Anax (Sat 27-Aug-2011)

Sat September 3, 2011 at 10:36 pmSat September 3, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

When I opened the paper on my blogging Saturday my heart sank. Anax popped up on Saturday only 2 weeks ago so I thought I might be spared. First pass I got 6. … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 449 – Olympic Silver

Mon August 15, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Who would have thought in 1986 that the pudgy little chap with the fearsome wit could take on the responsibilities of the sarcastic classes and make it his own. In a way it … Read more >>

Indy 7728 Klingsor (Sat 23-Jul-2011)

Sun July 31, 2011 at 9:46 amSat July 30, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I started off at a canter with this one from the bottom right, but slowed to a stop after 30 mins with just over half in place. A re-start saw 1A fall … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 447 – Portable gladioli

Mon July 18, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Nothing here to stop an Eye solver polishing this off with several chuckles and no doubtful edges, i.e. no need to reach for Chambers this time. Which is just as well, because I … Read more >>

Independent 7698 Scorpion (Sat 18-Jun-2011)

Sat June 25, 2011 at 8:52 amSat June 25, 2011 at 12:10 am by beermagnet

What a piece of work this was.

Private Eye/Cyclops 445 – Disgraced leaders

Mon June 20, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I found I had only 8 to go after the first pass so I suppose this was easier than usual. That’s enough blather – let’s have a look at the detail: How do … Read more >>