beermagnet – Page 24 – Fifteensquared

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 >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 443 – Home service

Mon May 23, 2011 at 1:22 pmMon May 23, 2011 at 12:53 am by beermagnet

Some excellent surface readings in this issue’s crossword. I marked no fewer than 8 as worthy of consideration for top clue, but that honour has to go to Home Sweet Home for the … Read more >>

Independent 7668 Bannsider (Sat 14-May-2011)

Sat May 21, 2011 at 12:19 am by beermagnet

First session: 8 answers in 15 mins all below the half-way line. Then I slowed down a bit ( <- understatement alert) This was tough. Tough as any Bannsiders I’ve tackled. But enjoyable … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 441 – Escape kettle

Mon April 25, 2011 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

There’s always a bit of fun to be found in the Eye, and the crossword is the icing on the cake in the back pages. This puzzle was in the usual style and … Read more >>