beermagnet – Page 29 – Fifteensquared

Independent 7112 by Trees (Sat 1 Aug)

Fri August 7, 2009 at 7:40 pmThu August 6, 2009 at 11:00 pm by beermagnet

Trees. That’s a new compiler I thought. Then forgot that as I stared at the clues for an immensely long time looking for inspiration. I wasn’t sure of any answers on the first … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 396 – Second Homes Kid

Mon August 3, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

A couple of topical answers to show the setting is reasonably up-to-date. From the moment it was announced I thought Antony Gormley’s 4th plinth effort was a nice idea, and he is one … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 395 – Iffy pong

Mon July 20, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Good stuff from Mr C in this issue. Some tricky clues which I don’t think I could get without the crossing letters, but plenty pencilled in after a first pass to get going. … Read more >>

Independent 7088 by Anax (Sat 4 July)

Thu July 9, 2009 at 9:00 pm by beermagnet

Has Anax set for the Indy before? I don’t think so (waits to be proved wrong). He sets for various publications, is a regular commenter here and has popped up at Sloggers’n’Betters events. … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 394 – Political expenses

Mon July 6, 2009 at 3:28 pmMon July 6, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Solving this went in waves. A smattering of easy clues were entered quickly (e.g. Louvre, Political Asylum) and I thought it would be an easy solve. Then I came to a halt and … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 393 – Public chastity

Mon June 22, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Across 7 ENVELOP ENV[y] (POLE)* AInd: dancing 8 SLIGHT DD 9/16 PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION (DOMINANT POLICE BRUTES – [justic]E)* AInd: As broken up. What an apt long anagram and &Lit clue this was. Top … Read more >>

Independent 7070 – Mordred (Sat 13 June 2009)

Thu June 18, 2009 at 8:00 pm by beermagnet

This was a Cocker-knee rhyming slang special. I ‘ad t’scratch me old loaf a bit to solve this one. There were a good sprinkling of relatively easy clues for a saturday to get … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 392 – Nice Guy No More

Mon June 8, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Judging by the scrawl on the crossy I’m blogging from I must’ve had a few when solving this. So as I finished it, it was probably on the easy side for an Eye. … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 391 – In the catacombs

Mon May 25, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

A particularly enjoyable offering in this issue. Not terribly hard, but with some cracking clues with the kind of surface readings we hope to see, for a laugh. Across 9 OFF-DAYS (DAFFY O … Read more >>

Independent 7046 (Sat 16 May) Eimi – Pride’s progress

Thu May 21, 2009 at 9:49 amThu May 21, 2009 at 7:00 am by beermagnet

Lots of interesting history and other information discovered when I researched the answers that I had to check afterwards. I don’t normally note solving times, but I happened to notice the owl on the … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 390 – Smug opposition

Mon May 11, 2009 at 6:53 amMon May 11, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

Nothing too onerous here – I fair whipped through this one on half a journey home – but a few clues had some fairly convoluted wordplay. Across 1 SHRUB (BUSH)* AInd: pissed, around … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 389 – Mock election

Mon April 27, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

One of those where I couldn’t get the last couple for days. 22D was the bugbear. The eureka moment when I finally thought of RAG for “mock” was nice, but I’m glad … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 388 – In your end-o

Sun April 12, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

A solid outing in this issue. Nothing to moan about. Nothing to praise to the rafters perhaps but tight clueing leading to certain answers. I solved this quite swiftly (approx. 1 pint) but … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 387 – Spluttering bile in springtime

Mon March 30, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

I enjoyed this and didn’t find it as hard as last time. How hard anyone finds a puzzle must vary not just from puzzle to puzzle and person to person but also depends … Read more >>

Private Eye/Cyclops 386 – “For Hesse a jolly good fellow”

Mon March 16, 2009 at 12:15 am by beermagnet

This was again harder than most Eye crosswords with a few very tough clues. I had trouble in the bottom half – and particular trouble with number 2. Across 1 LAMB CHOP LAMB … Read more >>