Guardian 24,229: Paul (not a blog)
No blog for this yesterday, doubtless due to unforeseen circumstances. This isn’t a blog, but I think Paul’s puzzle deserves a mention. Six of the clues were of a kind, with no further … Read more >>
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Guardian Genius 52: Lavatch — Here know weevil
When I first downloaded this one, it lacked a preamble. Having solved it without one (not boasting or anything!), I returned to the website, where a brief preamble had been added. The principle, … Read more >>
Guardian 24217: Brummie — Aspiring (expiring) divas, take note
I was already in Brummie mode when I completed this, having just finished this week’s Cyclops. An entertaining puzzle, with the usual witty touch we’d expect from this setter. Across 1, 25 CONSPICUOUS … Read more >>
Azed 1845: Quipsters and quacks
As Azeds go, this was fairly straightforward to solve, and it had the usual quota of delightfully witty clues and elegant surface reading. I wasn’t too sure of all the wordplay, though; perhaps … Read more >>
Azed 1840: Give and take
Another excellent Azed with a twist. Omitted and added letters spell out: IT’S GOOD BUT LETTERS GET IN THE WRONG PLACES. The full quotation from Winnie the Pooh is: “My spelling is Wobbly. … Read more >>
Guardian 24175, Paul: Going bananas
I’m struggling with computer problems (a dead monitor), so was relieved that this one was pretty straightforward. Across 1 RUGBY FOOTBALL — *(golf brutal boy) 10 TOP BANANA — The star entertainer (see … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 50, Enigmatist: Lights, camera, action
Thematic answers are all types of of light, camera or action. These clues don’t have definitions, apart from the number referring to 1d, 2d or 3d. Once you work that out, without a … Read more >>
Guardian 24143: Paul — multiformity
Some very characteristic Paulian clues today — 26ac, 8d and (especially) 23d are the sort we have learnt to expect from him and no-one else! Across 1 LAID BACK — ‘Dial’ … Read more >>
Observer Azed 1834: Overlaps
This was lots of fun — high-quality clues, as ever, from Azed, with a nice twist to make it even more interesting. Each across clue was for two overlapping words — one was … Read more >>
Guardian 24128, Paul — spot the author
To my relief, on a day with multiple unexpected work deadlines to meet, this was one of Paul’s easier puzzles, and I polished it off reasonably quickly. Solving it depended on getting Truman … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 48 – Monk
When Neil asked for someone to blog this one, I had just printed it out, so I readily volunteered, having to date completed all the Geniuses I have attempted, most of them without … Read more >>
Guardian 24097, Araucaria — musical melange
A typical Araucaria puzzle — a mini-theme, classical references, multi-word answers and clues referring to other clues. Quite entertaining, provided you’re not too much of a purist. Across 1 BIGOTRIES — Omega = … Read more >>
Guardian 24090, Brendan: botanical females
A particularly appropriate one for an inaugural blog by a female gardener, being themed around women and plant names. Quite a mix of clues — mostly pretty easy, but one or two more … Read more >>