manehi

Excellent, challenging puzzle from Orlando today. Favourites were 13ac, 24ac and 20dn. Across 1 VANDAL =”Old German” tribe VANDA=”V and A”=Victoria and Albert museum, + L=”fifty” in roman numerals 4 LILY PAD =”FLOATER” … Read more >>

Enjoyed this a lot, especially the theme. Favourite clues 11a, 15d and 19d. Across 9 ACADEMISM =”adherence to formal rules”. An art movement influenced by the French Académie des Beaux-Arts (Madame is)* around … Read more >>

A tricky puzzle with some excellent cluing – I especially liked 14dn and 21dn. Across 9 ABHOR =”can’t stand” Hidden inside [ar]AB HO[rse] 10 NONE OTHER =”the very same” anagram of (E=”25’s first” … Read more >>

Enjoyed this, though the long down clues going in third and fourth meant it didn’t last very long. Favourite clue 21dn. Across 9 EAVESDROP =”spy” [L]EAVES DROP=”What happens in the fall, without starting” … Read more >>

Struggled with this even after getting 2,18 and then 7,5 quickly. In the end had to use the online “Cheat” button for 12ac. Favourite clue was 6dn. Across 7,5dn FRUIT AND VEGETABLES =”food” … Read more >>

A little tougher than usual for a Monday – my favourite clues were 19 and 20. Across 9 UNIFY =”Get together” UNI=”where students are” + F[riendl]Y=”extremely friendly” 10 RILLETTES =”Potted meat” [wiki] LETT=”European” … Read more >>

Lots of fun and clever cluing from Paul – favourites were 1dn and 6,23 and biggest groan was for 8dn. Across 9 A BIT STEEP =”Just too much” (pie at best)* 10 EPOCH … Read more >>

This looked quite tricky at first but once the theme became clear it all began to fall into place. 11ac, 14ac, 18ac and 22ac are thematic instructions that are applied to the other … Read more >>

As expected for a Rufus, a pleasant and straightforward start to the week. I liked 2dn and 15dn. Across 7 RESTRAINT =”reservation” REST=”No action” around TRAIN=”coach” 8 REPEL =”Ward off” EPE[e]=”shortened sword” inside … Read more >>

On the easy side for a Puck, partly because 2 and 8 went in immediately. Favourite clues were 12a, 19a and 18d. Thanks to tupu for pointing out that this is also a … Read more >>

I’d not heard of the long (53 letter!) solution to 16 et al, but managed to fill it in at the end. Impressive as it is to fit such a long phrase into … Read more >>

I only have a slight knowledge of the theme and twigged it late leaving me struggling with some of the across clues, several of which I guessed from the wordplay and had to … Read more >>

The usual gentle but pleasant start to the week from Rufus. Favourite was 15 Across 1 GRATIFY =Please. (Ray gift)* 5 APOSTLE = a missionary who may appear on a spoon handle 10 … Read more >>

Found this on the easy side for an Araucaria, which still meant a pleasant challenge. Favourite clue probably 14dn. Across 1 ANNE FINE 2001-2003 Children’s Laureate. [ch]ANNE[l] + FINE=excellent 5 GLIDER =aircraft. LID=cover … Read more >>

Not too difficult, a fun theme and some great cluing – my favourites were 1a, 18a, 3d and 13d. Across 1 FLAVOUR L[amb] in FAVOUR=”something curried” 5 MAMMOTH MAM + MOTHer are the … Read more >>