manehi

Many happy returns, Gordius. I got into this quickly then struggled with the last few clues. Still unsure about some wordplay, and 24dn was a new word for me. 8 and 25 made … Read more >>

Found this pretty slow going. 13, 29 and the last part of 7 were unfamiliar but guessable, whereas 15dn went in almost immediately. Across 1 HOODING =the use of a hood in torture. … Read more >>

Some clever clues but pretty easy overall from Orlando today. Across 1 RESIGNS S[hilling]=Bob inside REIGNS=rules 8 EVINCED ED[ward]=”little boy” carrying VINCE 9 SHAWNEE [George Bernard] SHAW=playwright + NÉE=”born in France” 10 RANKING … Read more >>

I’m not a huge fan of grids such as this where the long clues can somewhat spoil the fun if you get them early or lock you out of a corner if you … Read more >>

Probably my quickest Araucaria solve to date, with several straightforward anagrams and the Keynes reference giving me the bottom half in next to no time. Across 1 BEHOLD EH=”What was that” in BOLD … Read more >>

Found this pretty quick for a Chifonie, but well-clued as usual. 20ac made me smile and my only slight niggle was with the repetition of the “O” indicator in 9 and 13. Across … Read more >>

A topical tennis theme from Crucible, who also covered the Snooker World championships in two out of six previous Guardian puzzles. Plenty of clever cluing, especially 29,12. Across 9 OPERA-GOER =”Met fan”, referring … Read more >>

I’m possibly a little jaded against loose setting having just come out of exams, but this wasn’t my favourite Paul. Maybe 3 and 5 will look better in the morning. Across 1 ANUBIS … Read more >>

Extremely clever as always from Brendan. 12 especially made me smile. Across 9 NASTINESS N[ew] + ASTI=an Italian wine region + NESS=head 11 WHITE WHIT=a little bit + E[uropean] 12 GARDENERS (enraged)* + … Read more >>

The first Bonxie I’ve blogged is also the first time I’ve seen 3dn, 18dn or 22ac. Everything else was mostly straightforward, but I did have to guess and google 3 and 22 in … Read more >>

Struggled quite a bit with the top right corner until 17 dropped. Enjoyable puzzle overall. Across 1 FITFUL FIT + FUL[l] 4 TRIPOS rev( PI[ous] inside SORT=”class”) 10 HEAR TELL OF H[ard] + … Read more >>

It’s been a good while since I last tackled an Audreus. Sped through without too much difficulty. Edits thanks to Brian and Gaufrid Across 8 DINOSAUR (around is)* 9 OPENER double def: “First … Read more >>

Found this fairly easy for a Paul, and one with a little theme of Yorkshire towns at that. Several lovely and inventive clues. Across 1 SPONSOR S[econd] + NS=”team” in bridge inside POOR=”poxy” … Read more >>

A struggle for me today, even for an Araucaria. Managed to fill in the grid thanks to checkers but still can’t figure out some of the clues. Favourite clues were 23ac, 7dn. Edits … Read more >>

Maybe it’s the time of night, but I found this quite a slow solve for a Quantum and got held up in a few places despite the long clues falling early. A few … Read more >>