manehi

Across 1 SOPHISM OP=work in S[c]HISM 5 INSISTS sounds like “in cysts” 9 POLYP Y[en] in rev(PLOP) 10 UP THE WALL cryptic def 11 NURSE SHARK NURSE=tend to + SH=quiet + ARK=craft 12, … Read more >>

Across 1 PENANCE PENCE around AN 5 LAMPREY LAM+PREY 10 SPRY SPY i.e. “mole” around R[esistance] 11 APOTHEOSIS (Sophie ‘as to)* 12 PRESTO PO around REST – a spider is one of the … Read more >>

As usual, some clever clues, plenty of cryptic definitions and nothing too difficult from Rufus. Across 1 PLATEAU =”highrise flat”. TEA in (Paul)* 5 BEARING double def 10 EGGS cryptic def with “clutch” … Read more >>

Pretty easy today, especially the very straightforward double definitions. Still enjoyable, and 25ac and 17dn made me smile. Across 9 CARGO SHIP O=”nothing” in (graphics)* 10 SIMON rev(IS) + MON[day] 11 INVALID double … Read more >>

Solving and blogging in a rush today – thankfully, I found it fairly easy with the exception of 24ac which I’m unsure on. Liked 4dn. Across 1 MASTERLY (steam)* + RLY 5 PAMPAS … Read more >>

Two long anagrams gave me an quick start to a generally straightforward puzzle, but I’m still stumped by some of the wordplay. Edits thanks to comments Across 1 EXPOSE EX POSE 2 MIGHTY … Read more >>

As often with Araucaria, I’m still a little puzzled but thoroughly entertained. Across 9 ALBATROSS There’s a lake ALO in Nigeria, and SS presumably comes from “southern sea”, but I can’t get the … Read more >>

A gentle but fun return to solving after a few weeks’ holiday. Edits thanks to Lanson and Eileen. Across 8 DECANTER DETER=”put off” around CAN=”tin” 9 LEECH rev(HEEL) around C for cold. 10 … Read more >>

A nice puzzle by Brendan with all but a few clues linked by the “capital” theme. Plenty of nice surfaces, and quite a few hidden clues. Across 1 PEKING PE KING, and the … Read more >>

Found most of this straightforward, but did have to check the definitions of 10, 24 and 27. Particularly liked 12. Across 1 FLAMING FLAMING[o] 5 FORBEAR FOR BEAR 10 OBAN “anything goes” => … Read more >>

Getting 1dn early from a fairly obvious [but incorrect?] anagram made this a bit too easy, which is a pity as there are some nicer clues. A little theme of clues that included … Read more >>

Really struggled with this at first, but almost got there in the end – couldn’t get 7dn without cheating. Not sure I have time now to do all of the clues justice, but … Read more >>

sorry if this is a bit terse, internet went down at home so am solving/blogging between lectures. I got through this quickly with a few niggles. Liked 18ac. Across 1 DESCRIBE (seed)* around … Read more >>

Found this rather easy today, got a couple of answers that were connected by 11, 19 and 26, got these, and then the rest of the related answers very soon after. Lots of … Read more >>

Lots of clues which should be connected by 17ac.. got it from the chess set and the football set plays then got the theatrical ones but still don’t see how the others qualify. … Read more >>