manehi

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 >>

Am solving and blogging now after a night out knowing that I won’t get up at a reasonable hour tomorrow/this morning.. surprisingly easy for a Paul, I felt, with a lot of easyish … Read more >>

Blogging in a hurry – luckily nothing too difficult today. Across 7 CATARACT As in waterfall, and as in the eye disease. 9 EQUALS (squeal)* 10 TIER TIE R[iver] 11 COMPANY CAR an … Read more >>

Nothing too difficult but certainly some very clever clueing and nice surfaces throughout. Loved 24ac. Across 1 CHUMMY CHUMMY=”sociable” and I’ve vaguely heard of police calling a criminal “chummy”. 4 DISCUS DISCUS[s] 9 … Read more >>

Nice and easy start to the week, with quite a few hidden or similar clues. Across 1 DUTCH COURAGE I didn’t know the various meanings of Dutch wife, but still got this easily … Read more >>

Easier than usual from Chifonie. Across 8 ORNAMENT OR NAME NT (New Testament) 9 EBONY E BONY 11 LIBERATION LIBATION around ER 12 ASHRAM A SH RAM – a Hindu hermitage 14 LORRAINE … Read more >>

Raced through a few easier clues, and then struggled a bit with this. Eventually got the four longer references to 22 (RHYME) around the edges of the grid, which helped a little. Had … Read more >>

Phew! Struggled through this very slowly, including a good five minute stare at 1dn before giving up on it until almost the end. Really enjoyed this. Across 9 LAURIE LEE LAUREL around I, … Read more >>

Computer failure – will try to post by tonight but if anyone wants to step in with a blog of their own please do.