Are Fire taking us into ‘Shakespearean pun’ territory or the stationery cupboard – that is the question…
mc_rapper67
Enigmatic Variations No. 1751: In The Dock by Karla
I think I’d rather be put IN THE DOCK by Karla than Kafka…but after a quick-ish start this turned out to be a bit of a ‘Trial‘…
Spectator 2752: Double trouble by Doc
Doc had me in (DOUBLE) TROUBLE here, as I couldn’t quite get to the end of this puzzle before the deadline…and I have just realised the error of my ways while typing up the blog…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1747: Group Of Four by Ifor
After DNFs in the previous two EVs, I was hoping for something nice and gentle for my turn to blog…reader: be careful what you wish Ifor!
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 30,008 by Pangakupu (16 May 2026)
I believe this is my first blog of a Grauniad ‘Pangakupu‘ puzzle, although I have met his alter ego in many a ‘Kcit‘ EV and a few ‘Phi‘ Indy Saturday Prize puzzles…
Spectator 2748: What’s in a name? – II by Madrigal
Apologies for the delay in publication of the blog – enjoy!…
Guardian Genius 274 by KGB
I had been on tenterhooks since the Magpie get-together in January, where KGB informed me he had the April Genius slot, and I started having traumatic flashbacks to his previous one (Genius 265, the ‘redaction puzzle‘)…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1743: Moral Tale by Stick Insect
Does Stick Insect have some sort of cautionary TALE to tell this week?…
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,984 by Imogen (18 April 2026)
Like London buses, you wait ages for an Imogen Prize puzzle to blog, and then two come along in quick order… Lucky me…this one is a treat…
Spectator 2744: Fiddles by Fire
Something to do with FIDDLES from Fire this week – of the musical kind? the financial kind?…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1739: ABC Order by Vagans
We crossword solvers like a bit of alphabetical ordering, so Vagans calling for a bit of ‘ABC Order’ should be right up most people’s street…
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,960 by Fed (21 March 2026)
A quick trawl through my posts confirms this is the first time I have blogged a Fed puzzle…a.k.a. Bluth in the Indy and the comedian Dave Gorman in real life (not that crossword-setting isn’t real life!…)
Spectator 2740: Not so objective by Doc
The preamble states that we need a copy of Chambers 13th edition to hand – something I currently lack – maybe a Christmas present opportunity, if any family members are reading…
Enigmatic Variations No. 1735: Unstated by Kcit
Kcit challenges us to find an UNSTATED end to a poem where the relevant part wasn’t even in the original published version. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld: ‘There are known unknowns and there are unknown unknowns…and there are unstated endings to unpublished verses…‘