Cyclops 627 – Coital Hotbed Simmers…
A relatively quick solve – for your correspondent at least – with this fortnight’s Cyclops…but plenty to enjoy along the way… 8A was a bit of a write-in first up – clever surface … Read more >>
mc_rapper67
Independent 9871 by Nimrod (Saturday Puzzle 2 June 2018)
Ouch! My brain has only just recovered from the pummelling it received from Enigmatist/Nimrod’s recent Grauniad Genius, so to get a Saturday Indy from him as well could inflict further neural damage… …and … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1331: Alternative to a Beer by Charybdis
Is there such a thing as an ALTERNATIVE TO A BEER? Shurely just shomething to precede/follow/accompany/complement?… The preamble states that: “In ALTERNATIVE TO A BEER?, a theme word (4) must be written below … Read more >>
Cyclops 625 – Right-Wing Press Clutch at Straws
A hint of a nod to the Royal Wedding, with ‘Harry’ and ‘Markle’ both making an appearance in the clues…is Cyclops getting a bit soft in his (presumably/relatively) old age?… …and some American … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 178 by Enigmatist
First thought – oh dear, it’s Enigmatist this month…oh, well, at least I have 4-5 weeks to solve and blog it… A strange looking grid, with two large areas of black squares – … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1327: Titles by Oxymoron
A multi-layered puzzle from Oxymoron this week – my head was spinning just from reading the instructions! The preamble states that: “28 clues contain an additional word which must be removed before solving. … Read more >>
Cyclops 623 – Nerve Agent Trespass
Some relatively ‘topical’ subject matter from Cyclops this fortnight… …with a SCHEME of NEUROSCIENTISTS and an IOTA of NERVE AGENT leaving UPTOWN Salisbury needing a good DRY CLEAN! Did anybody TRESPASS on our … Read more >>
Independent 9841 by Maize (Saturday Puzzle 28 April 2018)
Two Maize puzzles in a row on my 5-weekly shift – I must have done something good in a previous life… This seemed a little lighter and fluffier than Indy 9811, especially once … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1323: Capital Letters by Stick Insect
Stick Insect seems to have averaged one or two EVs a year since 2013-or so, and I think I have attempted/solved most of them, but this is the first of his I have … Read more >>
Cyclops 621 – Proposition Overthrown
I had this blog all set up…and then the Bank Holiday weekend just crept up on me… Hopefully it is all covered below…the usual mix of Cyclops-ean establishment targets and skoolboy-ish smuttery… Keep … Read more >>
Independent 9811 by Maize (Saturday Puzzle 24 March 2018)
More top quality work from Maize – no fancy themes or Nina (that I can see), but a testing cryptic workout to keep us on our toes… I timed this one at 12:45, … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1319: Vive la Différence by Harribobs
Oh dear…this makes three of the last four EVs that I have failed to complete… Am I losing my touch? Should I be handing in my pencil and heading for the rocking chair, with a … Read more >>
Cyclops 619 – North Korea Gambit
A relatively quick/easy Cyclops, from a pure solving/timing perspective, but the usual level of quality in surface readings and sarcastic/satirical digs, as one would expect from Private Eye… …only one mention of the … Read more >>
Independent 9781 by Hoskins (Saturday Puzzle 17 February 2018)
A pleasant puzzle from Hoskins, with maybe a slight twist?… I am fairly sure this is my first blog of a Hoskins puzzle…and maybe even my first solve…he seems to have been fairly … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1315: Get Ready by Samuel
Our esteemed EV editor has clearly decided that jigsaws are for life, not just for Christmas! At least on alternate weeks, as this is the second Samuel jigsaw I have blogged in a … Read more >>