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 >>
mc_rapper67
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 >>
Cyclops 617 – Crummy Policy
Cyclops on top form this fortnight…surface readings, political/establishment targets, and the usual level of schoolboy smuttery… 10A is a great surface reading and an apposite anagram…and 14A hits the spot on many levels…is … Read more >>
Independent 9751 by Monk (Saturday Puzzle 13 January 2018)
After the recent smorgasbord of Christmas/festive thematic/Jumbo puzzles – on which I may have overindulged – it was nice to get back-to-basics with a good-old proper 15×15 cryptic with no extra trimmings, as … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1311: Given Up by Samuel
Ah…the Christmas period – turkey, presents, carols, family, arguments, board games, arguments…and, of course, jigsaws! Followed, or accompanied, by more arguments… OK, this jigsaw came out on 31 December, so slightly post-Christmas, but what is … Read more >>
Cyclops 615 – Xmas Special (Tweet-le-dumb Britain?)
My fellow Cyclops blogger beermagnet kindly ‘took one for the team’ and allowed me to have the Xmas special this year, even though it fell on his shift. Much appreciated… This is the … Read more >>
Cyclops 614 – Old-School Pain-in-the-arse
To whom could Cyclops possibly be referring?…oh yes, there he is at 1A… An enjoyable, and not too taxing, solve this fortnight, or rather this week, as Private Eye seem to have squeezed … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1307: Classic by Hedge-Sparrow
Chambers defines CLASSIC as, among other things, a great writer or work; a particular horse race; (in plural) Greek or Latin studies; a stylish clothing look. But which of these does Hedge-Sparrow, or Prunella … Read more >>
Independent 9722 by Monk (Saturday Puzzle 9 December 2017)
Some clever stuff from Monk today… …a high standard of clueing/misdirection, and a Nina to boot! After a couple of runs through the clues, the SW quarter remained stubbornly underpopulated, and it took … Read more >>