NealH

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this extremely tough and struggled to get going. Repeatedly misreading 20 down as “hackneyed phrase” didn’t help. However, all the answers made sense to me. Across 1 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Across 1 Bored: ore in BD. 4 Games: Gas around ME. 9 Itchy: [T]itchy. 10 Solitaire: So I lit a [f]ire. 11 Scrabble: (BB + arcs)< + le. 13 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this surprisingly easy, given it was littered with the sort of clues that I normally struggle with (e.g. double definitions involving the names of celebrities). Most of … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone An enjoyable puzzle with a good mix of clues. The only one I didn’t follow was 21 down. Across 1 Attache: Cryptic def (attache case). 5 Sampler: S[titches] + … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A gentle start to Christmas week from Dac with some well-written and enjoyable clues. Across 1 Aer Lingus: (singlur + E[ire])*. 6 Scrub: First letters of spring cleaning + … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this a little easier than some Tees puzzles, but one or two left me a bit bewildered (especially 19 across). The three clues linked by pillow talk … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone It was good value today, with a lot of clues. Most were fairly straightforward, with many easy-to-spot anagrams, but there were a few harder clues sprinkled in. It took … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A Christmas list themed puzzle that had some well-constructed clues, but a little too much obscure stuff (e.g. abolla, ibo) for my liking. There were a couple I didn’t … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone This was mostly fairly easy, but had a couple of clues that I struggled to understand even after I’d got the answer. My only criticism would be that there … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A good variety of clues with some excellent surface readings.  There were just a couple that I thought were a little questionable. Across 1 Miaow: (I am)* + ow. 4 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After my abject failure with last Monday’s puzzle, I got up half an hour earlier to give myself extra time to complete this one. I needn’t have worried, since … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Apologies for the late posting. I was too busy at work today to give this the two or three hours of attention I would have needed to get through … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone An enjoyable puzzle with nothing very controversial. Only one clue I didn’t entirely follow (19 down). Across 1 Toll: To L[iverpoo]l. 3 Able Seaman: (Same banal)* around e. 9 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A fairly straightforward puzzle with just one I didn’t entirely follow (17 down) and one I thought seemed a bit weak (19 across). Across 1 Caterpillar: Cater + pillar … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After last week’s debacle, the crossword returned to the printed version in its usual spot inside the back cover. An added benefit to any sports-hating solvers is that it … Read more >>