twencelas

Age 61 - Been doing cryptic crosswords since the early 1980's, started with the Sunday Times and then enjoyed them on a daily basis when the independent was launched. Over several years managed to get the hang of all the original Indie setters. Started attempting the Indie magazine crossword in the early nineties - took me a while to complete one, though - the use of all the squares luring the solver into thinking that its easier than it really is. Continued through the nineties and into this century with the Indie and the odd foray into the murkier world of the Listener - with little success, other than the numerical ones. Spent the last year or so concentrating on the thematics - can now complete most Listeners (tend to limit myself to a starting day and a having slept on it day, if needed), the high 90%'s of the Inquisitor (still my favourite) and Enigmatic Variations. Still have a daily fix of the Indie or Guardian and am pleased to see more and more themes used in the daily puzzles. One day hope to author some puzzles myself, though must admit to being in awe of the precise clueing of the top compilers.

Enigmatic Variations No 1098 Find and replace by Poat

Fri December 13, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

A new setter for me to blog, but not a new setter. Poat’s puzzles tends to lie at the harder end of the spectrum – all seems so simple 16 clues with words … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1094 Riddle in Eight Parts by Jaguar

Sat November 16, 2013 at 11:29 amSat November 16, 2013 at 10:05 am by twencelas

An EV from Jaguar, a second for me to blog – 3 different groups of seven to wade through. 7 unclued of a theme, 7 clues with misprints which can spell out theme … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8441 by Tyrus (Saturday prize puzzle 02-11-2013)

Mon November 11, 2013 at 4:47 pmSat November 9, 2013 at 12:03 am by twencelas

Another duel with Tyrus – guaranteed a smile or two with his witty clues. And as I expected full of fun and wit with a series of short and punchy clues. 9ac probably … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1090 With the Beatles by Salamanca

Sat October 19, 2013 at 6:34 amFri October 18, 2013 at 7:44 pm by twencelas

Some transformation of answers in this week’s offering from Salamanca and a connection with John, Paul, George and Ringo perhaps. So what cunning device has Salamanca employed to transform the answers. It took … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8411 by Bannsider (Saturday prize puzzle 28-09-2013)

Sat October 5, 2013 at 10:02 amSat October 5, 2013 at 12:02 am by twencelas

Oh my – a duel with Bannsider – now there’s a challenge. And a high density grid too! And quite a battle it was. Over the years Bannsider generally gets the better of … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1086 Dance with Two Cheats by Shark

Fri September 20, 2013 at 9:57 pm by twencelas

This week – extra letters in the wordplay spelling out a line form a verse and its source. Two further lines from the verse then must be applied to the completed grid to … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8381 by Klingsor (Saturday prize puzzle 24-08-2013)

Sat August 31, 2013 at 9:29 amSat August 31, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

5 weeks on and another duel with Klingsor. And what a pleasure it was. Well this was full of quirky clues, the type I’ve come to expect from Klingsor and so, so enjoyable. It wasn’t … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1082 Twosome by Moordon

Fri August 23, 2013 at 7:24 amFri August 23, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

So this week’s fare comprises 12 unclued symmetrical placed entries around the perimeter and 6 clues without definitions (with the word play missing the letter that intersects the perimeter) – otherwise a straight crossword – so … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8351 by Klingsor (Saturday prize puzzle 20-07-2013)

Sun July 28, 2013 at 11:35 amSat July 27, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

A second consecutive duel with Klingsor. And fun as always. Another selection of varied-construct clues this week. 1ac and 10ac from the highly original set. 22ac – most likely has been done before but so … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1078 Before and After by Kcit

Fri July 26, 2013 at 9:03 amFri July 26, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Quite a complex preamble – 9 unclued entries, 11 with redundant words and 5 with redundant phrases and if that isn’t enough a central square to complete at the end. This was certainly … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1074 Almost Without Poor Clues by Ifor

Fri June 28, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Straight clues, but an unconventional entry for one down clue in each column. A phrase to be deduced and advice against using a pen to fill the grid! Once I got over my … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8321 by Klingsor (Saturday prize puzzle 15-06-2013)

Sat June 22, 2013 at 1:40 pmSat June 22, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Saturday the 15th June – and a tussle with Klingsor. And quite a tussle it proved to be – some unfamiliar words certainly were in use, and some devious cluing. Chitter, Dolce, Mediant, … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1070 Perimeter by Kruger

Fri May 31, 2013 at 9:48 pmFri May 31, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Relatively straight forward in the preamble department – extra letters from the wordplay spell out a quotation and this will enable the solver to complete the un-clued perimeter cells. Sounds straight forward enough. … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8291 by Raich (Saturday prize puzzle 11-05-2013)

Sat May 18, 2013 at 10:50 amSat May 18, 2013 at 12:02 am by twencelas

Well my most recent blog of the Independent was on Grand National day – now it’s cup final day – Maybe a cup final theme today? Unlike my previous blog, my suspicions proved to be … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1066 Taxing by Eclogue

Fri May 3, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

So how taxing is taxing? That is my first question – Misprints in the definitions of all but 2 clues, once corrected they will reveal a French proverb and ten thematic adjustments to … Read more >>