twencelas

Age 58 - 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.

Independent Crossword 8231 by Nestor (Saturday prize puzzle 02-03-2013)

Sat March 9, 2013 at 1:41 pmSat March 9, 2013 at 12:03 am by twencelas

A first for me – a Nestor puzzle to blog – always fun and always so original. The master of misdirection, he certainly is. Nestor’s puzzles are always a pleasure, full of humourous … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1058 Principle by Jaguar

Fri March 8, 2013 at 8:56 amFri March 8, 2013 at 12:01 am by twencelas

A new setter, I believe, certainly not one I have come across before – Should be interesting then. Twencelas’ third principle “Variety is the spice of the solver”. Do I, perhaps, detect a … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1054 Connections by Salamanca

Fri February 8, 2013 at 7:03 am by twencelas

A simple preamble – some theme words and connections and a little bit of highlighting to finish. Sounds like a very accessible EV, one for the first timer, even. For those, just dipping … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8201 by Bannsider (Saturday prize puzzle 26-01-2013)

Sun February 3, 2013 at 4:05 pmSat February 2, 2013 at 12:03 am by twencelas

So it’s a snowy day in January and for those with some time to kill a Saturday puzzle from the enigmatic Bannsider. Quite a work-out it was too. Some wonderfully inventive devices, as … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1050 Double Entry by Nudd

Fri January 11, 2013 at 12:05 am by twencelas

It’s the Sunday before Christmas, so does Double entry refer to something festive? Simple answer is No. Ten clues are actually double clues, with the solver having to work out what is entered … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8172 by Tyrus (Saturday prize puzzle 22-12-2012)

Sat December 29, 2012 at 12:53 amSat December 29, 2012 at 12:05 am by twencelas

‘Tis the Saturday before Christmas and a puzzle from Tyrus to blog – what could be better? Another Tyrus puzzle full of original ideas led to much head scratching for me, for which … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1046 Author by Picadilly

Sat December 8, 2012 at 1:40 amSat December 8, 2012 at 12:01 am by twencelas

An extra letter in each of the subsidiary indications – straight forward enough but then the answers must be jumbled except for the first and last three rows and first and last 2 … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8142 by Anax (Saturday prize puzzle 17-11-2012)

Sun November 25, 2012 at 5:05 pmSat November 24, 2012 at 12:05 am by twencelas

It’s Saturday and another duel with Anax – who appears to be saving on the word count this week. Well we are in a recession! So a majority of short clues this week, that … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1042 Tempting Fate by Samuel

Sat November 10, 2012 at 12:05 am by twencelas

Seven unclued entries, 18 with extra letters in the wordplay, one clued without definition and quite a convoluted preamble as to how the unclued entries are derived. Would I be tempting fate by saying … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8112 by Donk (Saturday Prize Puzzle 13-10-2012)

Sat October 20, 2012 at 2:42 pmSat October 20, 2012 at 12:07 am by twencelas

A new setter, I believe time for champagne and caviar? Indeed it is. what a marvellous debut. I can’t remember when I was so engrossed in a non-barred puzzle. A lovely variety of … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1038 Difficulty by MynoT

Sat October 13, 2012 at 12:05 am by twencelas

So a puzzle with a title of Difficulty – but no indication of its level of difficulty. Nine letters are missing from the subsidiary indications and this then needs to be used to … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8082 by Anarche (Saturday Prize Puzzle 08-09-2012)

Sat September 15, 2012 at 8:18 amSat September 15, 2012 at 12:06 am by twencelas

My first blog of an Anarche puzzle – should be an interesting challenge. On the occasion of my father’s 82nd birthday, I did sense some form of celebration contained within this crossword – … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1034 Dismissal by Ifor

Sat September 15, 2012 at 12:01 am by twencelas

Back to a long preamble, this week. Four clues with double definitions with one entry different by a thematic entry from the other one. The thematic items can then be described by a … Read more >>

Enigmatic Variations 1030 Swimming Aid by Rustic

Sun August 19, 2012 at 7:59 pmSat August 18, 2012 at 12:05 am by twencelas

So a short preamble – all entries are affected by A SWIMMING AID, leaving non-words predominantly. I should add that the clue lengths refer to the grid entry. Well 13ac was an exception, … Read more >>

Independent Crossword 8052 by SCORPION (Saturday Prize Puzzle 04-08-2012)

Sat August 11, 2012 at 11:50 amSat August 11, 2012 at 12:10 am by twencelas

Looks like a themed crossword this week – always a good sign. So what of the theme The key to it lies with 1 and 4 across. The answers yielding … Read more >>