Straightforward definitions but some of the constructions were tricky to parse. Thank you Poins.
Independent
Independent 9109 / Quixote
A fairly gentle offering from Quixote for Christmas Eve Quixote was in a benevolent mode I think with this puzzle. Lots of anagrams -eight in total, container and contents clues … Read more >>
Independent 9108 by eXternal
No Dac today I’m afraid, even though it isn’t the last Wednesday of the month. Christmas I suppose. But this is perfectly serviceable and fills the gap very satisfactorily. It seems that most of the parsings are straightforward and can be given in one short expression, and there doesn’t seem to me to be anything controversial. Some slightly unusual anagram indicators, perhaps.
Definitions underlined.
Independent 9107 / Knut
Knut seems to be trying out a few new tricks on us in this puzzle. There were a number of clues which we solved once we had some crossing letters but it took … Read more >>
Independent 9106 by Hoskins
() = abbreviation e.g. a(mpere) hom = homophone [] = letters removed An interesting puzzle from Hoskins which has a NINA (right and left side of puzzle), which you appear to have to … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,347 by Crosophile
A nice Sunday workout from Crosophile this week. I’d perhaps have got through it quicker had I not been so slow to spot the anagram in the long 16 across. 15 down also … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 9099 by Bannsider (12-12-2015)
Well a busy time of year – so it would be nice for a nice gentle puzzle to relax on a Saturday. Then I read the words “By Bannsider” – not much hope … Read more >>
Independent 9104 / Phi
This is Phi’s final Friday puzzle before Christmas so there might be a message in it. One of Phi’s more obvious messages today albeit in foreign languages (unless you speak … Read more >>
Independent 9103 by Klingsor
Klingsor always produces good crosswords and this is no exception. A whole lot of well-crafted clues and a difficulty level set (unwittingly perhaps) just high enough but not impossibly high.
I don’t think Klingsor does themes. Perhaps he does, and I’ll look silly for missing something obvious.
Definitions underlined.
Independent 9102 / Dac
Another Wednesday, another excellent Dac. We love Dac’s puzzles, but are always stuck for anything to say about them as there never seems to be anything to criticise or query. We are really … Read more >>
Independent 9,101 / Scorpion
This is my first Scorpion blog in quite some time, so I was rather excited to see his latest puzzle waiting for me this morning. In actual fact, and perhaps because I am … Read more >>
Independent 9100/Punk
Please tell me that this was hard. It took me three goes to finally pin this down, but looking back you think ‘why was that so difficult?’ I have chuntered on a bit, … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1346/Hypnos
On checking, I find that I haven’t blogged a Hypnos since June 2014, so it’s been a while since we’ve been out on a date. I found this hard by IoS standards, with … Read more >>
Independent 9093 by Tees (Saturday Prize Puzzle 5 December 2015)
Some educational fare from Tees this week… …a couple of pairs of linked clues and som(m)e thematic material – for which I can’t quite work out any particular date-related significance…so maybe they are just there on … Read more >>
Independent 9098 by Phi
To finish this crossword I used aids. Usually when I do so I regret it afterwards, feeling that the answer really should have been clear, but in this case there was no self-reproach since the words were so unusual that despite some help from the wordplay they would probably still be empty spaces. None of the answers at 4ac, 12ac, 4dn, 6dn or 7dn are in Chambers Crossword Dictionary (2006) and only 4dn and 7dn are in Bradford’s (2006). So far as I can see, anyway.