Independent

Lots of neat, well-written clues as ever from Quixote. I particularly liked the &lit of 6 and and the apposite surface reading of 22. Across 1. Bill had a meal eating dog? True! … Read more >>

I believe this is only the second IoS from Commoner.  Many interesting surfaces.  The last answer that I parsed took a bit longer than the others.  Thanks to Commoner.  Definitions are underlined in … Read more >>

A challenging puzzle, as one tends to expect from a Bannsider, but I got there. It took almost the entire week, but I did manage to finish unaided, though one or two took … Read more >>

Another Friday Phi puzzle to blog – we’re not complaining! Often Phi has a hidden theme or a nina. Sometimes we’ve looked for these and missed them, sometimes we’ve hunted for one and … Read more >>

I did a double-take when I spotted that Crosophile had set today’s puzzle, since I have previously seen his (?) work on Wednesdays only. I worked steadily through this one, finding that I … Read more >>

Dac puzzles are always a joy for a blogger.  The clues are excellent and the wordplay is 99% crystal clear.       This puzzle seemed to me to be perhaps on easier … Read more >>

The theme that Scorpion has used here worried me a bit at first because I felt my knowledge of these things generally was a bit thin, but it soon became clear that all … Read more >>

After his offering on the day of the royal wedding in 2011, some folk had Morph inked in for a Thatcher tribute puzzle last Wednesday; but the editor seems to have resisted that … Read more >>

A nice challenge from Nitsy, which took me a couple of sittings to finish. No queries with any of the answers though which is always a good sign. And special plaudits for the … Read more >>

Here we are with Monk again and a very nice crossword that was fun to solve with the answers falling reasonably regularly, though I slowed to a halt at the last couple.  But … Read more >>

It is Friday today, Phi’s customary slot. I worked quite steadily through this one and, on the strength of the tight wordplay, was able to complete the puzzle fairly quickly and unaided, just … Read more >>

Tyrus is a setter more frequently seen in the Independent at weekends than during the week.  When he appears in the week, bloggers tend to say they found his puzzles difficult.  I’m going … Read more >>

Yesterday ‘the Thatcher tribute puzzle’ was referred to but K’s D said that we could rest easy (and he was quite right). I have to be out later, so got up well in … Read more >>

  It’s Joyce’s turn this week. We’ve been blogging for over a year now but this is only the second Punk puzzle that we have crossed swords (let alone footballs) with. We always … Read more >>

So we start the week with Quixote, slightly odd looking grid I thought when I opened the paper. Can’t see anything other than a good easyish start to the week, but then I … Read more >>