Independent

I looked through my past blogs this morning to see if I had blogged a Monk before, and to my surprise, since Monk has featured on my crosswording landscape for a very long … Read more >>

A new year, but the same old Dac. Which of course means consistently elegant clueing and lovely surfaces. Here’s to another 51 of these before the year’s out! He’s got one over on … Read more >>

I posted the other day saying that in my opinion Raich’s puzzles were the easiest (but among the best) of those in the Indy. At first this statement seemed to be coming back … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism When I saw this was a Tyrus themed puzzle, my temptation was to start hitting the cheat button straight away. If it hadn’t been … Read more >>

As in previous years, since 15 sq began in 2006, I’m posting an annual review for the Indy cryptic puzzles (including IoS) giving average solving times for puzzles for each setter.    As before, … Read more >>

There were a few mini themes running through this enjoyable puzzle which was two letters short of a  pangram.  I can’t see a W or a Q.       Turning to the … Read more >>

Like many readers, I have been pigging out on crosswords as well as on turkey and mince pies over the past week, with so many Christmas specials to get my teeth into. Why … Read more >>

This was very good stuff from the Tees-er, but far from easy. Experience of solving IQs and the odd Listener definitely helped me piece together a few of these, though I’m struggling with … Read more >>

Crosophile has produced a very rare Wednesday crossword because Dac is having a well-earned rest, perhaps. I found this a little harder than the setter with whom I am always happiest, and no … Read more >>

My last one for the year and it’s a Nimrod, oh dear not again, several days of feasting – well drinking, eating and lounging in front of the tele, let’s be honest here … Read more >>

I fancy this might be a lonely place today, since you’re all no doubt doing Feast of St Stephen things, but if you are by any chance remotely interested, you’ll find my take … Read more >>

My records are perhaps not entirely exhaustive, but I think this is the first time I’ve blogged a Glow-worm IoS puzzle. This one was very enjoyable, and was pitched just right for a … Read more >>

I hope I’m safe to post this today. Closing dates for puzzles are a bit of a moveable feast at this time of year, but according to the paper, the competition should be … Read more >>

This was a nice, seasonal offering from Phi with a mini theme revolving around 21/23A. There were one or two toughies in here (EVADNE and PHILIPPI in particular), which I’m guessing were constraints … Read more >>

Morph has produced a good crossword today, but I’ve never known him not to have a Nina and it is completely lost on me. All that effort and I didn’t even see it. … Read more >>