Independent

Last time I got Tees he set a triple pangram, not this time but I found this to be a stern test in places, rather tricky indeed… Definitions underlined in clues, as ever … Read more >>

A recent blogger of a Dac puzzle defied any reader to pick fault with what he saw as a flawless set of clues, and I can only echo those sentiments in respect of … Read more >>

I think this is the first Crosophile puzzle I’ve blogged, and very enjoyable it was too. There’s a mini theme which I’m guessing coincides with yesterday being the 100 year anniversary of the … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A strange grid without any longer answers. This was to accommodate the puzzle theme, which is the number 7 in celebration of having reached … Read more >>

Nothing too challenging this week, but a pleasant solve nonetheless. Across 1 REPUBLICAN Palin, perhaps, is traveller in a club abroad REP = traveller; *(in a club). Don’tcha just love her? Er, no. … Read more >>

I think this the first Mordred puzzle that I have blogged. I didn’t find it too difficult to solve but I am not sure that I have got all the parsing absolutely right. … Read more >>

It seems the epidemic of pangrams at the Independent seems to be calming down. No obvious theme here, ok Winter and Sum(m)er  songs appear. Not entirely convinced about  12d though. Across 1 CREATURE … Read more >>

One of the reasons why I started blogging, and perhaps why my blogs might appear pedantically detailed to some readers, was that I wanted to help a couple of colleagues of mine who … Read more >>

Dac doing what Dac does best. This was a cracking crossword and I challenge anyone to find a bad (or even so-so) clue in this puzzle! Across 1 MODIFY – FIDO rev. in … Read more >>

Phew. This was hard. I laboured over it and only got there in the end after giving up at times and pressing Reveal. If I hadn’t I’d have been up all night and you would … Read more >>

Bonjour!  Slightly confused, since we had a Quixote last week and up till now he’s been fortnightly, with a range of other Indy setters giving us a Monday offering in between.  However, ours … Read more >>

Sorry, folks, with all the recent events in my life this last couple of weeks; including a trip to China plus a retinal operation last Friday, this has completely escaped my mind. I … Read more >>

One doesn’t expect an easy ride from Nimrod, and we didn’t get one here. For me this was another week of having a stab at it, then waiting until the following Saturday, and … Read more >>

Phi gave me a tougher than usual workout this morning, with some teasing wordplay and some more unusual items of vocabulary. There were new words for me as entries at 1, 5 and … Read more >>

It’s been ages since I landed an Anax, no doubt because his tough puzzles usually guarantee a Saturday slot! This was no exception. You can be pretty sure that you’re in for a … Read more >>