Independent

An excellent crossword from Phi, with an extremely modern phrase in it that defeated me. As for disclosing a Nina, I can’t be accused of this today, for either there isn’t one or I … Read more >>

A fine puzzle, themed for General Election day in the UK.   A lot of clues had political references but quite a few were nicely misleading with the answers having nothing to do with … Read more >>

Just about the perfect Saturday puzzle for me – challenging enough to take my Times average time plus 50%, but not hard enough for there to be any serious doubt about finishing it. … Read more >>

An easier solve this week than last, with only 13dn causing any real problems. The anagram was perfectly clear, but it still took a while to figure out what the word was. The … Read more >>

The usual quality Wednesday puzzle from Dac, if a little tougher than some weeks. I failed at 1ac, at least, though everything else fell into place steadily enough. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>

Always a pleasure to land a puzzle by Math, who is one of my favourite setters in the Indy stable. You can always expect some music references and other assorted pop culture, as … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Another brilliant themed puzzle by Virgilius. The theme was set out in clue 14 (“marginal seats”) and all the words along the perimeter of … Read more >>

I found this very much on the easy side, solving time 13 mins.    As always with Phi, well-constructed, clear,  clues with little scope for doubt. * = anagram ACROSS 1 IDENTITY THEFT    ‘?’ … Read more >>

A challenging ornithologically-themed Tees this week, which didn’t seem to get any easier once the theme was rumbled. A few of the thematic entries were quite obscure, and I half expected to have … Read more >>

I enjoyed this one a lot, even though it was fairly easy for a Thursday, as Eimi intimated it might be. Some of the anagrams in particular are blinding. I did this on … Read more >>

Once again we solved this while on a rail-replacement bus service. Plently of good surfaces and very enjoyable overall. We felt that 2dn was particularly good. One unresolved point at 25ac – suggestions … Read more >>

My first blog for what seems like quite a while, and what better way to get back on the horse than with a Dac. Wonderful clueing as always, 2D being my pick of … Read more >>

Virgilius amuses us with variations on the colours pink and blue, as always quite delightfully. Across 1/3 PINK ELEPHANTS — (the pine planks)* — when one is loaded (i.e. drunk) one sees pink … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A fairly easy start to the week with some neat clues and no obvious theme or NINA. 23 across was my pick of the … Read more >>

I’ll freely admit to finding this a bit of a challenge, and suspect I won’t be the only one. There were a good handful of unfamiliar terms and some quite complex wordplay in … Read more >>