Independent

I found this a mixture of extremely easy clues and some quite tricky ones, solving time, 22 mins.    A seasonal touch when 1 down and 11 down are looked at together. * = … Read more >>

A lovely way to round off my 2009 blogging. Dac’s puzzles are always a pleasure, never a chore. Long may he continue. Thanks from me to Eimi and the rest of the hugely … Read more >>

How lucky I am. Yesterday’s Anax took me absolutely ages, and that was with a paper copy in front of me, which always makes it a little easier. Preparing to do this online … Read more >>

Very difficult puzzle, solving time 70 mins.    Some excellent clues, some very intricate wordplay and a seasonal theme. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 TWO-STAR    (owt)<    Star guiding to BETHLEHEM (7 … Read more >>

This was surprisingly easy for a Prize Puzzle, especially as I was half-expecting a Christmas special, and Phi can produce some tough nuts when he wants to. But that’s not to say it … Read more >>

Something of a seasonal treat for us today – a special, thematic Thursday Phi. Wordplay in many of the clues leaves us a letter short. The collected missing letters can be rearranged to … Read more >>

Puzzle with many seasonal references, solving time, 21 mins. * = anagram   < = reversed ACROSS 1  STABLE    Double definition, ref Nativity 4 HAMPER   Double definition 10 DRA (PER) Y     rep< 11 EM … Read more >>

A puzzle which I found a mixture of very easy and quite difficult clues, solving time 30 mins.   Great stuff as always from Dac. * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 RESIGNED     … Read more >>

I had a quick look at this online late last night and managed to solve a few clues on a first read-through, so I didn’t think it would be too much trouble when … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I found this very difficult and a few of the clues I only found by resorting to word searches. Causing particular frustration were 16 … Read more >>

No Phi today, maybe he’ll feature on Saturday  this week.    Instead what I found quite a tough puzzle from Morph esp SE corner.      I failed on 24 across, which I understand … Read more >>

Solving time: about 45 late night minutes Mass has usually been a very difficult setter for me – never quite sure why. I was going to say that this has a lot of … Read more >>

Apologies for the brevity/lateness here. Work Xmas party last night, so I solved this one with a belting hangover on the bus 2 hours late for work and am still playing catch-up. Good … Read more >>

Solving time, 18 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 7 A L (L ERG) IST 9 ASS ET    silly (noun) 11 DEVONSHIRE CREAM  (over merchandise)* 12 PURL(O)IN 13 ILL EG AL(Capone) … Read more >>

As always Dac’s clues are simple and elegant and have lovely surfaces. Time after time the immediate reaction is to say how lucky he’s been that everything has fallen out so neatly. But … Read more >>