Independent

I’m supposed to be blogging tomorrow but I’m not going to be able to find the time as I have to look after my little boy for the day (he’s the happy chap … Read more >>

I found this quite a bit easier than usual, but I may have been lucky in knowing many of the references, solving time just under 15 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 FIR … Read more >>

This little pig went to market, This little pig stayed at home, This little pig had roast beef, This little pig had none, And this little pig cried, Wee-wee-wee-wee-wee, I can’t find my … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After last week’s debacle, the crossword returned to the printed version in its usual spot inside the back cover. An added benefit to any sports-hating solvers is that it … Read more >>

I found this quite tough, esp SW corner. Solving time, 26 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 (t)RAP 3 ZIP (nothing) FAST ENER Rene< Archetypal Crossword Frenchman 9 B (OLd) … Read more >>

This was my first attempt at completing an Independent prize crossword (I’m substituting for Neil, who’s on holiday). With one or two exceptions I didn’t find it too difficult, finishing all but one … Read more >>

A puzzle that will certainly be quicker to blog than it was to solve. I can never easily get my head around Nimrod (or Enigmatist) puzzles, and this one was no exception. I … Read more >>

Solving time, 16 mins * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 ASBO Hidden reversal 3 WHITE HORSE This refers to the first FA Cup Final at the Old Wembley in 1923 (Bolton … Read more >>

A typical Dac, full of elegant and tidy clues. I found most of it easier than usual, until I came up against 6dn. Across 1 PATCHES UP — Pa (the cups)* 6 CIVIC … Read more >>

What a relief. When no crossword appeared on Monday, I wondered if the Indy had quietly dropped it, but when I rang them they admitted their error. To do them justice, they did … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed I don’t know if the Indy has dropped the cryptic crossword altogether from its published edition but, despite annoying other passengers on the train by noisily going through my paper … Read more >>

I found this much tougher than most Phi puzzles and two clues (18 and 22) had me completely stumped as the wordplay in each of them led to an answer that didn’t really … Read more >>

I enjoyed this one a great deal. I had the grid filled in reasonably quickly but then had to go over half a dozen or so clues where I’d filled in the answer … Read more >>

Pleasing puzzle from this imaginative setter which I found on the easy side, but made one mistake – thank’s for explaining it below, Geoff. * = anagram 1 SMELLING SALTS Tip-top double definition … Read more >>

Note that in (another) relaunch, the crossword has moved back towards the end of the main paper p. 101 of 104 in my edition. Solving time, 17 mins. * = anagram < = … Read more >>