Never knowingly undersolved
Quite a cryptic preamble this week – clues are normal and then a number of extracts to be found – works by the unclued entry. This entry is then to be changed to … Read more >>
Hi everyone, I hope you are well. I’m very happy indeed that this series has escaped the axe (for now) and would like to thank all those who stepped up in support – … Read more >>
A pretty complicated preamble, and a pretty complicated solve! Could ‘PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE’ be a (wishful) reference to lockdown life for many of us?!
It would appear that The Telegraph intends to discontinue the Enigmatic Variations series of barred cryptic puzzles in August. We must try to prevent this from happening so please read the new article … Read more >>
“The left-hand and bottom perimeter cells represent empty supermarket shelves which must be ‘restocked’ (making new words) with the initial letters of the first 12 words of a song. One of its subsequent lyrics explains the specific item that was UNDERSTOCKED. Solvers must write the title below the grid and highlight the two artists (two blocks of cells in straight lines) responsible. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Straight clues and 9 clashes to find and resolve into one of two options based on three answers to clue the correct option. Definitely one for lovers of crossword clues rather than those … Read more >>
Hello and best wishes all. Our setter has invited us all on a bus ride – although, perhaps due to current circumstances, it’s rather a strange one! I wasn’t always sure whether I was … Read more >>
What sort of MAJORITY is Ifor testing us with this week – is it a political majority – wafer-thin Brexitian or 80-strong Johnson-ian; a ‘coming of age’ majority; or a military major-ity, like Major Major in Catch-22?
“Single-letter misprints in the definition parts of 18 clues must be corrected before solving. The correct letters, read in order, describe the DARK AND STORMY speaker of the words around the perimeter of the grid, whose name must be highlighted (11 cells). Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
Two unclued entries to deduce. Extra words to remove and two messages to find from the second and second last letters in extra words with no clashes in the entries. Something else to … Read more >>
Hello everyone. I hope you are well and enjoying the bank holiday weekend. Well, I am finding that Vismut puzzles just get more and more fun. I don’t think this was too hard, … Read more >>
It has been SHORTS weather a lot recently – has Piccadilly been putting his(?) knobbly knees on display?!
“Three pairs of cells are TRAPPED by two symmetrically and thematically placed chains of 11 cells each. All 28 cells must be highlighted in the final grid to illustrate the TRAP. The three unclued entries of a kind are also thematically positioned. Two separate groups of consecutive clues (19 in total) contain a single superfluous letter in their wordplay. Reading these in clue order will give a hint as to where to find details of the TRAP. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is recommended.”
As the world becomes more and more virtual, The Purge is here to entertain us. Most clues have an extra letter, spelling out a definition, and four require something to be removed before … Read more >>
Hello all. I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and sane and are able to enjoy the Easter weekend. Thanks for this enjoyable puzzle go to Skylark, a new … Read more >>