FT

An enjoyable puzzle       Across 1 POLTERGEIST (supernatural being) (ROGET SPELT I)* 7 HOP (short journey) H (husband) OP (work) 9 SOFIA (capital of Bulgaria) SO (very) F (fine) I (one) … Read more >>

I’ve always liked redshanks, pretty and raucous little lakeshore potterers that they are, and I’m a big fan of Redshanks, too – and this minor masterpiece is one of his very best. I … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Sep 3 Sometimes it’s D-Day (i.e. Dante), sometimes it’s C-Day. C stands for Crux, a setter with a love for good surfaces. This particular puzzle which can be found here , … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 1, 2012 Ah, what a lovely puzzle! Plaudits for 12A (LA MER), 18A (EXTRACTOR FAN), 24A (LA SCALA) and 9D (TRANSFORMATION). Slight, tentative quibble about … Read more >>

Fiendishly clever       Across 1 BIOPIC (film) I (international) OP (work) in BIC  (pen) 5 DIES AWAY (disappears) (A WISE)* in DAY (24hrs) 9 BUTTRESS (prop) TT (races) RES (reserve) in … Read more >>

An enjoyable puzzle, not too taxing, though I took some time to get into it.  Don’t know why – perhaps the late night yesterday.  Thanks Jason.  Definitions are underlined in the clues.  [[The … Read more >>

Really enjoyable smooth solve       Across 1 GASBAG (chatterbox) ASB[o] (brief restriction) in GAG (joke) 4 ACHILLES (hero) CHILL (cold) in SEA< (ocean returning) 9 ASTERN (behind) like AS TERN (bird … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 25, 2012 For a variety of reasons, I am late in posting this blog entry. I apologize for the tardiness. Sorry. I found the lower-right … Read more >>

A  lovely sunny autumn morning here in Yorkshire and a trouble-free puzzle from Orense to accompany my coffee. Nothing to frighten the horses, but a salutary lesson at 24ac. in double-checking an anagram … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 27 It’s Monday, it’s D-Day again. Giving us one those Dante crosswords that are heavily leaning on cryptic and double definitions (or a combination of the two).  Surfaces were good … Read more >>

A very high quality themed crossword from Cinephile here. The theme is Gilberet and Sullivan operas.  I knew most of these, only having to go to Wikipedia to discover The Sorcerer and Thespis.  Despite … Read more >>

I always approach a Neo with trepidation, because sometimes he can be fiendish – in a good way of course.  This one showed signs of being so (starting to sweat), until I got … Read more >>

Smashing puzzle from Gurney       Across 1 CAMSHAFT (engine part) MAC< (Scot returned) SHAFT (small handle) 5 ÉCLAIR (cake) (CAL[o]RIE)* 10 SCAMPER (run) S (second) CAMPER (van) 11 UKRAINE (country) UK … Read more >>

There is no blog so far for this splendid Alberich puzzle. Therefore, until someone turns up, I stand up and deliver one (a simple one, that is).  Being a fan of this setter … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 20 Another fine crossword by Crux.  As regulars at this place may know by now, I really like this setter: good surfaces, nice spread of devices and always something to … Read more >>