FT

It’s been more than a year (time flies!) since I last blogged a Redshank.  Going by previous blogs, this is another typical puzzle from him – not that easy, with many good surfaces, … Read more >>

Smashing way to start the day       Across 1 WAVE MECHANICS CH (children) in (WISE CAVEMAN)* 9 RECOUNT dd 10 VITALLY (crucially) VI (six) TALLY (match) 11 TILDE (mark) L (left) … Read more >>

A tough struggle for me, this one; no-one likes to be faced with Aztec charades and 19-letter anagrams first thing in a morning. But I got there in the end. Some very nice … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 30 A Dante crossword that can be found here (in case one needs a reminder of the grid). On the whole Dante’s on a par with himself, even though there was … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 28, 2012 This was a fine if perhaps undistinguished Cincinnus. I especially like 2D (PARODISTS), 14D (EMPATHISED) and 6D (INORDINATE). Across 1. TIPPET – TIPPET[t] … Read more >>

Smooth surfaces, witty definitions and sound clues.  I thought this was straightforward and accessible without ever being dull. I suspect this is much harder to achieve than it sounds.  Thank you Dogberry. I … Read more >>

Considerably less difficult than the last Armonie I blogged.  Still, I got nowhere starting from the NW, which I normally do, and instead had to work from the SE.  Good fun – some … Read more >>

Don’t know what’s happened to the expected blogger yesterday, but seeing as it still hasn’t appeared today, as I’m often in as the standby blogger, here’s my take on it. Nothing overly tricky … Read more >>

Fair fare from Falcon       Across 1 EMPIRE change first letter from UMPIRE (judge) 4 DARINGLY (with boldness) RING (jewellery) in (LADY)* 9 ERNST Max (artist) N (name) in ERST (long … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 13 Another elegantly clued puzzle by Crux which, in case one still wants to give it a go, can be found here.  While there was nothing too difficult, I really … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 21, 2012 Some people may not be thrilled but I was happy to come across a Cinephile puzzle for the first time in a while. … Read more >>

A difficult but very rewarding puzzle.  Monk at his best. I really enjoyed this, a good stiff challenge.  I did go astray a couple of times.  Having spotted X, Y and Z  etc … Read more >>

One can depend on Neo to provide a (not overly) challenging and enjoyable puzzle.  A few uncommon words/meanings, but not ungettable, with confirmation from the referrences.  Thanks Neo.  Definitions are underlined in the … Read more >>

Plain sailing – an enjoyable ride     Across 1 FISH-OIL (marine substance) IS H in FOIL (thin sheet) 5 FITMENT (furniture) FIT MEN (gym goers) T (time) 9 IN ONE (combined) NO … Read more >>

I took a while to work my way through this one, getting into terrible trouble in the south-west corner. But, looking at the completed grid now, I’m wondering what all the fuss was … Read more >>