FT

I always enjoy getting a Gozo crossword to blog, and this week was no exception. Gozo grids are always themed – this time all the definitions are geographical locations.  I think this is … Read more >>

Phssthpok travels a lot in this puzzle, with references and words from abroad (including Scotland? 🙂 ).  Very nice clueing, with the added bonus of words whose etymology I enjoyed tracking down.  So thank … Read more >>

Found this quite a knotty puzzle that really took some unravelling and a couple still not fully explained …. 9d,15d and 19d causing the most grief.     ACROSS 1 CURTAINS anagram of … Read more >>

A very enjoyable puzzle, this one, I thought. Plenty of variation, one or two devilish (possibly too devilish) devices, and I even learnt a new word. Thank-you, Alberich. ACROSS 1. TEMPLE  MP [Member of Parliament, … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/ Jan 23 When the name of the setter is Gaff, there must be something going on in the world around us. Remember the Royal Wedding or Swan Upping?  The theme … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 21, 2012 Cinephile is back with a beastly puzzle that I enjoyed. I like crosswords with themes, even ones like this where there is nothing … Read more >>

An enjoyable puzzle, mostly straightforward but with a few tricky clues thrown in to the mix. For the trickier clues I particularly like the way Cinephile picks words and definitions that are not common, … Read more >>

Every so often the FT will start its week (Monday being a prize puzzle, it doesn’t count) with a more-than-usually difficult one eg. a Neo.  So I thought, on seeing the setter and … Read more >>

A fine puzzle       ACROSS 1 PUGILISTS boxers LIST in PUG IS (list is selvage fabric border) 6 LURID  U uncle R rex in LID hat 9 STICKER   S spades TICKER … Read more >>

Had a pretty miserable time with this, I’m afraid. The theme was partly, but not entirely, to blame… ACROSS 1. STRINE  Anagram of (ma)sterin(g); ‘strine’ is a term for Australian slang 4. BRISBANE  … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword/Jan 16 A fine offering from Crux. The level of difficulty just right ‘for a Monday puzzle’, but, having said that, no hint of routine cluing. A crossword full of elegant surfaces. … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 14, 2012 As is sometimes the case with Bradman’s puzzles, I found this one decidedly tricky in spots. I expect I have all the right … Read more >>

A good crossword, quite tricky to complete.  Thank you Monk. I got maybe 75% of this very quickly but the last few took a long time to finish, especially the SW corner.  Looking … Read more >>

I said in yesterday’s blog that I was going to have the same again today.  How true!  Visiting family and friends, a blog, and then – a crossword in the same style by the same … Read more >>

Challenging workout from Loroso (Anax) in which all across and many down clues had themed definitions. Thought 20d very witty but have failed to parse 17 down ….   ACROSS 9 BROKERAGE   … Read more >>