FT

This was a pleasant solve, quite straightforward with some nice surfaces.  Thanks Jason.  (Definitions are underlined in the clues.) Across 1 One in west coast city selling aromatic shrub (8) LAVENDER :  An … Read more >>

Generally easy though the definition in 18ac might have confused some solvers, as might the wordplay in 20dn for those who haven’t met this usage before. I rather liked the two long anagrams … Read more >>

Rattled through this without too much difficulty. Was brought up short once or twice by some pretty baroque clueing, but, on the whole, nothing too 29ac. ACROSS 1. COWPAT Cryptic definition of the … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 18 I found this puzzle to be tough. In particular, 4A, 14D and 18D all stumped me for a while. I still do not completely … Read more >>

Classic fare from Cinephile – inventive, witty and good fun. There are the usual vagueries, I have pointed out the ones that annoyed me.  These seem as though they would easy to fix for … Read more >>

Since this setter was new to me, I searched and found that he/she makes just a single appearance in the FT every 2nd half of June, since 2008.  This coincides with another annual event, … Read more >>

Mudd seems to have taken a leaf out of Dante’s book today with a third of the clues being double/cryptic definitions. This is too high a percentage for my liking but it may … Read more >>

A great puzzle this: some splendidly misleading definitions, plus a smattering of general knowledge (not everyone’s cup of tea, I know, but certainly mine) and a few beautiful charades. If I’m a little … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 11 Even a relatively humdrum puzzle from Cincinnus is a good and satisfying solve. Here I particularly liked 1,28A (PEANUT BUTTER), 10D (LONG-TAILED TIT) and … Read more >>

A great crossword from Gozo, very enjoyable and I managed it with only a little help from Wikipedia this time. This is the second Shakespearean character anagram crossword I have blogged from Gozo. … Read more >>

This was a relaxing puzzle with which to restart blogging.  All straightforward, and perhaps made easier by quite a few anagrams (9 answers which are complete anagrams).  Got off to a roaring start … Read more >>

Mudd with a geographical bent in this fun crossword. I got the answers in a rush at first but ground to a halt in the bottom-left corner, only to realize that my answer … Read more >>

This was probably my quickest ever solve of one of Don’s puzzles in any of his incarnations. There was only one answer with which I was not familiar (3dn) but this was readily … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 4 Here is a fine Mudd only with a couple of clues that I am not completely sure about my reading of. My favourites are … Read more >>

A very good crossword from Gaff, which I enjoyed immensely.  I started late, as I had to retrieve a sick child from school, and then after a long time was still staring a grid … Read more >>