FT

I worked my way up from the lower half of the grid and was stuck on the top-right for a while. Great stuff from Bradman, and I’m happy I get to blog his … Read more >>

For some reason unbeknown to me, Uncle Yap hasn’t posted his scheduled blog so here is an analysis of the clues. No commentary from me because I cannot remember back to the beginning … Read more >>

Something of a comme ci, comme ca puzzle.  Some plaudit-worthy surfaces and definitions, but also some pretty low-hanging fruit. Across 1 QUICKFIRE – this clue put me in mind of the motor-mouthed sergeant … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 4 This Mudd was a bit more difficult for me than most, especially 16A (TIPTOP), 30A (EVENSONG), 3D (NARK) and 26D (ACER). My favourite clue … Read more >>

It’s Wednesday and we are overdue a themed puzzle from the good Rev. An enjoyable themed puzzle today which would probably have been easier for those who watched ‘The Blue Planet’ series or … Read more >>

The following analysis was kindly supplied by John D French in comment #1, who remarked “Ah! The advantage of FT paper”. Many thanks John. Gaufrid. Agentzero originally posted the following placeholder: “The link on … Read more >>

The confidence that the first two Across clues gave me soon vanished as I progressed with this crossword. This was a slow solve with aids needed to check on the slang and music … Read more >>

One of those strange puzzle that took longer than average to gain an initial toehold, but then offered decreasing levels of resistance thereafter as the answers seem to flow with continual acceleration.  A … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 30 August 2010 Another pleasant challenge from our slick Dante, entertaining us with his smooth surfaces and the inevitable cryptic definitions, which some people hate. Fortunately, I happen to … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 28 Here’s another delightful and clever puzzle from Cincinnus. We have two very fine hidden-word clues (12A, RHONE and 17D, INAMORATA) but my favourites this … Read more >>

This was effectively four puzzles in one since the quadrants were only connected by a single square in the middle of the grid. The clues in this puzzle ranged from very easy to … Read more >>

A straightforward puzzle today from Neo, nothing too difficult.  18 down made me smile and I liked 24 down, among others. Across 1 FIRST-CLASS MAIL *(RACIST SAM FILLS) 10 AMUSE AM (morning) USE … Read more >>

Easy anagrams and cryptic definitions, and a liberal helping of hidden word answers, made this a quick solve most of the way. I came to a halt at the last two and had … Read more >>

A real bran tub today.  Our ports of call range from the dangerously shallow (yes, I’m talking about you, five-letter answers!) to almost uncharted waters (C19th operatic minutiae). Across 1 PENCHANT – p{oet} … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 23 August 2010 ACROSS 1 VILLAINOUSNESS *(an evil soul’s sin) almost an &lit 10 ELECT synonymous with SELECT 11 UNTAXABLE Zero-RATED (answer to 14) goods (like infant food) are … Read more >>