FT

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 12 Two Cincinnus puzzles in a row? It must be Christmas! I solved this one very quickly although stumbled for a minute or two after … Read more >>

A nice puzzle that started comfortably but posed some difficulty at the end, with 6A taking up the max. time and I’m still not sure if it’s right. I enjoyed solving on the … Read more >>

A bit of a doddle today, but with some fun elements – and a few items that piqued my quibblesome side this morning. Across 9 ORIGINATE – I + GIN (“mother’s ruin”) in … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 7 December 2009 Another painless start to the FT week with Dante’s slick surfaces. ACROSS 1 HUDSON *(hounds) 4 SCRAMBLE dd 10 DELIRIOUS Ins of RIO (Brazilian city) in … Read more >>

A few weeks ago we had the last Taupi in the Guardian. Now we are told that this is Satori’s final puzzle. It is a fitting tribute to the talents of the late … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 5 I was warned that submission dates might vary from the norm over the holidays but I still managed to be late with this blog. … Read more >>

I am standing in for Agentzero. I had great time solving this puzzle. But for this opportunity, I might not have solved this. I must admit that I had a slow start.  Not … Read more >>

Saturday – Now that this puzzle has eventually appeared on the FT website here is an analysis. A mixed bunch of clues from Bradman, some very easy and some that exercised the mind … Read more >>

A little bit of everything in here, including an admirable “path less travelled” at 7D, and a Daliesque departure at 22A. Across 1 TACKLE – (elk + cat)<.  Somewhat surprisingly, I cannot recall … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of November 28 I enjoyed this puzzle from Mudd. I especially liked 25A, 28A and 2D. Across 1. BRIGHT – double definition 4. DETACHED – TED backwards … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 30 November 2009 dd = double definition tichy = tongue-in-cheek type cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden … Read more >>

I did not expect to see Aardvark again quite so soon and particularly on a Wednesday. Nothing too tricky today and nothing to quibble about with all clues being fair, if a little … Read more >>

Some nicely tricky clues today.  I am still unsure about the solution for 10 across, though. Across 1 FENCES dd 5 SIGNPOST SIGN (write name) POST (letters) 9 PERSONAL hidden in paPERS ON … Read more >>

An easy, rather predictable one with many double definitions. The clue surfaces are good but a few clues like 19a, 25a don’t seem entirely satisfactory. Across 1 DEFECT dd 4 THICKSET THICK (stupid) … Read more >>

Far from a desperately strenuous challenge overall, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that there were plenty of well-rounded clues in their own right.  It’s always something of a nebulous thing, but … Read more >>