FT

Monday Prize Crossword on 26 January 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>

Weekend FT prize puzzle from January 24 I found the top-left quadrant of this puzzle to be a challenge to complete. I was not familiar with the Battle of Solferino and was thwarted … Read more >>

I can’t say I particularly enjoyed this one but that may be partly due to the fact that I woke up with toothache this morning. Some of the surfaces seemed ‘strained’ or didn’t … Read more >>

This puzzle has four 14-letter phrases, each of which are in two slots in the grid. I generally don’t like this kind of splitting but to the credit of the composer I must … Read more >>

I found this generally up to Bradman’s usual high standard, with some good clues, but unfortunately there appears to be one significant error (4a). I am also not too happy with the wordplay … Read more >>

A very pleasing puzzle, even when solving at 4am! A minor quibble with 17a but otherwise some enjoyable clues. Unusually for me the first run through generated no definite grid entries but the … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 19 January 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 10th I had some trouble finishing this puzzle, stumped for a while by 18A and 6D. Having solved it, I think 18A is rather brilliant. … Read more >>

A definite challenge today due to the Oxford College theme and some unfamiliar words. I found it difficult to get into the puzzle until the significance of ‘OC’ emerged and 7a/8d held me … Read more >>

Easy-peasy, with too many anagrams and partial anagrams. A crossword that runs on predictable lines. No clue except 1d excited me. Across 1 PARAKEET – anag of KEPT AREA 5 CAUCUS – anag … Read more >>

To be honest, there was little in this puzzle to get my juices flowing. Too much a sense of simply “going through the motions” in this one.  Just hope everyone is well-versed on … Read more >>

Not a lot to say about this one. One minor quibble (16a), a few neat clues but nothing that really stands out. . . . . . Across 1 INCOME  IN (popular) CO … Read more >>

Monday Prize Crossword on 12 January 2009 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>

Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of January 10 A few minor challenges here made a typically enjoyable puzzle. Cincinnus came up with some great anagrams for the long downers. (Yeah, I know … Read more >>

This was similar in a way to the Aardvark I blogged two weeks ago including some ‘different’ indicators, a couple of which I would question, as indicated below, though these didn’t impede the solving … Read more >>