FT

Across 9 ISHERWOOD – isher (anag. of ‘hires’) + wood 10 AMONG – hidden in ‘jAM ON, Going’ :: The clue suggests a crush in a pressing crowd 11 RUNAWAY – two def. … Read more >>

Not too troublesome today – one or two pleasing clues with a few rather obvious ones. ACROSS 1.    TAFFRAIL – <fat-frail (upper part of the stern of a ship) 5.    STASIS –  dd. … Read more >>

Just a reminder about the common abbreviations that I use *() = anagram (fodder) cd = cryptic definition dd = double definition ha = hidden answer ins = insertion cha = charade Two … Read more >>

This is another easily solved prize puzzle (from Monday 19 May 2008) with many anagram clues and cryptic definitions ala Dante. I suppose it is a less stressful way to begin a week … Read more >>

A mostly easy but excellent puzzle from Falcon with one clue (3D), the wordplay of which I failed to fully fathom. 21A was tricky because while I am familiar with expressions “as easy … Read more >>

I didn’t detect any over-arching theme in this puzzle, although the appearance of the word NINA in the sixth column could well mean that I’m missing something. Across 1 HUM,MIN(GB,IR)D 9 W,OR,SE – … Read more >>

Quite an easy crossword that I finished in just ten minutes. A beginner-level puzzle with simple words and uncomplicated and rather familiar wordplay. Across 1 TUMBLE DRIER – tumble, Dr., i.e., R – charade … Read more >>

With apologies for the later than usual posting.  Nothing desperately troublesome in this puzzle. Given the grid structure, I was half expecting some sort of Nina message to emerge in the outside columns.  … Read more >>

FINANCIAL TIMES No: 12,774  Set by  ORENSE , May 22, 2008 Much easier today – a fifteen minute puzzle.  Only clue which gave me pause was 8 down,  as I was trying to … Read more >>

Mudd gave me a very satisfying challenge this week. I especially like 13A, 20A, 24A, 6D and 18D. I found 4A tricky; I guessed the answer quickly but took a while to figure … Read more >>

From Prize Puzzle 12,765 Monday 12 May 2008 Overall, quite a do-able puzzle for a Monday morning in spite of the fact that there was really only one anagram clue (14Down). A typical … Read more >>

A most entertaining puzzle Across 1 WHINGE Charade of W (women) HINGE (joint) 4 CINNABAR C (clubs) insertion of A between INN & BAR (pubs) 9 AMAZON Insertion of AZ (limits of the … Read more >>

I am rather late today as the real world caught up with me this morning. I could not give undivided attention to this crossword. I must admit that I had a slow start … Read more >>

FINANCIAL TIMES No: 12,769 set  by   AARDVARK     May 16, 2008 Most of this puzzle was quite straightforward, but I came unstuck on 16A and 14D.. I  have made an attempt at them but … Read more >>

This is my maiden post and I will adopt the conventional symbols * = anagram “” = homophone cd = cryptic definition dd = double definition ha = hidden answer rha = reversed … Read more >>