Never knowingly undersolved
A typical Quiptic puzzle by Hectence, none too taxing. Thank you Hectence. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The 4 pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle.]] Across 1 Messed up … Read more >>
I have blogged some pretty difficult Araucaria puzzles – and this one, as it happens, was not one of them – but this preamble, I think, must be the most difficult I’ve had … Read more >>
Araucaria has used this crossword to impart some very sad news.
After being stretched a bit by the setter’s setter-mum yesterday, I was expecting the worst. And, on the first pass, I could not, if at all, connect more than 2 answers together. But, after … Read more >>
We don’t see Audreus very often, so it’s always good to see her name on a puzzle. There were several smiles here, which made up for a couple of niggles, with some nice … Read more >>
It is always a pleasant task to blog The Don as he is so scrupulously fair in his clueing and usually has a variety of devices to bemuse, amuse and entertain. Across 7 … Read more >>
A good puzzle with a good range of clue types, but perhaps a little tough for a Quiptic. Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations … Read more >>
I guessed I was in for a quick solve on this when I got 1a and 5a, and then 10a and 11a, immediately, and so it proved, with most of the answers virtually … Read more >>
Well, this was an interesting challenge. My initial progress was quite rapid because I concentrated on the clues that were obviously not affected by the special instructions. The first modified entry that I … Read more >>
It’s always nice to have a crossword from Paul to post about, and I nowadays only get that chance when he occasionally gets a prize puzzle slot. We found this a satisfying solve, … Read more >>
To solve this, I had to negotiate my way past an impressive array of diversionary tactics. Across 9. Opponent finished Old Course (9) ANTIPASTO An charade of ANTI (‘opponent’) plus PAST (‘finished’) plus … Read more >>
A characteristically allusive and wide- ranging puzzle for our Christmas delight, with much to appreciate in the 21 x 21 grid. As one might expect there was considerable ingenuity in some of the … Read more >>
A classic Paul puzzle, brimming with clever, witty clues and ingenious constructions, providing several ahas and smiles while solving, along with – not surprisingly – a couple of lavatorial references. 16ac … Read more >>
This is Philistine’s eleventh Guardian puzzle, and the third one I’ve blogged – checking the history reminded me that the last one had a rather bizarre clue for TOUOUSE-LAUTREC. There’s nothing so quite … Read more >>
Would you believe it? After the heavy night before, I woke up, thinking there will be no puzzle on New Year’s Day and therefore, no need for me to blog. This sudden realisation … Read more >>