Never knowingly undersolved
I found it quite hard to get started on this one, and things didn’t get much easier even after getting a few answers in. There are two themes, based on 9+16ac and on … Read more >>
Sorry if this blog comes out later than normal. I was watching the enthralling final of the US Open between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal when the daily puzzles became available on-line. In … Read more >>
The usual gentle but pleasant start to the week from Rufus. Favourite was 15 Across 1 GRATIFY =Please. (Ray gift)* 5 APOSTLE = a missionary who may appear on a spoon handle 10 … Read more >>
I have blogged a couple of Quiptics by Nutmeg before, and they each have their own character. In this one, I think she has hit the Quiptic target squarely, with clues going for concision rather than elaborate storytelling, seamless surfaces, and a wide variety of cryptic devices.
After last week’s stinker of a double puzzle from Araucaria, this was much easier, all the more so once the theme had been guessed (which didn’t take long). All the “John’s” references were … Read more >>
A fairly typical Gordian mixed bag, I think – some clever clues, together with some very loose definitions and one glaring inaccuracy. Older solvers may have found this puzzle rather easier. 😉 Across … Read more >>
The instruction “FH has the same meaning throughout” is the sort of thing that is common in Araucaria’s puzzles in the Financial Times ( as Cinephile), but less often seen in the Guardian. … Read more >>
Again my lot comes up with Arachne, which is fine by me. There were several clues where I was reasonably sure of the answers, but the exact wordplay came to me afterwards, and one, 15D, for which I still await enlightenment.
Thank you Gaufrid for standing in for me so admirably. I am glad that I made the prior arrangement even though I had internet access in my hotel room in Tianjin and Beijing. … Read more >>
Apologies, a bit late on parade today. I don’t recall having had a Moley to blog for a while, but I always enjoy her Quiptics, and this was no exception. I’ve got a … Read more >>
An apt and enjoyable start to the week, thanks to Rufus. Nice surfaces. As usual, definitions are underlined in the clues. Hidden connections are in 3 of the picture sets. Across 1 Writer … Read more >>
Well, I must say these Genius puzzles vary a lot in difficulty. After two hard ones from Araucaria and Tramp, I found this one from Crucible hardly more difficult than a standard daily … Read more >>
Apparently there is a Bank Holiday in the south of the country this weekend so that explains the double-size puzzle, it was a bit unexpected. I just made myself a cup of tea and finished it … Read more >>
Our favourite nonagenarian is in literary mode here, with an author and the title of several of his novels. I got the name early on, and that led to several long answers as … Read more >>
Tramp is a recent and welcome addition to the Guardian crossword stable. His puzzles make you think. His cluing tends to the complex construction that I prefer, but I also think there are … Read more >>