Guardian 25,178 – Puck
Puck is always entertaining, and sometimes quite tricky, and this was certainly a lot of fun. I found most of it not too difficult, but the NW corner held me up for a … Read more >>
Guardian
Guardian 25,177 / Paul
I’m a late substitute today, so apologies for any errors or omissions. I had plenty of smiles – and some outright laughs – with this entertaining Paul puzzle. There’s just one query – … Read more >>
Guardian 25,176 / Crucible
Crucible’s puzzles are a real treat, but sadly a relatively rare one. As you’d expect if you’ve done this setter’s puzzles before, this was pretty tough, and particularly one for those who like … Read more >>
Guardian 25,175 Gordius – Blogging in Brrritain
It was 3am in London when I started to write this blog and the temperature outside was zero. The call of the blog duty must be very strong; hence this surreal scene of … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic nº 575, by Pan
An entertaining puzzle from Pan, with some delightful surfaces and a variety of resources. ACROSS 1. ARMISTICE Charade of AR(ab) + I(n) C(harge) in an anagram of *TIMES 6. CREAM Charade of E(xtasis)=’drug’ … Read more >>
Guardian 25,174 / Rufus
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus, with the usual elegant mix of story-telling anagrams and cryptic and double definitions. I have one real quibble, which I think is a typographical error and / or editorial … Read more >>
Guardian 25,167 (Sat 13 Nov)/Araucaria – Juncture repair job
Solving time: 38 mins This very impressive construction may have had the most involved preamble I’ve seen in the Guardian. Essentially, half the clues led to two answers differing by either the first … Read more >>
Guardian 25,172 by Araucaria – A Labour of Love
The luck of the draw gives me an Araucaria for my first Cryptic blog. Not vintage Araucaria, perhaps, and nothing too difficult (thankfully). It is always satisfying when I can look at 1 … Read more >>
Guardian 25171 / Arachne
I found this quite a tricky solve, with some intricate wordplay – looking back at the clues, though, I’m not sure it should have caused me so many problems. I’ll put this down … Read more >>
Guardian 25,170 / Paul
This was a real treat – a beautifully constructed puzzle with a clever theme, the musical part of which was right up my street. [If this were an Araucaria or a Gordius puzzle, … Read more >>
Guardian 25169 Orlando – As Merry As A Grig
Last Monday, the FT changed the usual setter and gave me Cincinnus to blog. Today, I got a double with his Guardian alter ego, Orlando. Double helping of steak and kidney pie! And … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 574 / Arachne
No problems with today’s offering from Arachne. My favourite clue was 9 across. All definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition or the Oxford Dictionary of English. Most of the standard abbreviations used … Read more >>
Guardian 25,168 – Rufus
Typically easy Monday fare from Rufus today – not much else to say, really, except that I’m dubious about the construction of 3dn. Across 1. OUTCAST OUT (striking) … Read more >>
Guardian 25,161 (Sat 6 Nov)/Paul – Forsyth Saga
Solving time: 9 mins The second appearance in a couple of weeks for Paul (the last as part of Biggles) and I really enjoyed it – there were loads of inventive clues in … Read more >>
Guardian 25,166 / Gordius
A pretty typical Gordius puzzle, I think – plenty of nice clues, but with a few liberties that rather bothered me along the way. Across 1. SEVENTEEN EVENT = “What happens” in SEEN … Read more >>