Guardian

A pleasant Bank Holiday diversion from Rufus, after Saturday’s tour-de-force from Araucaria, with several  smiles along the way. Thank you, Rufus, and a happy holiday, everyone! Across 9   EBULLIENT: BULL [farm animal] + … Read more >>

Solving time: 8 mins I found this the most enjoyable Araucaria I’ve done for a good while. The surface readings almost all made good sense and the cryptic indications were much more accurate … Read more >>

Some clever clues but pretty easy overall from Orlando today. Across 1 RESIGNS S[hilling]=Bob inside REIGNS=rules 8 EVINCED ED[ward]=”little boy” carrying VINCE 9 SHAWNEE [George Bernard] SHAW=playwright + NÉE=”born in France” 10 RANKING … Read more >>

I’m afraid this a very rushed post for me today, and I haven’t figured out how 10a and 11a work – I’m sure the comments will clear those up, though… Across 8. FORMALLY … Read more >>

There’s much to admire in this characteristically Puckish puzzle, which I found great fun and very enjoyable – a nice variety of clue types and some excellent surfaces: it would have been sycophantic … Read more >>

What a treat! For the second week running, I got to blog another master ( a reverential term of respect and admiration which really shouldn’t upset anyone). As expected, Paul served up many … Read more >>

Very easy fare from Rufus today, but lots of his characteristically smooth surface readings. A nice gentle start to the week – thanks Rufus..           Across 1. FORMAL A … Read more >>

Solving time: 6 mins A very entertaining offering from Paul, with a twist: several of the answers were rebuses or ‘dingbats’, where a phrase is represented in a kind of pictorial cryptic fashion, … Read more >>

I’m a big fan of Pasquale’s puzzles, but today was just one of those days when I was completely hopeless – I found this very difficult, ran out of time and so had … Read more >>

It’s rather surprising to have two posthumous puzzles in a row: Rover died in May this year. This is a typical ‘mixed bag’ of a Rover puzzle – some good clues interspersed with … Read more >>

As usual with Quantum, I am sadly unable to summon up much enthusiasm for this puzzle. Some reasonable clues, though nothing very exciting, but also some rather weak cryptic definitions, and a couple … Read more >>

Another wonderful way to start the day, solving the Master who, as usual, tantalised and teased. Like all compilers, he would gladly that we all see throught his runic ruses and devious devices. … Read more >>