Guardian

Solving time: 33 mins This was hard, and I was grateful for a couple of hackneyed clues at 12ac (INCA) and 28ac (DETERGENT) to get me going. The theme (abbreviations for days of … Read more >>

A reasonably straightforward puzzle from Bonxie, with some nice touches. I have some quibbles with two or three definitions. Across 1   SCARECROW: anagram of CAW SCORER: this surface made me smile. 6  BOOM: … Read more >>

Good fun from Orlando today with a theme of famous Belgians, and a few references to Belgium in some of the clues as well. Sound and inventive clueing throughout, with some trickily-concealed defintiions … Read more >>

Found this fairly easy for a Paul, and one with a little theme of Yorkshire towns at that. Several lovely and inventive clues. Across 1 SPONSOR S[econd] + NS=”team” in bridge inside POOR=”poxy” … Read more >>

What a challenging puzzle this has been even thought there was an evident mini-theme. I had to check Chambers at least five times for new words that I have never seen before and … Read more >>

A quick solve for me, but with lots of smiles along the way, as usual with Rufus’s puzzles. Across 1. REFUSAL (FARULES)* 5. ANAEMIA Cryptic definition 9. NATAL Double definition 10. PATRIOTIC Cryptic … Read more >>

Solving time: About 20 mins plus another day for 4dn An impressive 15 thematic answers were crammed into this, not to mention the pleasingly symmetric answer at 13,19,22ac which hints at their link … Read more >>

Perhaps those who disliked the three previous “thematic” puzzles this week will have enjoyed this one. I have to say my heart sank when I saw it was a Rover, and solving it … Read more >>

An interesting themed puzzle with some tricky clues. The special instructions refer to different rules for 13 and 15, and that is the way in to the theme. Across 1,16D LONDON BRONCOS: LONDON … Read more >>

Lots of ducks in today’s crossword – yet another rushed post from me in rather awkward circumstances, and I’m afraid I don’t get 12 across or 7 down Across 1. SCALE UP LE[vel] … Read more >>

Paul certainly knows how to make a theme exciting, right from 1Across to 22Down.  In between, he sprinkled his wit and humour liberally. Challenging in parts but mostly very very entertaining. Bravo, Paul, … Read more >>

The usual Rufus combination of cryptic [not too many] and double definitions and elegant and witty surfaces. Across 7   PHILATELY: PHI [anagram of HIP] + LATELY 8   QUICK: double definition [‘quick’ = ‘living’ … Read more >>

I’m a last-minute substitute for rightback, who, unfortunately, has internet problems, so, not having expected to blog this, I’m trying to remember my thought processes when I solved it a week ago and … Read more >>

A struggle for me today, even for an Araucaria. Managed to fill in the grid thanks to checkers but still can’t figure out some of the clues. Favourite clues were 23ac, 7dn. Edits … Read more >>

A rather rushed post, I’m afraid, so apologies for errors and omissions, which I probably won’t be able to fix until much later. Overall, an enjoyable puzzle, with the odd bit of tough … Read more >>