Guardian

I blogged what I think was Boatman’s first puzzle a few weeks ago, and here he is again. The consensus then seemed to be that he was a promising addition to the stable, … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram What a superb day! I was solving … Read more >>

Straightforward monday puzzle, lots of typical Rufus cryptic definitions. c.d. = cryptic definition d.d. = double definition * = anagram << = rev Across 1. STRATUS. ST(R)ATUS 5. FULCRA. c.d. 9. WEAPONRY. OPENWAR* … Read more >>

Solving time: 13:40 An enjoyable puzzle from Araucaria, with a couple of strange clues thrown in. Several clues refer to the Suffragette movement. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 … Read more >>

Quite easy for a friday, I thought.  Straightforward and well constructed, with a lot of anagrams. * = anagram dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition Across 7. LADIES MAN. ASEMILAND*. Never … Read more >>

I very much enjoyed this puzzle and personally didn’t find it nearly as difficult as the last couple of days. There are several references to the United States (7a, 26a, 1d, 3d, 18d) … Read more >>

Across 1 DORIS DAY: DOR (as in d’or, of gold, golden) + IS (lives) + DAY (period); actress in Calamity Jane film of 1953 5 SHUCKS: HUCK in SS 9 NUNEATON: NUN EAT … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Most of you would have cottoned on … Read more >>

Rufus gets a Monday off to make way for a reasonably easy offering from Arachne. There are a couple of clues where I’m not sure I’ve got the explanation right, and one (27ac) … Read more >>

Solving time: 7:44 An amusing offering from Paul, with a theme: the key clue is the one to 13dn/20ac, which yields “ASK A STUPID QUESTION”. The definitions to 10 other clues are given … Read more >>

After a rather contentious week, I was a bit apprehensive about what to expect for my blogging slot today, so it was quite a relief to get this fairly straightforward but enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>

A fairly topical theme, with the Turner Prize nominees being exhibited at the moment.  Like a lot of people I find this sort of puzzle, with a large set of related answers, fairly … Read more >>

A fun puzzle, which wasn’t too difficult because of all but three of the across clues having anagrams. 10 down was much the hardest, I thought, since there was weak checking in the … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram This delightful puzzle reminds me of Alfred … Read more >>

Blogging in a hurry – luckily nothing too difficult today. Across 7 CATARACT As in waterfall, and as in the eye disease. 9 EQUALS (squeal)* 10 TIER TIE R[iver] 11 COMPANY CAR an … Read more >>