Guardian

Solving time: About 15 mins I think. The eight answers clued by definition wordplay only (asterisked below) were all types of camera, which took me a long time to spot; I think a … Read more >>

Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram A soft start to the week but fun … Read more >>

Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram What a lovely day this has been. Yesterday’s … Read more >>

Harder than the average Paul today – or maybe my brain is slow in sympathy with this BT Broadband connection. ACROSS 8 THERE ARE NO FLIES ON HIM – tracksuit bottoms rarely come … Read more >>

A clever &lit and near &lit or two made this a pleasant pastime to enjoy alone. As it were. Especially, 16D. Although there’s the obligatory Britclue which escapes me (13A). Across 1 TRANCE … Read more >>

Some difficult clues here. I couldn’t follow the clue for 24dn. Can it be that it has gone west? Across 1 HIGHLIGHT: HIGH (drunk) + LIGHT (answer to clue) 6 CLIME: CrIME with … Read more >>

Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram An easy start to the week on a … Read more >>

[Note: I’m posting this on Friday afternoon as I’m away for the weekend (off to Dublin to watch Radiohead on Saturday night). I hope this is ok, as the deadline for entries was … Read more >>

I suppose the kindest thing I could say about this puzzle is that it probably provides a gentle introduction to daily cryptic crosswords for the novice.  As a hard-bitten and long-in-the-tooth solver, I … Read more >>

Common abbreviations used dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade * = anagram I am ever so blessed with my Guardian … Read more >>

I was sorry to hear of the death of Eric Burge, who I’ve “only” known through his Quantum crosswords in The Guardian. To a non-crossworder, it would seem that I should therefore hardly … Read more >>

I like Orlando’s clean and precise cluing style — in this case, several instances of cheeky definitions probably deserving of a questionable indicator and more than one of working the answer out from … Read more >>

Apologies, but I have to rush off now, so just a quick post today. Nothing too difficult from Rufus, but still a few neat clues in here. Across 1 COURTING DISASTER 10 EX,ONE,RATE … Read more >>

Solving time: 28:00, over half of which on 1dn, 10ac and 15ac. I had a good start on this, stalled a little in the middle until I untangled BODICE RIPPER at 22/21dn, and … Read more >>

Across 1 DECIDED: CID in DEED 5 DELIBES: DLIBErateS without rate. Refers to Leo Delibes the French romantic composer 10 NEWCASTLE: anagram of LEWES CANT 11 OFF WITH HIS HEAD: from Lewis Carroll’s … Read more >>