Guardian

An excellent crossword today with a Wagner theme and some great wordplay. (Apologies that this is later than usual; it was slightly more complicated than most to ‘blog about and I got up … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram What a lovely puzzle that is both … Read more >>

Nice and easy start to the week, with quite a few hidden or similar clues. Across 1 DUTCH COURAGE I didn’t know the various meanings of Dutch wife, but still got this easily … Read more >>

Solving time: 18:46, two mistakes (16ac and 6dn) Very good this week, I thought, and maybe a little harder than usual. Chambers defines ‘haggard’ as intractable and the title refers to the clue, … Read more >>

Didn’t find this easy and am still unsure about 9a Across 9 RANCOROUS: ANCOR in anagram of SOUR; but why ANCOR? (is it a homophone of ANCHOR) 12,3 WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN: WONDERFUL (modern meaning … Read more >>

The setter’s name doesn’t ring a bell, but I enjoyed the style. Luckily I got 5D first and was fairly confident I could get most of the linked clues but was stuck for … Read more >>

I’d only just finished Araucaria’s Saturday puzzle, which I found very hard, so I was a bit apprehensive when I saw his name again. Fortunately this one was a lot less troublesome, though … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A very entertaining puzzle with some challenging … Read more >>

A fun puzzle from Rufus to start the week; there were lots of good “a-ha!” moments for me in this one and excellent surface readings throughout, my favourites being 8d and 28a, I … Read more >>

Solving time: 8:30 The usual excellent stuff from Paul. There was some discussion in last week’s blog about rule-bending and so forth, with Paul being mentioned, but the difference between Paul and Araucaria … Read more >>

As ever, a very enjoyable crossword from Paul, with lots of animals (mostly pigs and cows), a few communists and a couple of computer references. Across 8 LANDRACE: LAND (as in fishing) + … Read more >>

Easier than usual from Chifonie. Across 8 ORNAMENT OR NAME NT (New Testament) 9 EBONY E BONY 11 LIBERATION LIBATION around ER 12 ASHRAM A SH RAM – a Hindu hermitage 14 LORRAINE … Read more >>

As is often with Araucaria, something of a challenge but satisfying to solve.  I guessed the long linked clue starting at 7D fairly early from the pattern of ‘inherit’ which gave a lot … Read more >>

It’s my first day back in the office after a week-and-a-bit’s holiday, so a large backlog of emails has somewhat delayed my blogging. A lot of obscure words and references, combined with some … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram As usual, Rufus showed his forte, the … Read more >>