Guardian

Neither fish nor fowl — can’t tell if there’s really a theme here or not: do fish and chips and grouse and chickens and pecking qualify? A couple of wordplays that I’m still … Read more >>

Monday is usually the day the crossword editor sends down a “loosener”, such as the recent series of pleasing, humane Rufus puzzles. This isn’t a usual mundane Monday, so he’s let loose the mighty … Read more >>

Solving time: 35 mins, three missing (14ac, 44ac, 35dn) This Christmas special from Araucaria contained 6 works by Thomas Hardy. I started well enough, spotting the anagram at 18ac to crack the theme … Read more >>

linxit has reported in sick, so I’ve thrown the following last minute blog together. I’m something of a Beckett nut, so this puzzle was a joy. Quotation above from “Waiting from Godot”, but … Read more >>

This was an enjoyable thematic puzzle based on Samuel Beckett (1,4 ac). I’ll put some more up when I can, but I’ve been in bed with flu for the last 3 days, and … Read more >>

Christmas songs not being a strong suit, I would never have worked out the song so thanks to Shirley for putting me out of my misery. It’s “Green Grow the Rushes, O” – … Read more >>

Just a quick blog between wrapping, baking, drinking etc. Almost all the clues have a festive reference, and most are pretty simple – this was a very quick solve bar 13 down, which maddeningly … Read more >>

Solving time: 18 mins, one mistake (20dn) This Mona Lisa-themed puzzle might have been straightforward for any art scholars who knew the ten-word phrase at 24ac (anyone?), but I had to work it … Read more >>

Condoleeza Rice (15d.) once made the quote in the title. Not her finest hour. Struck me that Pasquale’s puzzle is uniting quite a few people this morning – hope you’re all finding it … Read more >>

A good number of long phrases, with quite a few cryptic definitions and some subtle wordplay. Explanations of 20 ac welcomed. ACROSS: 1. HARD TO GRASP. CD. 9. OB(VIA T)E. Complex wordplay here … Read more >>

Solving time – 26:40 I struggled to get going on this, and after 10 minutes only had half a dozen answers in, but gradually managed to work up from the bottom right-hand corner … Read more >>

Solving time:  28 minutes (with help from Chambers and TEA) Over the past few months I have really come to appreciate Gordius puzzles, plenty of wit, some topical stuff and a dash of … Read more >>

A surfeit of cryptic definitions today which isn’t of course out of character for Rufus. It’s tempered by several well crafted clues though so a smile or two were produced. Across 9 TALL … Read more >>

Solving time: 21:45, one missing (17ac) Across clues had wordplay leading to the defined answer minus a coin. The (normal) down clues weren’t too bad though so this wasn’t much more difficult than … Read more >>

I always feel more intelligent after solving a Brendan puzzle — I think it’s because he is fair, challenging and there’s a clever nina or theme which is always gratifying to identify. Anyway, … Read more >>