Independent

It is very comforting in these strange times that certain regular events remain constant – Eccles on a Wednesday is one of those. It certainly raised a smile when we saw the setter’s … Read more >>

This is the first time that I have come across Dill’s work, and a quick search of 15² reveals that this may well be his first appearance in the daily Independent after having … Read more >>

Silvanus provides today’s brain exercise for frustrated social distancers. A good mixture of the straightforward, the tricky-but-fair, and the slightly sneaky. And it’s a pangram too (includes every letter of the alphabet). Plenty … Read more >>

The puzzle can be found here.   Hello everyone.  Before I head to the crossword, I would like to express my gratitude to those too busy to read this, those busy working to … Read more >>

The usual enjoyable and good Friday Phi offering. Definitions underlined, in sienna. Anagram indicators in italics. The theme is … (for you to complete). ACROSS 1 CARPET Caught at rack initially taking favourite … Read more >>

Serpent challenges the old grey matter today. As we expect from Serpent, this was a tricky but really enjoyable solve. Serpent sometimes has a theme or a nina in his puzzles, but we … Read more >>

Wire has produced a puzzle to take our minds off the lockdown this Wednesday. I was certainly grateful for a break from all the various news broadcasts, however important those clearly are. I … Read more >>

Hob gives us the Tuesday challenge today and all that involves.       Being Tuesday there is a theme to the puzzle.  Indeed there are two strings to the bow of today’s … Read more >>

Harry and I bump into each other for the second month running on a Sunday. This was a well-constructed, entertaining cryptic in the typical IoS style – tractable and without obscurities. And no … Read more >>

Amazingly, this is our 500th blog on 225!    It’s Dalibor today and we knew we were in for a bit of a challenge. This was an enjoyable Saturday work-out, including some new … Read more >>

In these very strange, surreal times it is reassuring to find Phi appearing on Phiday. No real problems today although the Biblical character in 19D was solved by the wordplay before we realised … Read more >>

I am late again this week, for which I apologise – we are living in unprecedented times and I have had a number of practical, real-life problems to sort out today. With everything … Read more >>

I always look forward to blogging an Eccles puzzles       Eccles clues have excellent surfaces, none more so today  than the splendid 10 Downing Street, Angela Leadsom clue for PISTOLS at 18 … Read more >>