Independent

This was an enjoyable, not too tricky, themed offering from Scorpion.   The theme at 10 / 8 was relatively straightforward, and the thematically connected 7ac was moreorless a write-in. Seven of the … Read more >>

It’s that Monday morning feeling again today, slightly delayed as I’d forgotten it was my turn….. The usual fine sound stuff from Quixote but I just don’t get 9dn Across: 1 DISTRICT D … Read more >>

I must admit to finding this one relatively tough for a Sunday. That isn’t a complaint since it was terribly good, but it did take a little longer than usual and one or … Read more >>

A good challenge from Morph this week, with the expected standard of well-constructed clues. We were held up for a while in the NW corner until we solved 8ac which included a good … Read more >>

This was an entertaining puzzle from Phi  including some of his regular geographic allusions.       Phi is a compiler based in Wellington, New Zealand and often includes flora and fauna native … Read more >>

A crossword today from Rorschach that I at any rate found particularly hard, not helped by its thrice vanishing into the ether so that I had to restart.  Some of the clues are … Read more >>

We took a while to get started on this one and also a while to finish it! Thankfully there were a few easy clues like 11/13 which at least gave us some crossing … Read more >>

This is my first encounter with Donk as a blogger and only my second or third with him as a solver, although I may well have caught sight of him recently on the … Read more >>

Challenging and really entertaining – need help explaining 26 across         Across 8 IDLE out of a job (Eric – Monty Python) 9 CHATELAINE mistress of castle CHAT (talk) ELAINE … Read more >>

I thought this was a lovely Sunday puzzle from Poins – not too fiendish, in the IoS style, but plenty of nice misdirection and some smiley moments.  I have only one tiny niggle.  … Read more >>

It’s the first Saturday prize puzzle of 2013, and it looks like we’re in trouble! Instead of the usual New Year wishes and pleasantries, we received A GOOD TALKING TO, followed by A … Read more >>

As always on Fridays a good puzzle from Phi.  More than the usual number of words were at least unfamiliar, and in one case I had to cheat and click ‘Reveal’, but the clueing was … Read more >>

It’s while since we had a Thursday Anax to blog and we really look forward to his offerings. This one didn’t disappoint, with some fiendishly crafted clues amongst a few relatively simple ones, … Read more >>

Today sees my monthly blogging encounter with Dac, as usual on a Wednesday. Dac never disappoints, pitching his puzzles consistently at the same medium-difficulty level. This puzzle was trickier than the average Dac … Read more >>

The first Radian puzzle of 2013 was an entertaining challenge.       There were two themes woven into the clues and the entries.  Events of 30,50, 60 and 113 years ago mingled … Read more >>