Independent

Another pleasing puzzle from our Monday Indy regular.  Mostly straightforward, but the last few – including one or two less familiar words – took me a while.  And there’s one where you’d most … Read more >>

Quite a straightforward and enjoyable puzzle, with a touch of the Season included. Thanks to Hypnos. And a Happy New Year (not too late, I think) to all readers, bloggers and setters here. Definitions … Read more >>

The gods of the old year brought me another Tees to blog, which is fine by me. I always find Tees’ puzzles a pleasure as his clues always make some kind of sense … Read more >>

Another great Friday offering from Phi. We always suspect a possible Nina with this sort of grid, especially from Phi, and lo and behold, there it is! (clockwise in the perimeter starting bottom … Read more >>

The last time I was scheduled to blog a Nestor puzzle was the unfortunate occasion on which I confused my dates and someone had to step in and write a blog on my … Read more >>

Dac continues in 2013, as he has done throughout 2012, with a well constructed challenge for the commuter on the Clapham omnibus.       Dac doesn’t do themes or tricks or pangrams; … Read more >>

A well-constructed crossword from Raich which for some reason I found a bit harder than usual.  Can’t see why now, because the clues all seem to be straightforward.  On this particular day you’d think that … Read more >>

So it’s my privilege to wrap up 2012 with Indy new boy Alchemi on yet another wild and wet morning to end the year. As far as I can tell there’s no nina … Read more >>

As in previous years, I’m giving my solving times for the Indy crossword for 2012 showing the average for each setter.    Also for the first time this year, analysis is given of each … Read more >>

A nice way to round off the blogging year with a bit of Raich. Lots to admire here, with 14D my pick of the bunch. Across 1 SAGE – [-d(iamonds)]EGAS rev. 3 ACTIVIST … Read more >>

‘Tis the Saturday before Christmas and a puzzle from Tyrus to blog – what could be better? Another Tyrus puzzle full of original ideas led to much head scratching for me, for which … Read more >>

As this is to be my last appearance as a blogger in 2012, I was hoping to produce a comprehensive blog of today’s puzzle, which is by Phi, as might be expected. As … Read more >>

There were some clever clues in this puzzle, including at least three &Lit ones.  Also , a good bit of lateral thinking was required in places.  The puzzle, to my mind, was an … Read more >>

A nice crossword from Anax themed around 16ac and 6dn that so far as I can see, apart from the fact that 16ac is often a Christmas show, has no connection with the season. … Read more >>

Festive fare from the Don         Across 1 MASS dd 3 HAVERSACKS bags AVERS (states) in HACKS (cuts) 9 SKIABLE (IS BLEAK)* 11 EXACTOR demanding person EX ACTOR 12… Once … Read more >>