Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism The online version had the compiler as Anaz this morning, but the printed version says Anax. I found the puzzle a bit of a … Read more >>

We were very happy that Quixote went easy on us this week, as we completed this one with considerable hangovers after the joy of the Azed 2,000 lunch. Nothing too taxing here, but … Read more >>

I’m sorry that you are stuck with two Saturday puzzle blogs in a row from me, but thanks to the other Saturday Independent bloggers for letting me do some swaps to overcome periods when … Read more >>

The usual excellent puzzle from Phi. Definitely some tough words in here I thought and I needed a bit of help to finish it off. Lovely clueing as always though. Across 1 SCHEDULE … Read more >>

An excellent crossword from Morph today. There are still some that I can’t see but I’m sure they will be explained by someone. As for a Nina, I suspect there is one since … Read more >>

A lot of double definitions today it seems. Usual good stuff from Dac but I don’t get the wordplay for 21d Across 1 Booth – DD 4 Maquisard – QUI in (DRAMAS)* ; … Read more >>

Always nice to see a Raich puzzle. This one seemed really quite straighforward, though the NE corner held me up for a bit while the final few entries fell into place. *=anag, []=dropped, … Read more >>

Nice puzzle by Nitsy which varied from quite easy in places to quite tricky, solving time 32 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 LAMP   M (master) in LAP (drink)   lamp = punch (hit)    … Read more >>

A much easier outing this week than last, which H did comfortably over his lunch hour. Some very nice touches (16ac and 21ac were our favourites) together with unexotic vocabulary would make this … Read more >>

I solved most of this on a long car journey and didn’t find it too difficult once the long answer at 14/29/1D had fallen. I liked the surface for TRAVAIL and TREATMENT, and … Read more >>

As usual, an utterly satisfactory crossword from Phi. There are some less than A-list place names, but before anyone complains they should remember that Phi lives in New Zealand, so he has as … Read more >>

Well I suppose I was due a tough one and in my view this was hard with several I can’t justify. There is a perimeter Nina whose significance I can’t see either. All … Read more >>

It’s never a hardship to blog a Dac, but I thought this one in particular was a bit of a classic. There’s some really inspired stuff in there. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>

Apologies for the late blog. I wasn’t expecting to see Anax though mercifully this didn’t turn out to be quite as tricksy as some previous offerings from this very entertaining and talented setter. … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A typically excellent puzzle from the crossword editor which has a NINA referring to a group I’d never heard of. The group itself also … Read more >>