Independent

Rather a strong crossword from Phi today. Everything seems to be soundly and well clued, and the one or two that as usual I can’t understand will I’m sure be perfectly well explained … Read more >>

A fine puzzle in Nimrod’s very distinctive style.   On the hard side, as one expects from Nimrod.  Solving time, 41 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 6 SERBIA    (rabies)* 8 HAYLOFT   “Hail”  OFT 9 … Read more >>

I found this very good but also very tough indeed, solved in a couple of sessions which came to about 45 minutes when I just had 24D left to complete. It took me … Read more >>

Our first blog as husband and wife, completed in true Handel style, with a pint of ale in Stockwell’s uncharacteristically sophisticated pub The Canton Arms. ACROSS 4. HE(LP)ED 7. splenDID ACT I Contrived … Read more >>

Always a pleasure to tackle a Wednesday Dac. I made pretty swift progress through this, though with a few down clues, such as 1 and 13 taking longer than I should admit. 6dn … Read more >>

Man, this was good! A very impressive grid construction by Virgilius, in which all bar 7 entries contain MAN, and the remaining 7 all have MAN in the clue. I spotted the theme … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Apart from 14 across, I thought this was slightly more restrained than some Punk puzzles but had a nice mix of dictionary words and … Read more >>

Always have confidence with Phi that I will get there, this puzzle was no exception, solving time 23 mins. V enjoyable as always. * = anagram ACROSS 1 WIDE-ANGLE LENS    (leading)* EL (the … Read more >>

I had just been thinking we must be due for a Saturday Anax, and here we are. I wonder if being able to predict setters several weeks running is an early sign of … Read more >>

This seemed like a bit of a classic. Unfortunately work issues and inopportunely-timed fire drills meant I couldn’t really give it the attention it deserved, and had to cheat relentlessly. There’s some great … Read more >>

Back on the IoS beat for 1 week as Handel’s gone to France.    I found this an extremely easy puzzle, solving time 11 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 1 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM    … Read more >>

Dac’s puzzles are always a pleasure, never a chore. That said, this definitely seemed tougher than usual and I eventually had to admit defeat with a few answers. Ain’t nothing wrong with any … Read more >>

A very nice offering from Radian. I’m a bit unsure about one or two of the clues, either because I simply don’t understand them or because I have my own doubts about them. … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism The web site is still showing Friday’s puzzle – not sure if this is an error or the beginning of a new policy under … Read more >>

An enjoyable and fairly challenging Friday Phi. The grid seemed to fill from the bottom up for me, and I was perhaps held up by some unfamiliar terms, for example at 15ac and … Read more >>