Independent

Another gentle puzzle that was well suited to a pub-based solve.  Didn’t know ‘shooting brake’ but the anagram was clear enough and didn’t suggest anything else. Always nice to learn something from a … Read more >>

Sorry about the slight lateness of this — had a doctor’s appointment in the middle of it all. Needless to say it was half an hour late. The usual excellence from Dac, sound … Read more >>

What turned out to be a very easy puzzle from the master, I’d all but two solved in just 11 mins, but the last two 30A and 18D took me another 5 mins, … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism I don’t know if this is a new setter or someone like Tees dressed up. In any case, I found it very difficult. With … Read more >>

A very nice way to round off the working week as always from Phi. The clueing is very tight here and I found this tougher than usual. Got there in the end, though … Read more >>

Another first Saturday of the month slot for Nestor, and another non-Nina puzzle as far as I can see (Unless Nestor is now sponsored by “Savalab”) Across 1 SHOULDER PADS SHOULD (are obliged … Read more >>

A pleasant (but long — 35 clues) solve today from Merlin, although as is usual one or two seem a bit odd. The grid is very strange, in that there is a word … Read more >>

An unusually easy outing this week, finished in something like 15 minutes, which is about as quick as we get. ACROSS 6. BLOODSTONE (old bones)* around ‘to’ 9. R AID 10. PA ELLA … Read more >>

I thought this had everything you could ask for in a puzzle at the easier end of the Indy spectrum.  Flawless clues, excellent surface readings, easier wordplay for the less familiar answers.   Solving … Read more >>

An all-too-rare visit from Math today. I’m not sure if the date carries some significance, but there’s a strong theme here, based around 1/4 and of course 4dn. I must admit I missed … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism More football here, with a couple of former players appearing as a NINA along the edges. Not being a big football fan, I’m not … Read more >>

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 >>