Independent

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A bit of mixed bag with some very nice clues but a couple of slightly weak CDs. It took me a while to understand … Read more >>

After the splendid classical music themed Indy 7,148 of a few weeks ago, I was pleased to open the newspaper and find that I was blogging a further Radian puzzle. The theme here … Read more >>

A characteristically lovely offering from Phi rounds off what has been a really rather good working week of Indy puzzles. The last 5 days have given us pretty much everything cryptic crosswords should … Read more >>

This blog has been delayed a week due to the threat of postal strikes around the normal submission time.  Consequently many of you will probably have forgotten about the puzzle. The grid was one … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't recall blogging a Punk for some time, though maybe that's for the best as I can rarely get to grips with them! This … Read more >>

Solving time, 18 mins. * = anagram   < = reversed ACROSS 5 S (PARR)OWS 7 Itch A MB I(1)      Feet of  a line of poetry 11 H ONE STY 12 AMEN pleaseD ED … Read more >>

I’d expected something to do with Remembrance Day, but no, Dac as usual and up to his usual standard; however, when is he ever not up to his usual standard? This seemed to … Read more >>

Extremely impressive by Nimrod.    Fitting about a dozen examples of the themed answer LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE into the grid.    Made very little progress till I worked out that thematic answer after about 20 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was an excellent puzzle celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall. There were some tough clues but the presence of a theme which … Read more >>

Unusual crossword in that it said “For ATS, remembering particularly those clued across without definition” It turned out that every across answer was the first name of a person.   I guess ATS refers … Read more >>

The usual very pleasant offering from Phi. One or two I’m not quite clear about, but that will be me not him I’m pretty sure. Across 7 BI(R)D LIME 9 appaREL IS Hard … Read more >>

I suspected we might get a Bonfire Night theme today, and this didn’t disappoint. There were plenty of long across answers and anagrams to open up the grid, though I did struggle a … Read more >>

This blog is scheduled a week later than normal as the entry date was put back to Wed 4 November because of the postal dispute.     I found this a very easy puzzle, 13 … Read more >>

Excellent crossword, as usual, from Dac which I found easy enough, solving time 16 mins. * = anagram   <  = reversed ACROSS 1 C (AND) ID 5 JEREMIAH    Book of the Bible, my … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A bit of an epic challenge this one. The theme is PEOPLE OF NOTE, so we have several composers, and also several US presidents, whose … Read more >>