Independent

Trees. That’s a new compiler I thought. Then forgot that as I stared at the clues for an immensely long time looking for inspiration. I wasn’t sure of any answers on the first … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. It must be Thursday, then! I found this very tough going indeed, and had to cheat relentlessly. Getting 15ac was something of a help though. … Read more >>

Solving time, 23 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 6 PEP TIC 8 PINNA (leaflet) C LE 9 BOS (PO RU)S 10 P ASS I’M 11 QU A N GO 12 … Read more >>

Apparently Dac’s recent Saturday crossword was quite tricky. He seems to have continued in the same vein here — this took me far longer than a normal Dac. The usual crop of very … Read more >>

Lovely stuff once again from Mr. Halpern. I would imagine that anyone not familiar with Indie music may have struggled with some of the band-related clues, but this one fortunately played right into … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def A challenging puzzle with some good clues and surface readings. I was mainly held up by the unusual spelling of 5 down and being convinced … Read more >>

I found this quite a tough puzzle for Dac, needing two solving sessions, though the first was late at night. Apologies for posting a few days late. I liked the range of cultural … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. All fairly straightforward, I think, with everything fitting together nicely. Across 7 BOOR – BOO + R. 8 OBSEQUIOUS – 0 + BISQUE* + OUS[ted]. … Read more >>

Given the general tendency for Thursday’s puzzle to be on the tough side, it’s usual practice for me to check online at midnight. Probably just as well really, as we very rarely see … Read more >>

Solving time, 40 mins, a lot of which was looking for 5 down. * = anagram      < = reversed ACROSS 1 T(EACH)ABLE 8 SheeP LEAD 10 DO RIS(k) 11 IN THE GODS   (Thing … Read more >>

Usual excellent offering from Dac, solving time, 24 mins. I found SE quarter the toughest. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 HOPPING hopping mad – double definition 5 BAGH DAD “Bag” … Read more >>

Although it is always a delight to blog a Virgilius crossword, my heart is for ever in my mouth because of the Nina: what a fool I’ll look when I don’t see it. … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def I found this very difficult, although having finished it, the clues don’t seem that hard, so maybe I was just completely off form. Most of … Read more >>

An excellent Saturday puzzle, challenging but ultimately manageable. I’m particularly struck by the exceptional quality of the surface readings. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 BABE RUTH – BABE … Read more >>

Excellent puzzle from Phi, solving time, 24 mins * = anagram  < = reversed ACROSS 1 MA (GI) C AL(l) 5 SIDECAR   (is)<  (raced)< 9 DEAD TREE EDITION    My penultimate answer – new … Read more >>