Independent

It’s New Year’s day, and it’s Virgilius. That means that his crossword must contain some wonderful Nina, especially as the grid is a bit odd. But I can’t see it. (Note from Neildubya: … Read more >>

Another very interesting year at the Indy as the new editor, Eimi, who took over early in 2006, puts his mark on the paper. The main features are a continued move towards themed … Read more >>

Very tough puzzle to finish the year. There is a theme, which I’ll give after the clue explanations in case anyone wants to have another look at the grid. I found it after … Read more >>

There are comments on this following the blog of Dac 6614 (Fri 28 12 2007)

Considering some of the tough and thematic puzzles this week this was a nice easy end to the week with no themes or hidden messages (famous last words!) It was the usual high … Read more >>

The easiest puzzle I’ve solved by this usually difficult setter. A few people here have mentioned that they’ve often found many of Scorpion’s clues to be a bit contrived but I don’t think … Read more >>

A very difficult puzzle, which I was not able to finish – clues I struggled with listed in full below – any help provided would be much appreciated. The theme is “The Scottish … Read more >>

A special Christmas offering from Quixote, the main theme being the use of a well-known Christmas item in its role as an anagram indicator. Once seen, solving was very fast. Solving time: 14 … Read more >>

Across 7 I POD [with the I “put back”] UM 8 CHESTNUT. 8 Down is “Christmas tree”, but unless I don’t know about Christmas trees in various parts of the world, the connection … Read more >>

I found this pretty difficult, although the preamble was a big help in that it suggested that other Indy compilers would be mentioned in whole or in part in the answers and, more … Read more >>

As usual with Phi, everything very enjoyable. There doesn’t seem to be a Nina, but there probably is. Across 1 RAM with ASH first. The letter combination ASH often appears and “remains” is … Read more >>

Across 1 (SINFUL EFFECTS I)* – SELF-SUFFCIENT. SELF was obvious but the rest took a little time to make itself apparent. 9 RUSE,D,SKI 10 YUP,PIE – if I had to pick a word … Read more >>

Monk is a setter whose puzzles I seek out, so Christmas came early to see that pseudonym in the Indy today.    Almost every clue has something special.    Solving time:  43 mins.  There is … Read more >>

I found this very easy. Solving time: 14 mins Notes on some clues below: happy to explain others if asked. * = anagram ACROSS 1 S (AMOS) A SA = Salvation Army 11 … Read more >>

Across 1 PACK, L in CAB (all reversed) – the BLACKCAP is a small songbird. 9 INDI[-a]’S,POSITION – I found this very tough and only got the answer by finding a word that … Read more >>