Surprisingly easy — managed most of the puzzle while watching a replay of Germany/Italy. Probably had to make more trips to the chamberpot than to Chambers. Obviously I was distracted since more than a few sloppy parses pointed out by kind commentators!
Azed
AZED 2,299
As always Azed provides a masterclass in clueing: not always the most riveting surfaces or constructions, but everything utterly sound.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Azed 2298 ‘Dry Soldier’
I have a vague feeling that Azed has done a special of this kind before, but I could be wrong. (In case anyone hasn’t spotted it, the title “Dry Soldier” is an anagram … Read more >>
AZED 2,297
I enjoyed this very much. Not too hard but with plenty of opportunity to browse through Chambers looking for interesting words. Thank you AZED.
AZED 2,296
A 13 by 11 grid this week for the competition puzzle.
Azed 2295
A plain Azed puzzle this time generating the usual challenges. There were three compound anagram clues this week (13 across [NIKAU], 34 across [REDD] and 21 down [EJECTA]. They are … Read more >>
Azed 2294 / normal service has resumed…
A rather tough puzzle that I just spent 2 hours solving in the lounge at Heathrow. On a hand-drawn grid. Not a pretty picture. I thought this was rather difficult and I think … Read more >>
AZED 2,293
Nothing really to say. The usual excellent display of sound clue-setting from Azed. I can’t understand what is given in the paper and on the site as 33ac but is really 35ac, but no doubt someone will explain.
Definitions underlined and in maroon.
Azed 2292
This puzzle seems to have a higher-than-usual proportion of unfamiliar words, in both answers and wordplay, which probably explains why I found it quite hard. But soundly clued as always, and satisfying to … Read more >>
AZED 2,291
I have not done a Printer’s Devilry before. I like it, great fun!
AZED 2,290
A plain Azed with one unusual feature: there were twice as many words of Hindustani origin as Scottish ones.
Azed 2289
This was a typical plain Azed crossword. The clueing was precise and the vocabulary was a mix of modern and arcane. I solved about half of this without reference to … Read more >>
AZED 2,288
A fairly straightforward puzzle this week — if that’s an appropriate term for a cryptic. Struggled on a couple of wordplays but nothing that the BRB didn’t resolve. For some reason the grid isn’t showing the D in serdab (22D). I suspect a bit of a laxative theme.
Azed 2287
The usual Azed. A whole lot of rare words (how does he know them?) all accurately clued and perfectly straightforward once one has the answer, although getting it in the first place is … Read more >>
Azed 2286
Apologies for the slightly delayed appearance of this blog – I had made a start on it last Sunday and then completely forgot about it. Fairly average on the Azed difficulty scale, I … Read more >>