Everyman 3270
Nothing too taxing this week, although perhaps not the most exciting crossword. The conductor in 24ac was new to me, but I think all of the other “well known people” answers were incredibly … Read more >>
Observer
Everyman Crossword No. 3269 (May 24)
I enjoyed doing this none-too-difficult puzzle. Across 1 BOTTOM – triple definitions: Weaver (character in Shakespeare’s MND), backside, foot (the lowest point) 5 DOG STAR – Also known as Sirius (which I first … Read more >>
Azed 1930 – computing in Scotland and India
Somewhat of a Compu-Indo-Scots vocabulary this week. I did this rather fast (for me!) at an airport lounge… guessed some answers from the definition in several cases and left the wordplay for later. … Read more >>
Everyman 3268 – Arts & Literature Special?
A bit easier than the past few weeks, including lots of anagrams, but I hope your knowledge of the arts & literature is up to scratch with 2 plays (12ac, 5dn), a film … Read more >>
Azed 1929/Sunday 17th May
A regular Azed plain, which means of course that there are some very nice clues, as well as one or two that I’m not quite sure about. I’m away this Whitsun weekend, so … Read more >>
Azed 1928 – Raising the blood!
Halfway through moving to a new flat, and a welcome break from shredding paper and packing boxes. After the stresses of the Spoonerism puzzle the previous week, this was a nice … Read more >>
Everyman Crossword No. 3267 (May 10)
A couple of clues with parochial references (see 23 ac, 7 dn) put me off, but otherwise an enjoyable puzzle. I liked 1 ac especially. Across 1 OTHELLO – THE (the), LL (lines) in O … Read more >>
Azed 1927 – Spoonerisms
I knew this special was coming because, unusually, Azed told us about it in the monthly Slip from the previous competition. It’s a format that he invented, and it crops up from time … Read more >>
Everyman 3266
Definitely harder than the last one I blogged (2 weeks ago) and probably a little harder than last week. The surfaces here are impeccable pretty much throughout, and overall I felt this had … Read more >>
Azed – Spoonerism tips
Apart from the “definitions […] distorted by one Spoonerism” ones being much easier for me, and “don’t give up too easily – checking letters will help”, I don’t have a lot of helpful … Read more >>
Azed 1926
Solving time: about 1 hour Not too difficult, but not a giveaway. I worked without Chambers except for 10A, 18 and 3. Across 1 OBJECT=ai, LESS ON=more off. Pretty sure this was solved … Read more >>
Everyman Crossword No. 3265 (Apr 26)
Three clues 1ac, 1dn and especially 2dn, held me up for some minutes before I completed the crossword. Across 1 CHOP-SUEY – CHOP (cut into pieces), SUEY, rev. of YE (the old), US … Read more >>
Everyman 3264
As always, a well-clued easy puzzle particularly suited to newcomers to cryptic crosswords. I have reservations with 6dn in that it makes very little/no sense in its surface reading. As far as i … Read more >>
Azed 1925: a generous offering
I found this puzzle even easier than the previous week’s, mainly thanks to the grid. Although there are several words where the initial letter is unchecked, the overall checking is so generous that … Read more >>
Azed 1924: A morass of Morays
A pretty easy Azed for Easter. I didn’t time myself, but I reckon I got through this as quickly as I have ever completed an Azed. No clue particularly stands out, but I … Read more >>