I’m still finding it hard to get on Gemelo’s wavelength, though in retrospect there’s nothing to cause too much difficulty here, apart from some unfamiliar words (which are part of the fun of these puzzles, so no complaints there). Thanks to Gemelo for the challenge.
Observer
Everyman 4,127
The puzzle may be found at https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4127 in the interactive form and at https://cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20251123.pdf as a pdf.
Gemelo No. 15 – it could be verse
A nice crossword from Gemelo but probably not one of his most difficult. The construction is often quite simple and one just has to see it.
He has made a rod for his back by having the clues written in iambic pentameter with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This is very clever and must have made it quite difficult for him, but I can’t see the point. The solver is in just the same position as normal; all the extra difficulty is with the setter: one can admire his ingenuity but doesn’t have to do anything special.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Anagram indicators indicated (like this)*.
Everyman 4,126, 16 November
An enjoyable outing from Everyman
Gemelo No. 14 – plain
A plain puzzle from Gemelo this week.
Everyman 4,125/9 November
The usual pleasing cryptic from Everyman. Nothing to frighten the horses, which is as it should be.
Everyman 4,124
I thought this was good but on the hard side for an Everyman and some clues held me up for quite a while. There are the usual Everyman extras which are highlighted in the grid. Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in olive.
Azed 2772
This Observer barred puzzle was published on the first Sunday of November, so under the new arrangements it is set by Azed as a plain competition offering.
Gemelo No. 13 – Plain
Stepping back from last week’s anagrammatic convolutions, this week’s “plain” Gemelo seemed relatively straightforward by comparison. Completion of the grid was helped considerably by solving the four perimeter clues.
Everyman 4,123
The puzzle may be found at https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4123 in interactive form, or https://cdn.slowdownwiseup.co.uk/media/documents/obs.everyman.20251026.pdf as a PDF.
Everyman 4,122
A mostly straightforward Sunday stroll last week.
Gemelo No. 12 – For a Change
Special instructions for this puzzle were:
Each clue gives, in any order:
(i) definition of the entry;
(ii) definition of an anagram of the entry;
(iii) wordplay for that anagram
Everyman 4,121/12 October
All the usual trademarks present in this week’s Everyman, accompanied by an apology from me for a slightly late blog.
Gemelo 11
I continue to find Gemelo quite a challenge, and I think this was one of the hardest yet, with several clues taking me a while to parse even after I was confident of … Read more >>
Everyman 4,120
A pleasant Everyman this week.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.