This puzzle can be found at https://observer.co.uk/puzzles/everyman/article/everyman-no-4130
Observer
Gemelo 18
We have a plain puzzle form Gemelo this week in The Observer
Azed No. 2,773 Plain – Competition Puzzle
I feel privileged to have received an Azed puzzle for my turn at this blog.
Everyman 4,129/7 December
Another pleasing puzzle from Everyman with the usual trademark clues. I have the sense from comments in recent weeks that some of our solvers outside the UK are having difficulty accessing the Everyman puzzle, but I hope they have found a way round that so that they can contribute their thoughts on this one.
Gemelo No. 17 – plain
A plain puzzle from Gemelo.
Everyman 4,128
Since Everyman is in general so Ximenean I’m surprised that he allows the grid to contain two entries with less than 50% checking. But they’re long ones and perhaps it’s not really that important. The crossword as a whole was mostly very satisfactory, with the usual characteristics, which are highlighted in the grid, until I came to a little group (described below) where I found it hard to finish. I have done, but hope I’ll be told how these clues really work, for I’m not convinced.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Gemelo 16
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.
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.