A quite enjoyable Everyman this week
Beelzebub 1,285
Quite a tough week, and I struggled to finish things off. In fact I failed to do so, because 29 across has me beaten. There seem to be many options in Chambers, though … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,287 by Poins
I think this is the fourth Sunday blog in a row that I’ve drawn Poins, or vice versa. No complaints from me there. As usual, this one seemed very smooth indeed, with everything … Read more >>
Azed 2211
As ever, a well constructed puzzle from Azed. There are a couple of clues where I am not entirely sure of the wordplay, indeed for 16 across [SEMPER] I really … Read more >>
Independent Crossword 8740 by Anax (18-10-2014)
Another Saturday Anax – how devious will this one be clued? I would say definitely up to his usual high standard of subterfuge. The nice thing about an Anax puzzle is the answer … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26,394 by Paul
More of the good stuff from Paul, inventive and irreverant as usual.
Guardian 26,399 / Paul
A pretty straightforward but very enjoyable puzzle from Paul. In a lot of cases, I got the answer immediately, from the definition – leaving some interesting wordplay to work out. Then again, there … Read more >>
Independent 8745 / Phi
As happens most Fridays in The Independent, the puzzle is set by Phi. There are a number of pairs of Christian names in this puzzle – all the four pairs … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,761 / Bradman
Bradman has been appearing regularly on a Friday in recent months so it didn’t come as a surprise to see him today. As is generally the norm with this setter, there was nothing … Read more >>
Independent 8,744 by Klingsor
I always enjoy Klingsor’s crosswords. They provide quite a 26a but all is fair and amusing and one can always explain the clues afterwards: indeed, judging by the number of answers written down for me to look at and work out the parsing, the answers are often ahead of their explanation.
There may well be a Nina here but, surprise surprise, it’s quite lost on me. There looked as if there might possibly be a pangram, but some letters are missing. With these rather demanding crosswords I’m always so relieved to complete them that the final flourish is beyond me.
Definitions underlined.
Financial Times no.14,760 by Orense
The customary class act from Orense.
Guardian 26,398 by Pasquale
Fun and very tough, this took me ages. Got stuck in the bottom left, and my last ones in were unfamiliar words guessed and checked…
Financial Times 14,751 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword/Oct 13 Another elegantly clued crossword from Crux. No blog without one or two discussion points, however nothing to be upset about. Smooth start of the week for which thanks to … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,750 by Magwitch
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 4, 2014 I am getting used to Magwitch’s cluing style and managed to complete this puzzle more quickly than the earlier ones I blogged. I … Read more >>