Independent 8486 / Eimi
Eimi compiles the jumbo General Knowledge puzzle in the Independent on Saturdays. This standard puzzle also required a wide knowledge of many fields. Given that today is Boxing Day, it … Read more >>
Financial Times 14504 Gaff
Firstly, Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year to all. Not an easy one from Gaff today, especially his cryptic caption, which, even after much time trying to decipher, has completely eluded me. Thanks to … Read more >>
Guardian 26,139 / Paul
An enjoyable puzzle, with, thankfully, nothing too tricky – apart from one bit of parsing, which took me a while – for a busy day. There are quite a few anagrams, which is … Read more >>
Independent 8485 / Hypnos
The last crossword before Christmas Day so perhaps not too surprisingly, three of the clues refer to ‘seasonal songs’! The three thematic entries are however a rather intriguing selection. There are also (possibly unintended?) … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 736/Beale
We don’t see Beale Quiptics very often. This struck me as a sound puzzle, but there were one or two where it took me some time to see the parsing. … Read more >>
Independent 8,484 by Monk
My last blog for the year and it’s a Monk, you know you’ve got your work cut out with him. I found this quite tricky in places, but I think it’s all done, … Read more >>
Guardian 26,138 by Rufus
A gentle festive offering from Rufus. Lots of smiles, especially at 12ac, 5dn and 6dn. Across 1 Stocking up time (9) CHRISTMAS Cryptic definition – a time for hanging up stockings 6 Wise … Read more >>
Cyclops 510: Fruity twerking
Apologies if this appears twice [it didn’t] — the new interface on the website is not behaving as I expected it to. Finally got round to writing this blog as I emerge from … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,241
Quite a solve of two halves for me this week. In the first sitting I managed a grand total of one clue solved, the very accessible 20ac. I may just have been tired … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,243 by Raich
After drawing a long run of Sunday Hypnos puzzles, I thought I must have got my calendar in a twist when I opened the paper to find a puzzle from our old friend … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3506 (15th December)
Lorraine: Good morning to you all, It is nice to be back and finally have the time to do my beloved Everyman. I enjoyed this weeks puzzle immensely having not done it for several … Read more >>
Azed 2167
What we get every time with Azed — sound clues and a lot of wading through Chambers. They are always soluble in the end, although 1dn defeats me. I’m sure if this was a competition … Read more >>
Independent 8477 (Sat 14-Dec 2013) Hieroglyph
Oh here we go – a new setter – straight in at the prize slot – we’re in trouble now. Bound to be someone as tricky as a troop of tamarins, keen to challenge … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 1100: Compère by Oxymoron
The EV series clocks up another hundred on the mileometer and, due to the rotation of the four current bloggers, I am the lucky one to mark the occasion (as I was with EV1000 … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle 26,131 by Paul
Fine fare from Paul as we have come to expect. A medium level of difficulty and a varied set of clues, nowhere did I get the feeling that Paul is repeating himself. Quite … Read more >>