Beelzebub 1,242
I do enjoy Beelzebub’s very occasional forays into thematic/special instructions territory, and it perhaps wasn’t a huge surprise to find just such a puzzle on the Sunday before Christmas. We were told that … Read more >>
Everyman 3507/December 22
A seasonal offering from Everyman. As always, a pleasure to solve and blog. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,497 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Dec 16 My last blog of 2013 and yes, surprise surprise, a Dante! On the day this blog goes online I’m outside the UK (yes, do have a guess 🙂 ). And so, dear … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,496 by Bradman
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 14, 2013 This is a mischievous crossword with an undisclosed wordplay element common to the four double-slotted clues 5-6, 10-12, 23-28 and 25-26. These all … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,505 / Alberich
One of the advantages of standing in for someone who is away on holiday is that I get to cover one of my favourite setters. That said, I found this to be one … Read more >>
Guardian 26,141 – Brendan
Most very straightforward clueing from Brendan today, which is perhaps welcome in post-Christmas period… …but as we know there’s always a theme in a Brendan puzzle, and it wasn’t obvious this time, at … Read more >>
Independent 8,487 / Phi
It seems only appropriate that Phi should occupy his usual slot on this final Friday of 2013. Personally speaking, I am glad to have been able to work with a printed version of … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1312: Shortfall by Phi
It’s a while since I blogged one of Phi‘s puzzles. And before I start, let me wish everyone a happy festive season – I’ll be trekking & camping in the Anti-Atlas (so no … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26140 Chifonie
An easy-going puzzle to accompany your recuperation after the festivities. Thanks to Chifonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle. Please enclose any … Read more >>
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 >>