Guardian Cryptic 26009 Philistine
Eff-ing inventive! Pardon my fanners but that’s feant to be high praise. The clues may not have been difficult, but the enjoyment was in deciphering the key clue. So in addition to all … Read more >>
Independent 8355 / Nestor
It’s Thursday so we expected a tricky solve……. There was some really good clueing which was not surprising, given that the setter was Nestor. However we were and still are, completely stumped by … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,365 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword/Jul 15 Gentle start of the FT week, this Dante puzzle. Although over all too soon, still enjoyable enough. Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate. Across 1 ASH BIN Refuse-collector maybe … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,364 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 13, 2013 I found this puzzle fairly easy and very satisfying. My favourite clue is 23A (DEFINITION) with runners up 28A (RELAY RACE), 29A (BEFUDDLE), … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,373 / Cinephile
Apologies for the late appearance of this post. PeeDee asked me to cover for him on the 10th and 16th but he should have been back today. Unfortunately I had some problems with my … Read more >>
Guardian 26,008 / Brendan
A pleasant surprise to find Brendan’s name on this puzzle, with another ingenious theme, succinctly indicated at 19 ac. I found the solving of this rather easier than usual for a Brendan but … Read more >>
Independent 8,354 / Dac
Dac is occupying the Wednesday slot again this week, as you might expect. Speaking to a fellow solver about Dac’s puzzles last week, he said that he always comes back to a puzzle … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1290: As the 1 Across Said by Wiglaf
The preamble stated “Each of 22 clues contains one word superfluous to the solving. The initial letters of these words form, in clue order, part of a quotation and its author. The other … Read more >>
Financial Times 14372 Armonie
This was tricky in parts – quite a few red-herrings posing as indicators. Got it in the end, and thanks to Tuesday regular Armonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at … Read more >>
Independent 8353 / Scorpion
This was a puzzle with a theme. The theme may not be common knowledge to everyone, especially those solvers from outside the United Kingdom. The wordplay however is fairly … Read more >>
Guardian 26,007 by Gordius
I always approach Gordius with a great deal of trepidation as he makes up for the lack of wit and humour with bits and pieces of obscurity that will tax the most patient … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 714 / Pan
A very pleasant puzzle from Pan, just right for a Quiptic. Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 12th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the wordplay are shown with … Read more >>
Independent 8352 by Alchemi
In terms of difficulty, this was somewhat akin to beating Australia at cricket – occasional bits of resistance but mostly a pushover. Having said that, there were some nicely written clues – I … Read more >>
Guardian 26,006 – Rufus
A very quick solve for me today, with Rufus’s characteristic abundance of double and cryptic definitions; and, as far as I can see, one completely non-cryptic definition. Across … Read more >>
Private Eye / Cyclops 499 – ID
How did I end up on a Sunday night an hour from the usual midnight deadline scrubbling together a blog for a puzzle I solved, and made notes for(!), over a week ago. … Read more >>