Independent 8194 / Phi

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This was an entertaining puzzle from Phi  including some of his regular geographic allusions.       Phi is a compiler based in Wellington, New Zealand and often includes flora and fauna native … Read more >>

Independent 8193/Rorschach

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A crossword today from Rorschach that I at any rate found particularly hard, not helped by its thrice vanishing into the ether so that I had to restart.  Some of the clues are … Read more >>

Guardian 25,847 – Gordius

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Found this trickier than usual from Gordius, but very enjoyable. Favourite clues 12ac, 26ac and 1dn. Across 1 MONGREL =”unrefined types” hidden in “aMONG RELatively” 5 KAISER =”emperor” KA (Ford model) + IS … Read more >>

Financial Times no.14,214 by Loroso

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Goodness, I had a struggle with this. Loroso’s extensive vocabulary (or, perhaps, my limited vocabulary), a few misleading indicators (sandwiches, pockets) and a general brain-failure on my part combined to make this one … Read more >>

Financial Times 14,204 – Crux

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Monday Prize Crossword/Jan 7 A Crux puzzle which – rather unusual for this setter – had quite a few cross references. An overall enjoyable solve, but not one of Crux’s very best. Ah … Read more >>

Financial Times 14,212 by IO

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Quite tricky but with a couple of easy starters to get me going, thanks IO. I really messed this up, first by mistakenly writing the solution to 4dn in the grid at 10dn, … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic N° 25,846 by Paul

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The crossword may be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/crosswords/cryptic/25846 for as long as it is archived. I had quite a struggle with Paul’s wit and ingenuity in this one. It was not made any the … Read more >>

Financial Times 14211 Armonie

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A very slightly harder Armonie today, but good.  Thanks Armonie.  I noted the number of repeated words in the clues: “beer”(1a/12a), “girl”(14a/21a), “speed”(11a/22a), “knight”(2d/4d), “number”(7d/8d), “nothing”(11a/28a), and wondered if it was deliberate?  If … Read more >>

Guardian 25,845 – Bonxie

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Quite a smart work-out this morning but having some problems parsing a couple of clues. Across 1 APPEAL Shock inclusion of exiled premier brings call for dismissal (6) Ins of E (first letter … Read more >>

Independent 8190 by Punk

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Challenging and really entertaining – need help explaining 26 across         Across 8 IDLE out of a job (Eric – Monty Python) 9 CHATELAINE mistress of castle CHAT (talk) ELAINE … Read more >>

Guardian 25,844 / Chifonie

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It’s Chifonie, rather than Rufus, who’s providing today’s customary ‘gentle start’ to the week, with plenty of anagrams and charades but no cryptic definitions, as far as I can see  – and a … Read more >>