When I volunteered to fill in for PeeDee, I did not realize that I was down for the Guardian as well – nor, of course, that I would be served up with Cinephile and Arachne. I have managed to digest this embarras des richesses. I hope it sits well with me in the morning.
Guardian Cryptic N° 25,679 by Arachne
A masterly (mistressly?) offering from the Spider Lady.
Inquisitor 1235: Cogito Ergo Sum by Radix
A reasonably straightforward rubric for a change: Two unclued entries must be thematically modified to give two others, and an appropriate word in a dozen down clues must be treated likewise before the … Read more >>
Indepedent 8,024 / Radian
It is a while since I have solved or blogged a Radian, so I was relishing the challenge this morning. In light of my recent failures to spot Ninas, I was on my … Read more >>
Financial Times 14046 Neo
Apologies for my absence last week, and thanks to PeeDee for stepping in. In a nutshell, I was in hospital incommunicado/out of action following an emergency, and, as I learned after it was too … Read more >>
Guardian 25,678 – Paul
As I awoke most mornings this past few days, bleary-eyed from staying up late to watch sporting action from Wimbledon, I have to contend with two rascals (see picture left) from London who … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 659 Pan
Assuming that many Quiptic solvers are also Cryptic ones and considering that I won’t be blogging a Cryptic until next week, here are apologies to you for my absence last Thursday. I was … Read more >>
Independent 8023/Punk
Bonjour! Punk and I cross swords again on a Monday – in a friendly sort of way, of course. I loved this one, but I’m not sure everyone will be quite so keen … Read more >>
Guardian 25,677 / Rufus
A typical Monday miscellany of cryptic / double definitions, ingenious anagrams and smooth surfaces from Rufus to start our week. Many thanks to him. [Readers will no doubt be glad to hear this … Read more >>
Bachelor has no place in committed couple (4,3,4)
Thanks to David H for the clue, the answer to which is Race for Life, which I have already mentioned in my Cyclops blog. Now, with less than a week to go, it’s … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 108 / Brummie
So, six clues have the correct wordplay for the grid entry but the definition is that of a word or phrase formed by combining the grid entry with one of the unclued entries. … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1166/Tyrus
You know that stuff about buses? You wait ages for one to come along, and then two come one after another? I blogged my first Tyrus when he had the Monday slot a … Read more >>
Everyman N° 3,429 (24 June 2012)
This time Everyman’s vocabulary has returned to normal.
Azed 2090/French letters
A tale of two languages. I think this is one of the rare occasions in which all is understood (famous last words). Much credit is due my new shiny iPad with the Chambers … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 25,670 / Puck
Well, I’m certainly not complaining about this Prize puzzle not being challenging enough / being over too quickly! I had all the answers in on Saturday but it took a day or … Read more >>