Independent 8012/Tees
An excellent workout from Tees today. The theme is the long clue 3/22/9/20, and the unchecked letters on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the grid, which I saw fairly early in the … Read more >>
Financial Times 14034 Peto
Firstly thanks to flashling for standing in for me last week. This week it’s another Tuesday puzzle by Peto (so far all his/hers have been blogged by yours truly). Not exactly a pushover, … Read more >>
Guardian 25,666 Brummie
Brummie set out to do something unusual but the result was not all that inspiring, probably due to awkward Down words, forcing him to abandon after two down clues. The word SET is … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25665 Rufus
Thanks Rufus for another enjoyable, not too difficult start to the week. (Apologies to all for late posting – incredibly slow connection today.) Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[Each picture at the … Read more >>
Independent 8011 by Eimi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was a slightly odd puzzle with lots of short words. There were lots of nice, inventive clues and I’m sure there must be … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic N° 657, by Moley
Moley gives us a pleasant variety of devices clueing mostly familiar word – which fills the Quiptic description very adequately. Across 7. Tribunal to convey suit (9) COURTSHIP A charace of COURT (‘tribunal’) … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1,164/Hypnos
The 2nd Hypnos puzzle on the trot for me. This was just as good as the last one, though a bit harder as it took me two attempts to finish it off. Very … Read more >>
Everyman 3427/10 June 2012
Late on parade, for which apologies. I did forget, since you ask, so the blog is a bit rushed. Another fine puzzle from Everyman, with one or two old chestnuts – but as … Read more >>
Azed 2088
I found this pretty hard for a plain Azed, with an above-average number of unfamiliar words. I got 10dn and 35ac early on, and found myself working up to the top left corner … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 1021: Blown Off Course by Jaques
I started this puzzle only a couple of days shy of this blog being due, so I was beginning to panic. The clues sounded relatively straightforward, with only seven misprints to be found. … Read more >>
Independent 8,004 by Radian (Saturday Prize Puzzle, 09/06/12)
Radian’s themed crossword puzzles are always entertaining, and tend to involve a very thorough treatment of the theme. This week’s revolves around various interpretations of the entry at 10ac. I’ve never watched the … Read more >>
Guardian Prize No 25,658 by Paul
No editorial mistakes this week, with a themed puzzle which was, I felt, below Paul’s usual very high standards. The theme was plays by Alan Ayckbourn, and while this offered a wide choice, … Read more >>
Independent 8,009 / Phi
It is Friday today so, in the absence of any special occasion calling for a commemorative puzzle, it must be a Phi-day! I took longer over this one than I do over the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,663 / Paul
I found this a bit of a struggle, but richly rewarding – Paul at his best and worthy of a Prize puzzle. There are some real gems here, in a cleverly-woven mini-theme – … Read more >>
Financial Times 14,031 by Orense
Straightforward and fair – ? over 26 across Across 1 STICK INSECTS (bugs) what flypaper does 10 OUTRAGE (offend) OUT (not in) RAGE (anger) 11 RISOTTO (Italian dish) SIR< (teacher … Read more >>