Guardian Quiptic 610 / Nutmeg
I have managed to avoid reviewing earlier Quiptics by Nutmeg. This was far too difficult for a supposedly easy puzzle and I derived very little pleasure from solving it. I’m sure that some … Read more >>
Guardian 25,383 / Brendan
I am standing in this morning for Andrew who is unavailable. I suppose I was expecting a puzzle from Rufus this morning, but as we see, this is an offering from Brendan. It … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,117 (17/07/2011)
A fairly tough week, I found. Completed this in several bouts over the course of the week, finally hitting the books in order to get the puzzle blogged today. I can’t quite see … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1118: Crosophile
Abject apologies again for the delay — knowing all the other pressures on my time over the past week, I should really have organised a swap for this one; but I thought I’d … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3381 (17th July)
Lorraine: Good morning all, I hope you enjoyed this weeks offering as much as myself. Nothing taxing this week for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this crossword. Favourites were 12, 14, 17 and 26ac and … Read more >>
Azed 2042
The usual good crossword from Azed. It took me much the same time as I always take, which suggests that it wasn’t particularly difficult, but with all the endless thumbing of Chambers so … Read more >>
Guardian Prize Puzzle No 25,376 by Araucaria
With help from my friend Timon, this took us less than an hour to complete, although getting started took me longer than usual. No particular theme (as far as I can see) but the … Read more >>
Independent 7722 by Tyrus (Saturday prize puzzle 16th July 2011)
What has Tyrus in store for us? A very topical puzzle indeed considering the antics of the gutter press and those who inhabit the gutters that the general public seem to find so … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No 975 58,91 by Syd Lexis
Well what a preamble – redundant letters spell out a phrase concerning one of the puzzle’s numbers. Then it entered the world of Edward Lear, in my opinion – I’ll save decoding its … Read more >>
Independent 7727 by Phi
It’s Friday so it must be Phi. Usual good stuff and for me a pretty quick solve certainly under 20 minutes without really trying. No obvious (to me at least!) theme here. As … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,752 / Loroso
I found this a shade easier than Loroso’s usual to start with but ground to a halt towards the end. 10a, 14a, 20a, 21d took considerable time. The linked clues 17d and 3d … Read more >>
Guardian 25,381 / Bonxie
A nice puzzle from Bonxie. I found the top half of this puzzle remarkably hard, although on writing the post I can’t quite see why. Across 1. HERITAGE IT in HER AGE = … Read more >>
Financial Times No. 13,751 by FALCON
No nasty surprises from Falcon this morning; a nice neat puzzle, spoiled only slightly by some weak charades and a couple of questionable synonyms. And I learned a new word, which is always … Read more >>
Independent 7,726 / Nestor
A double first for me today: this was the first time that it has fallen to me to solve and blog a Nestor puzzle AND I think that it is the first time … Read more >>
Guardian 25,380 / Araucaria
Certainly the toughest challenge of the week so far, with some typically Araucarian liberties which will be a step too far for some. I’ll say no more at this stage! Across 1 DECLARE: … Read more >>