Never knowingly undersolved
A wealth of wit, a soupçon of smut, and a cracking cruciverbal Monday morning. Mr Halpern’s moseyed into town. After the trauma of finding that I had to blog Anax a few weeks … Read more >>
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus – say no more! Across 1 POINTLESS: double definition 6 COPE: OP [work] in CE [Church of England] 8 COLOSSUS: LOSS [no profit] in [is taken] CO [firm] … Read more >>
It was my privilege to blog Tramp’s first published puzzle (I think) which appeared in this series six months ago (Genius 91). Since then he has published non-prize cryptics in the Guardian (and … Read more >>
Sunday afternoon means a pint (or two!) and the IOS crossword. So here’s Glow-worm from last week. Can anyone help with the wordplay for 14a ? thanks Sil I see we have a … Read more >>
Pretty straightforward this week. Some very clever surface readings eg 28 and 31 across. ACROSS 1 Fools rolled back ceiling formerly blocking the light STARPROOF PRATS< ROOF 11 Old colleague mostly satisfied … Read more >>
Didn’t find this very easy. With at least one wordplay not completely decoded. Wasn’t helped by what appears to be a typo in 1D. Across 1 FAT,WA[y] 8 K,ABAB – rev(baba=cake) 13 RU(R,[t]ITANIA)N … Read more >>
A fairly straightforward puzzle from Everyman this week, with a profusion of anagrams and simple charades, and nothing too obscure save, perhaps, 2 down. Across 1 PASTEURISE *PARTS IE USE 6 SCAR Hidden … Read more >>
I haven’t looked at an EV for the best part of four months but when the scheduled blogger wrote to me to say that he had been unable to solve this one I … Read more >>
I started off at a canter with this one from the bottom right, but slowed to a stop after 30 mins with just over half in place. A re-start saw 1A fall … Read more >>
I thought this was rather on the easy side for a Paul crossword, especially a prize one. The number of double definitions [eight!] was more typical of a Rufus puzzle but there were … Read more >>
The usual very neat offering from Phi. Many of the clues are simple in construction, but nevertheless are efficiently done and of a high standard; and they are not immediately obvious. Because of … Read more >>
One for the beginners today, with more double definitions than is usual for Mudd or most other setters. For me a very easy solve with nearly all of the answers being entered on … Read more >>
The first time I have had a Paul to blog, and it did not disappoint, unless perhaps by being over too quickly – good for the blog if not for savouring the challenge.
This is my debut Guardian Cryptic. Hence, this preamble to a preamble, in case you’re wondering why the detailedness… I’m going on the basis that the 15sq’d motto means “… and never knowingly … Read more >>
A Financial Times crossword for Financial Times readers, today… which rather left me up a certain creek without a certain implement. An ingenious finance theme throughout, coupled with what I felt was some … Read more >>