Independent 7,552/Anax
This was something of a tour de force from Anax. It was also incredibly difficult! On an initial read-through of all the clues – which was something of a necessity as I wasn’t … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,580 / Sleuth
Smiffy has been caught up in the aftermath of the recent blizzards in the US and is still trying to get home after his Christmas break so you will have to put up … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,573 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 20 December 2010 Crux delighted us with this selection which included some creative and amusing cryptic definitions. There are also a few devices which I have not seen before. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,206 – Pasquale
A welcome return for Pasquale after nearly two months’ absence. The Christmas gremlins are still crawling around the Guardian site, meaning this puzzle was available 24 hours early, so I had plenty of … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,572 by Mudd
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 18 Another fine Mudd with, what was for me, a slightly difficult top-right corner. My favourite clues here are 13A (AFORESAID), 28A (NO FEAR) and … Read more >>
Independent 7551/Dac
Dac goes on and on, week after week producing crosswords full of clues with smooth surfaces and apart from one or two very small niggles below, a high standard throughout. I found this … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,579 / Armonie
Armonie usually appears on a Tuesday so I wasn’t expecting him today, though perhaps I should have done since there was no puzzle on Monday and yesterday we had a Dante prize puzzle. … Read more >>
Guardian 25205 by Araucaria How the Monkey Puzzle….
{This is just to hide the spoiler} … … … ….got his prickles. Vintage Araucaria – highly allusive, a wide range of references, numerous liberties, a delight as well as a struggle to … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,087 (19/12/10)
Judging by the mess I’ve made of the grid, I must have found this one pretty tough going. Having said that, on blogging there doesn’t appear to be anything particular troublesome in there. … Read more >>
Independent 7550 by Math
Math today, don’t often see but pleasantly solvable. Eric and Ernie theme today Across 1 PREVIEW (VIP WE’RE)* 5 PORTICO OR in PT + 1 + CO 9 ERNIE N in ERIE 10 … Read more >>
Guardian 25204 Chifonie … Of Castro, Cricket and Curates
Pardon the later-than-usual appearance of the Tuesday blog. The Christmas revelry continues. Chifonie gave us an almost painless puzzle with delightful bits here and there. Most entertaining. ACROSS 1 UNNAMED *(MUNDANE) 5 MASTIFF … Read more >>
Independent 7549 by Scorpion
This was hard as Scorpion often is, so well-chosen by the Indy for a Holiday Monday, got there in the end, solving time, 62 mins. * = anagram ACROSS 6 SN (bridge partners) … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 580 by Nutmeg
It might have been post-Crimbo lethargy on my part, but I found this hard going in places, with some convoluted clues and a term I’d never heard of before. However, there were some … Read more >>
Guardian 25,203 / Brendan
I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I’m afraid this is a very rushed post due to family commitments – I’m sorry I didn’t have more time to enjoy this one. An excellent … Read more >>
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