Site Maintenance
I undertook some site maintenance work over the weekend which involved clearing out redundant items from the database. In the process, it appears that a few posts have been closed to further comments. … Read more >>
Independent 7502 by Merlin
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism Continuing the recent run of themed puzzles in the Indy, this one contained a number of literary adulteresses. It was quite easy to get … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1080 by Quixote – 24th October 2010
A gentler puzzle this week than last, with nothing to frighten the horses. 12ac was a real delight, and made us think for a while about the precision of wording needed in cryptic … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3343 (24th October)
Lorraine: We were on a coach trip to London when solving this weeks puzzle, and oddly enough passed Ludgate Hill. I managed to work out 15d but could not put it in until … Read more >>
Azed 2004
Another Azed that I managed to complete almost all of quite quickly without references, though with some educated guesswork based on many years of finding obscure words in Chambers. Still, it’s none the … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,079 (24/10/10)
I found this to be the toughest Beelzebub for some time, and I had only a handful solved before reaching for various aids. I think it was just the vocab that was my … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,078 (17/10/10)
The pattern for me recently seems to be to make a good start and then get really, really stuck on the last couple of clues. This again happened here, with the NE corner … Read more >>
Independent 7495 (Sat 23-Oct) Nestor
The Indy’s Prize schedule and the blogging calendar have lately coincided so that more often than not I end up with Nestor. I find his crosswords a bit easier than the likes of … Read more >>
Guardian 25,149 (Sat 23 Oct)/Biggles – Jerk of fate
Solving time: 23 mins, one mistake (1dn) This tough puzzle was a mix of good and bad, with some really clever wordplay devices and elegant surfaces intermingled with clues for which the cryptic … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 937 – Upheaval by Raich
With ‘pencil recommended, at first’ and ‘upheaval’ threatened, I braced myself for some serious re-engineering of the grid post-solving…but in the end there was a relatively simple, but cleverly constructed, twist to the tale… … Read more >>
Independent 7500 / Anax
As usual from Anax, an enjoyable solve but for the first time I have a few quibbles about one of his puzzles (though this may be down to my not understanding the relevant … Read more >>
Independent 7,500/Anax – Sub needed
I couldn’t get a paper on the way to work this morning and I’m now doubtful of getting a lunch break too, so if anybody could step into the breach with a quick … Read more >>
Financial Times 13529 / Mudd
A pleasant solve. For me the right side fell first, then the bottom left and finally the top left. We do see a couple of ‘humorously entertaining’ clues for which this setter is … Read more >>
Guardian 25,154 – Logodaedalus
I can repeat almost verbatim the remarks I made about the Auster puzzle that I blogged last week: we haven’t seen Logodaedalus for a while, and this was a very easy puzzle with … Read more >>
Independent 7499/Klingsor
Klingsor is a fairly recent addition to The Independent team and I know I’ve done his crosswords before, but I couldn’t remember what they were like and didn’t know what to expect. This … Read more >>