Everyman 3338 (19 Sept.)
Arthur is having problems with his computer so I am standing in this week. For me this was a gentle Sunday morning warm-up prior to the stiffer challenges of Azed. The only clue … Read more >>
Azed 1999
With the exception of one or two answers that are still beyond me, I found this very much the usual Azed, with good sound wordplay. Much wading through Chambers: Azed always seems to … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,074 (19/09/10)
Almost an unaided finish this week, albeit with a couple of slips, and I wasn’t quite brave enough to guess 24dn without a bit of research. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double … Read more >>
Guardian 25,119 (Sat 18 Sep)/Brummie – Spice girls
Solving time: 8½ mins This puzzle was themed on the nursery rhyme about little boys being made of frogs and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails and little girls of sugar and spice and all … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations 932 / Myth on Pariah by Charybdis
Unless I have missed something, always a possibility, I think there is a (minor) flaw in one of the thematic groups (see below). The initial (clued) grid fill was relatively quick and straightforward thanks to … Read more >>
Independent 7465 by Tyrus – Saturday Prize Puzzle 18 September 2010
I solved most of this on a long car journey and didn’t find it too difficult once the long answer at 14/29/1D had fallen. I liked the surface for TRAVAIL and TREATMENT, and … Read more >>
Independent 7470/Phi
As usual, an utterly satisfactory crossword from Phi. There are some less than A-list place names, but before anyone complains they should remember that Phi lives in New Zealand, so he has as … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,499 / Orense
A transportation-themed crossword from Orense, with clues as well as solutions covering the spectrum from airplanes to bicycles. Nice and gentle to solve. No obscure vocabulary – a commendable feat for a themed … Read more >>
Guardian 25,124 – Gordius
Many happy returns, Gordius. I got into this quickly then struggled with the last few clues. Still unsure about some wordplay, and 24dn was a new word for me. 8 and 25 made … Read more >>
Independent 7469 by Nimrod
Well I suppose I was due a tough one and in my view this was hard with several I can’t justify. There is a perimeter Nina whose significance I can’t see either. All … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,498 / Falcon
Much of this flowed pretty readily from an instantly-solved 1A. Ended up with a slight lack of “20-20” vision, as I was unfamiliar with the answers at 20A and 20D; both were generously … Read more >>
Guardian 25,123 – Paul
It’s been a good Guardian week so far, and Paul continues the pattern with this entertaining puzzle. There were a few particularly easy clues to give a good start, and the rest weren’t … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,489 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 13 September 2010 Welcome back, Dante to this familiar spot. As expected, a fun-filled easy stroll to start off the FT week; except possibly for a couple of hard-boiled … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,488 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 11 Here’s another clever Cincinnus puzzle. Some of the clues seem so easy (to construct, that is), even fairly obvious clues for the words in … Read more >>
Independent 7,468 by Dac
It’s never a hardship to blog a Dac, but I thought this one in particular was a bit of a classic. There’s some really inspired stuff in there. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>