Guardian 24,981 (Sat 10 April)/Shed – China faff
Solving time: 25 mins, 2 missing (11ac, 2dn) After blitzing the bottom half of this I thought I was on for a very fast time but then came to a grinding halt. ROACH … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 909 – Three Graces by Rustic
Although I got to the ‘bottom’ of the theme quite quickly, the second variation had me chasing my own tail, and even barking up the wrong tree, for a while. But(t), it was … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1120 – Name the … by Phi
This was a pretty straightforward puzzle except for locating the last piece of thematic material to highlight in the grid – I’d guess that two thirds of the clues could be solved quite … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,361 / Viking
An elegant puzzle from Viking as always. Especially liked 1A, 27A and 1D, and 6D for its fun surface. Across 1 COURTING CO (company) URGING (insisting) + T (time) – G (Golf in … Read more >>
Guardian 24,986 – Brendan
My limited knowledge of a certain group of people and the works of one its members was exercised by Brendan today in a typically clever and enjoyable puzzle, with just one slight weakness … Read more >>
Independent 7332 / Phi
Good morning! This was a real beat-the-clock job as we have to go to work! So apologies for anything we’ve missed or not explained adequately. Typically well-constructed Phi puzzle with lots of smooth … Read more >>
Independent 7327 (Sat 10 Apr) Scorpion – Brotherly Love?
No Nina or theme that I can see despite the perimeter of grids like this often being used for such purposes. But then I often miss them. For instance I was blissfully unaware … Read more >>
Independent 7331 / Mass
It’s been three months since we last saw Mass but again he has come up with a themed puzzle that provided a great deal of enjoyment, at least once 8A/2 had been solved. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,985 (Puck)
Second last time out I had Puck also. No surprise then to find some tricky wordplay. I enjoyed this once I got going but I had the feeling this could have been a … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1052 by Quixote 11th April 2010
Once again, we did most of this in good time, but then needed a second session to get the last few. We filled this one out while sitting in Cleaver Square in Kennington … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,360 / Alberich
A fairly quick solving time, at least relative to the previous Alberich vs Smiffy head-to-head form-book. As usual, plenty of hallmark precision engineering (or should that be precision artistry?) in evidence. 3D, 8D, … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,351 – Dante
Monday Prize Crossword on 5 April 2010 Once again, we get back our Monday mainstay, Dante who never fails to entertain us with his slick and smooth surfaces and his cryptic definitions (which … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,350 by Cinephile
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 3 I enjoyed this Cinephile puzzle, especially 23A and 1&2D. I do not fully understand 18D. Across 1. NOSE JOB – NOSE (snoop) + JOB … Read more >>
Independent 7330 by Dac
I found this very easy, solving time 13 mins. anagram = * reversed = < ACROSS 1 SPECKS Kid in SPECS 5 TELEMANN German composer who I’d not heard of but managed to … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,359 / Cinephile
Some unusually easy clues in today’s puzzle from Cinephile, offset by a couple that needed something a bit more than general knowledge. I found it a relatively gentle start to the morning. The … Read more >>