Never knowingly undersolved
This blog has been delayed a week due to the threat of postal strikes around the normal submission time. Consequently many of you will probably have forgotten about the puzzle. The grid was one … Read more >>
Apologies for yet another late Thursday blog. I found this something of a Punk 19a (mixed bag), a couple of good &lits (particularly 20d), some decent surfaces (eg 23a & 25a) but also … Read more >>
I’ve had a run of Araucaria recently, and was hit by a pang of fear when I saw how many clues referred to 11ac today. However, once that clue fell I relaxed as … Read more >>
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I don't recall blogging a Punk for some time, though maybe that's for the best as I can rarely get to grips with them! This … Read more >>
Solving time, 18 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 5 S (PARR)OWS 7 Itch A MB I(1) Feet of a line of poetry 11 H ONE STY 12 AMEN pleaseD ED … Read more >>
Monday Prize Crossword on 2 November 2009 dd = double definition dud = duplicate definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden … Read more >>
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of October 31 The copy I downloaded from the FT’s Web site claims this is a Cincinnus puzzle. Did the print version say that too? (Most weeks … Read more >>
A relatively straightforward puzzle by Cinephile standards with a legal theme in a number clues. I rather liked ‘cave’ in 19d being indicated by ‘old people’s home’ and one or two other clues … Read more >>
A tour-de-force of linked clues and clever wordplay from Brendan that is exceptional even by his high standards. Unfortunately I’ve had to solve and blog this in rather a hurry before catching an … Read more >>
I’d expected something to do with Remembrance Day, but no, Dac as usual and up to his usual standard; however, when is he ever not up to his usual standard? This seemed to … Read more >>
Some pleasantly tricky clues from Neo today. Across 1 PLASTIC SURGEON *(SUSPECTING ORAL) 10 HOGAN HOG (pig) AN (one). The reference, of course, is to Hogan’s Heroes. I can still hear the theme … Read more >>
Extremely impressive by Nimrod. Fitting about a dozen examples of the themed answer LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE into the grid. Made very little progress till I worked out that thematic answer after about 20 … Read more >>
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram A delightful puzzle centred around GAME (answer … Read more >>
Starting the week off with Rufus. A typical enjoyable Rufus crossword with a high number of cryptic definitions. Across 8 SICK NOTE: anagram of TICKS ONE 9 LARVA: R in LAVA (burning issue) … Read more >>
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism This was an excellent puzzle celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall. There were some tough clues but the presence of a theme which … Read more >>