Guardian 24,395 – Araucaria
Wow! What a plum assignment for me today when I blog Rev John Graham, OBE, whom I have admired from afar for years. Solving is one thing but explaining all the wordplay and … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,764 by Mudd
Mudd gave me a very satisfying challenge this week. I especially like 13A, 20A, 24A, 6D and 18D. I found 4A tricky; I guessed the answer quickly but took a while to figure … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,765 – Crux
From Prize Puzzle 12,765 Monday 12 May 2008 Overall, quite a do-able puzzle for a Monday morning in spite of the fact that there was really only one anagram clue (14Down). A typical … Read more >>
Independent 6738/Dac
Dac’s typically good offering, but, unusually, one or two clues about which I am a bit doubtful. Across 1 CASABLANCA – ca s(ailing) a B (canal)* 6 SWOP – (POWS)rev. 9 LEGI(R)ON. I know … Read more >>
Guardian 24,393 (Puck)
This caused me some trouble with two clues solved but unexplained. Across 9 NORWEGIAN: anagram of WEARING NO 10 ANNIE: hidden in bemoAN NIEtzsche 11 CAPTAIN: A P (a page) in anagram of … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,773 – Io
A most entertaining puzzle Across 1 WHINGE Charade of W (women) HINGE (joint) 4 CINNABAR C (clubs) insertion of A between INN & BAR (pubs) 9 AMAZON Insertion of AZ (limits of the … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,722 / by Quark
I am rather late today as the real world caught up with me this morning. I could not give undivided attention to this crossword. I must admit that I had a slow start … Read more >>
Independent 6737/Monk
Across 1 PAL,(NIMROD)*,E – “sees” is an example of a PALINDROME. 9 ANT,AR(C)TIC,A – “artic” is short for articulated lorry. 12 CONSTITUTION – I know this is right because I checked it using … Read more >>
Guardian 24393/Paul
This is my last regular blog of daily puzzle here at Fifteensquared. I have enjoyed the last 18 months very much and it was great to be in on things at the beginning … Read more >>
Independent 6736 by Hypnos
Enjoyable puzzle, that I found easier than usual, solving time 15 mins. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS 1 RUM PUS sup< 5 SABO TAG E (ASBO)* 9 FORTUNE COOKIE (I reckon … Read more >>
Guardian 24392 – Rufus
My usual convention * = anagram “” = homophone cd = cryptic definition dd = double definition ha = hidden answer rha = reversed hidden answer Contrary to expectation, Rufus managed to stump … Read more >>
Azed 1876/Plain sailing
When I’ve finished writing this blog up, I’m going to count how many Scots terms there were in clues and answers — seemed like a lot but in any event this is going … Read more >>
FINANCIAL TIMES no. 12,769 Set by AARDVARK
FINANCIAL TIMES No: 12,769 set by AARDVARK May 16, 2008 Most of this puzzle was quite straightforward, but I came unstuck on 16A and 14D.. I have made an attempt at them but … Read more >>
Guardian 24,385 (Sat 10 May)/Enigmatist – Balfour article
Solving time: 6:55 Easier than usual for this setter, I thought, but perhaps harder if you hadn’t heard of the book referenced at 1dn, which connected most of the other long phrases. * … Read more >>
Independent 6729/Nimrod
Across 11 TESTAMENTS – the definition is “more than one will” and I think the wordplay is suggesting moving the TE from STATEMENTS to the front. 12 TARS,US 14 GIN< in THE,NO (also … Read more >>