Never knowingly undersolved
Serpent provides an enjoyable mental workout today. I understand that there’s usually some sort of Nina or theme in Serpent’s puzzles, but I’ve failed to see one here (apart from the small group … Read more >>
A very good crossword that, with a little editing, could have made even better This crossword from Redshank had some brilliant clues in it – I particularly liked 14ac, 25 ac, 27ac and … Read more >>
Non-prize Christmas Crossword published in the FT of December 23, 2020 As usual for Christmas, we have a crossword from Gozo with added dimensions of puzzling. Let us start with the completed grid … Read more >>
And so we come to the last EV of 2020, and good riddance (to 2020, that is!) The flavours assailing my senses on the Sunday this was published were those of gently simmering turkey stock, as the last of the leftovers were put to good use…
I am sorry that, so far, I have not been able to reinstate the rich text WYSIWYG comment editor. This is still being worked on, but in the meantime I have activated a … Read more >>
A very nice puzzle. Traditional in style but not not old-fashioned in delivery. Thank you Leonidas. ACROSS 1 PTERODACTYLS Early birds in tight lycra spotted (12) anagram (tight, drunk) of LYCRA SPOTTED – … Read more >>
It doesn’t seem that long ago since we blogged the last Bluth – not that we are complaining! We did groan somewhat at the parsing of 15ac – no doubt it will be … Read more >>
As usual from Tramp, very enjoyable with lots of nice surfaces and tricky cluing – crossers from the relatively gettable long down answers were very helpful. Favourites were 1ac, 11ac, 19ac, 21ac, 24ac, … Read more >>
Heavy Metal Band by Harribobs Entries run clockwise in a chain, starting at the peak of 1, with the last letter of each entry being the first of the next. Entries start … Read more >>
A themed Tuesday offering. Straightforward enough midweek fare, enlivened by a veritable shoal of themed solutions all over the grid. More puns from posters welcome. Thanks to Orense. ACROSS 1 FLOUNDER Struggle helplessly … Read more >>
It has been a long time since it has fallen to me to blog a puzzle by Wire. I found this to be an enjoyable, not overly taxing, puzzle to kick off my … Read more >>
A clever and highly enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon based around 12d, with varying interpretations of the phrase. The gateway clue is quite an easy one, but it was still fun to work out … Read more >>
Thank you to Hectence for this tricky Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Luxury extension can perhaps ruin housing (12) EXTRAVAGANCE : EXT(abbrev. for “extension”) + [anagram of(… perhaps) CAN … Read more >>
Vulcan's alter ego usurps the Monday slot. We have become used to Vulcan crosswords on Mondays over the last few years, but our setter (or the editor) may have considered this one a … Read more >>
Happy New Year! There we go, my one and only use of the exclamation mark over with for 2021. On with the puzzle from Italicus. He has been setting for the Indy for … Read more >>