Pretty straightforward, although a couple of sneaky ones in the S.E. corner slowed the old gallop for a bit…
Independent 9,640 by Morph
One of Morph’s occasional and very welcome contributions, not that it was easy. It took me at any rate a long time.
The only — very mild — criticism is that ER appears twice, in 10ac as ‘royal’, and in 8dn as ‘ruler’.
Definitions in maroon, underlined.
Guardian 27,294 / Paul
It’s unusual to see a Paul puzzle so early in the week and I wondered whether there was an anniversary connected with the theme but I couldn’t find anything. As I scanned … Read more >>
Independent 9639/Knut
A themed and cross-referenced puzzle for the Monday Indy slot? What’s occurring? Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 929 Pan
Thanks Pan for a Quiptic that fits the bill. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Stop having contact with female involved in racket (6) DISOWN : SOW(a porcine female) contained in(involved … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 27,293 by Rufus
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27293.
Cyclops 606 – Mess With Railway
Is Cyclops showing solidarity with all those commuters struggling into and out of London this August, with various stations affected by ‘improvement’ works in the quieter holiday month?… Certainly Trump seems to have … Read more >>
Everyman 3698/27 August
Another typical Sunday offering from Everyman. Carefully constructed and accessible clues, and a chance for me to chunter on about two misuses of my mother tongue. Abbreviations cd cryptic … Read more >>
Independent on Sunday 1436 Hoskins
Clever and amusing clue surfaces from the setter. Thanks to Hoskins Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 What one may do on a sunbed: turn sort of orange? (5) TANGO : … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 170 – Puck
Not too much genius needed to solve this one – I found it not much harder than a typical jigsaw puzzle (and a lot easier than Maskarade’s Bank Holiday monster). The fact that … Read more >>
AZED 2,359
Another very enjoyable excursion through the lesser-visited areas of the dictionary led by our expert guide Azed. Thank you Azed.
Independent crossword 9638 by Serpent
As I exchange the open roads of Australia for congested roads of the UK, albeit with the occasional snake, it’s time for another offering from Serpent – whose puzzles I am beginning to … Read more >>
Guardian Bank Holiday Special by Maskarade
A themed double alphabetical jigsaw with the added complication of an error in the enumeration meant that this Bank Holiday Special presented a tougher than expected challenge. The special instructions indicated that one of each pair was of a kind, not further defined.
Enigmatic Variations No. 1292: Yackety-Yack by The Ace of Hearts
It didn’t seem that there would be anything too taxing this week: In YACKETY-YACK, from the answer to each clue a letter must be deleted wherever it appears before entry into the grid; … Read more >>
Financial Times 15,643 / Wanderer
I wasn’t anticipating having to blog this one, otherwise I would have made some notes when solving, but it seems that Turbolegs has work commitments that are preventing him from being here. We … Read more >>