Guardian 27,099 – Bonxie

I made a slow start on this, but after a while had filled the bottom half. The top half took rather longer… For my taste there are rather too many inaccurate or ungrammatical … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic 27098 Boatman

The mid-solving-period was a slog for me, as is always the case with Boatman’s puzzles and I. Somehow I can’t get on to his wavelength. All the same, I finished it eventually, and … Read more >>

Financial Times 15,450 by JULIUS

More of the good stuff form Julius.  I have to say that his CDs don’t really grab me, but apart from that what more could I ask?  Thank you Julius for another super puzzle.

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Independent 9,443 by Dac

A slightly strange crossword, in that it was rather harder than a normal Dac to begin with and for some time very little was filled in, but by the end it was just the same as ever — not too demanding at all but right up to the usual standard of smoothness and elegance.

A quick glance at the clues shows that more often than not ‘in’ is a link-word rather than a sign of inclusion’. Perhaps this was what initially held me up.

I wasn’t all that happy with 1dn and may be missing something.

Definitions underlined and in maroon.

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Guardian 27,096 / Crucible

I’m always glad to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m blogging, and this one was no disappointment. I can’t see any anniversary or event to occasion a puzzle on the … Read more >>

Financial Times 15449 Sayang

Thanks to Sayang for a not too difficult puzzle, though there was one solution which required help from Gaufrid (thanks, Gaufrid). Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1, 4 Crimping her can … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 896/Pan

Pan usually sets us an accessible Quiptic, but I have to say that I struggled with this today.  Nothing unfair, but if beginners were expecting a gentle one, this probably wasn’t it.   … Read more >>