A message from Eileen and Peter (Kathryn’s Dad).
Eileen and I have arranged a 2016 Derby Sloggers and Betters event in Derby for Saturday May 21st.
Independent 9,129 by Knut
A 24 today, very much a Marmite puzzle I suspect which will be loved or hated.
Guardian Cryptic 26,783 by Rufus
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26783.
Cyclops 564: House of fools?
Happy New Year! A relatively gentle start to 2016, with no major hold-ups, though there are a couple I might have struggled with a bit if I hadn’t had the checking letters.
Apologies for the fact that, in my last-minute rush, I forgot to fill in the entries at 23d and 27d in the grid. I only got round to completing it in Crossword Compiler and generating the exported graphic after I had done the rest of the blog, and Crossword Compiler defaults to putting Ds in the cells. I haven’t time to amend it this evening, but will try to do so tomorrow m0rning.
Everyman 3,614
Not the hardest Everyman I’ve encountered but one or two a little tricky to fully parse out
Independent on Sunday 1,351 by Alchemi
As far as I can tell, we haven’t seen Alchemi on a Sunday since July 2014. In any case, welcome back Alchemi! This started off quite slowly for me. It didn’t help that … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1349
I felt there were more ‘entry’ clues than usual in this one and I might have completed it in record time had I not been interrupted by a phone call. Plenty to enjoy … Read more >>
AZED No. 2,275 Plain
When I first solved The Listener crossword I was pleased with myself, then went to a website that discussed it and everyone said how easy this particular puzzle was. This was rather dispiriting … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 26,776 by Paul
Thank you Paul, always a pleasure to solve and blog.
Independent 9122 by Bend (Saturday Prize Puzzle 9 January 2016)
A new (to me, at least) setter this week – were you driven ’round the bend’ by Bend?… I have to admit I am a prize-puzzle-tart, and don’t solve during the week, but … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No.1207 – Mix by Samuel
This EV uses alphabetically listed clued that have to be slotted in to the grid. That normally means quite a bit of cold solving. The danger is that one can feel one isn’t getting anywhere. That said, I do have a soft spot for Samuel’s EVs, so I have confidence that this will be enjoyable.
Financial Times 15,138 by WANDERER
As Smeagol would have said, this one from Wanderer was tricksy !! 🙂 Thanks Wanderer for a wonderful humbling experience. The frustration when it came to parsing some of the clues was only surpassed by the delight I felt when I finally did. Especially 1ac.
Independent 9127 / Phi
It wouldn’t be a proper Friday for Independent crossword solvers if there wasn’t a puzzle by Phi This was a fairly standard crossword from Phi. I didn’t see any obvious … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 26,781 by Paul
The puzzle may be found at http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26781.
Independent 9,126 by Klingsor
Klingsor seems to be lumbered with me rather often nowadays. Not that this worries me. I’d be happy to blog his puzzles every time (apart from the odd holiday with some of the other setters) because he’s one of the best around. There is always the right level of difficulty for me: not too easy, but the surfaces are nice and everything is clear and sound; one can eventually solve his most intractable clues. I think.
Definitions underlined.