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Times for The Times: Times and comments on The Times crossword from a team of solvers

Month: January 2008

23817 – a better effort here?

Author   petebiddlecombePosted on 23rd January 2008 at 7:52 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

8:48 for this, which felt better than two successive slowish times for puzzles that others found easy. Across 4 SANSERIF = fairness* – type=print 10 MILKS,TOUT 12 CHINO,O.K. – saw something v. similar recently, so … Read more “23817 – a better effort here?”

View31 Comments on 23817 – a better effort here?

Mephisto 2470 – at last

Author   petebiddlecombePosted on 22nd January 2008 at 11:46 PM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

Apologies for the lateness of this report. This was a fairly tough Mephisto from Mike Laws, taking me about 70 minutes. Across 1 SELF – 2 meanings 10 URAL-ALTAIC – (call it aura)* – wasted … Read more “Mephisto 2470 – at last”

View2 Comments on Mephisto 2470 – at last

Times 23816 – need a sunny holiday in a villa

Author   ilancPosted on 22nd January 2008 at 2:56 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

It’s still morning on the west coast! A fairly quick solve though the Cinque ports (and related towns) required a touch of wikipedia. I was surprised that I remembered that a certain Low had caricatured … Read more “Times 23816 – need a sunny holiday in a villa”

View29 Comments on Times 23816 – need a sunny holiday in a villa

Times 23815 – no fog

Author   foggywebPosted on 21st January 2008 at 7:10 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 37minutes Quite enjoyable, with nothing too tricky to solve. I didn’t need to look up anything today, during or after, which is always satisfying. I expect some of Peter’s tutees had a good … Read more “Times 23815 – no fog”

View23 Comments on Times 23815 – no fog

Mephisto 2472 – Chris Feetenby

Author   the_odPosted on 20th January 2008 at 11:35 PM10 September 2025Categories Mephisto

Solving time: 37:22                                   I usually manage to find a few things to quibble about in a Chris Feetenby puzzle, but not much in this one!  I found it a little harder than the average CF, with … Read more “Mephisto 2472 – Chris Feetenby”

View2 Comments on Mephisto 2472 – Chris Feetenby

Jumbo 736

Author   petebiddlecombePosted on 20th January 2008 at 10:55 PM10 September 2025Categories Jumbo Cryptic

A brief report on this. I thought I’d solved it when it appeared zand then lost it, but it felt like fresh solving – especially as one answer defeated me – or I lost patience. … Read more “Jumbo 736”

View5 Comments on Jumbo 736

Times Saturday 23808 (Jan 12)

Author   linxitPosted on 20th January 2008 at 1:26 PM10 September 2025Categories Weekend Cryptic

Sorry this is a day late, but I was away all day yesterday assisting Pete Biddlecombe on his Crossword course. Solving time 8:43 – one of my fastest times for a Saturday puzzle for a … Read more “Times Saturday 23808 (Jan 12)”

View2 Comments on Times Saturday 23808 (Jan 12)

ST 4259 (Sun 13 Jan) – Batman returns

Author   talbinhoPosted on 20th January 2008 at 11:00 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 5:05 A few difficult words in this but with helpful wordplays; no major gripes. Looking back at 6ac (PASCAL), I believe Don Manley (Pasquale in the Guardian) sets for the Sunday Times and … Read more “ST 4259 (Sun 13 Jan) – Batman returns”

View3 Comments on ST 4259 (Sun 13 Jan) – Batman returns

Definition by example – what do you think?

Author   petebiddlecombePosted on 18th January 2008 at 5:35 PM10 September 2025Categories Announcement

A poll not about choosing the best clue for a change. Definition by example is where a clue gives an example of a type (or the name of a sub-type), and the solver responds with … Read more “Definition by example – what do you think?”

View17 Comments on Definition by example – what do you think?

23813 Hammered again! (well not quite)

Author   jackktPosted on 18th January 2008 at 9:01 AM10 September 2025Categories Daily Cryptic

 Oh dear! Another difficult one for me today and I suspect that Peter and some others may have finished before I had even put my first word in as that took me at least 5 minutes. Having … Read more “23813 Hammered again! (well not quite)”

View35 Comments on 23813 Hammered again! (well not quite)

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