Solving time : After 35 minutes and with an embarrassingly small amount filled out, I resorted to the aids, crawled home(I hope) in 49 minutes, one guess and a few peeks at Bradfords. There’ll probably … Read more “Times 23980 – I should have known”
Month: July 2008
Times 23,979 – Thirty Something
Quite a mixed bag of clues ranging for the clever (7Down) to the not-so-bright ((5Down) to some which I cannot parse ((6&17Across). ACROSS1 REELEDOFF Rev of ODE (poem) LEER (nasty look) + FF (very loud)6 … Read more “Times 23,979 – Thirty Something”
Times 23,978 What The Dickens?
Solving time : 30 minutes I raced through the top half of this but then found the bottom a bit harder. There is a reference to Scrooge that I don’t understand, which appears not to … Read more “Times 23,978 What The Dickens?”
Saturday Times 23970 (July 19)
Just got back from an impromptu weekend away, where I attended a cousin’s wedding and got engaged myself! Unfortunately there was no time to do the blog entry in advance or let anyone else know. … Read more “Saturday Times 23970 (July 19)”
23977
Solving time: 21 minutesThis was my quickest solve for some time. I think it was easy because I’d seen lots of the clues and devices before. Across 5 WASH UP – this is what you … Read more “23977”
Mephisto 2499 – Paul McKenna
Paul McKenna’s puzzles are falling into a pattern – plenty of starter words to get things going, and just when you think you’re going to race through the grid, there are some really obscure tough … Read more “Mephisto 2499 – Paul McKenna”
Times Jumbo 766 (Sat 12 July 2008)
An enjoyable puzzle, not too difficult, solving time 79 mins * = anagram < = reversalACROSS1 P AS S T(HE B)UCK Very elaborate wordplay!7 CONNECT I CUT Excellent misleading context 13 ON THE CREST OF … Read more “Times Jumbo 766 (Sat 12 July 2008)”
Times Crossword 23975
Solving time: 15.44 After yesterday’s doommongering I was braced for a really tough puzzle. I definitely found this harder than the last couple of days, but overall it wasn’t too bad, despite a nasty moment … Read more “Times Crossword 23975”
Times 23,974
Solving time: 9:09 This seemed heavy on anagrams when I was doing it, but in fact there are only five (1A, 9, 24, 27, 1D). But they are all good long ones with smooth or … Read more “Times 23,974”
Times 23,973 (Wed 23 July)
I found this a very easy puzzle with an old-fashioned feel. Solving time, just under 15 mins, very fast for me. * = anagram < = reversal 1 ANTE LOPE stake = bet5 T (b)AND … Read more “Times 23,973 (Wed 23 July)”