The new Jumbo regime and the first one’s already late! I only found out that I was definitely doing this one last night (Sunday) so apologies to anyone who has been beside themselves with eager … Read more “Jumbo 799 – 7th February 2009”
Month: February 2009
Times Cryptic (Number 24156)
Solving time: 36 minutes It took me a while to get going this morning. I think the first one I wrote in was ERATO at 19a. Once I had a few words in, the pace … Read more “Times Cryptic (Number 24156)”
Mephisto 2529 Paul McKenna
I thought this a reasonably difficult puzzle. I needed Chambers a lot to hunt down obscure meanings and find answers. There are the usual crop of ten starter clues but only three in the top … Read more “Mephisto 2529 Paul McKenna”
Anax Imperator puzzle
Another plug for this “introduction to the barred grid” puzzle in Anax’s latest Puzzle Collection PDF. Good challenging stuff but I only needed Chambers two or three times, so mostly accessible vocab.(And quicker for me … Read more “Anax Imperator puzzle”
Saturday Times 24149 (14th Feb)
I put in a comment on yesterday’s blog that the 33:40 I took to solve it was my slowest of the year, having already forgotten that this one took me 37:15! Another brilliant puzzle, very … Read more “Saturday Times 24149 (14th Feb)”
Times Crossword 24154
Solving time: 14.54 I thought this was a very good puzzle, with lots of clever devices and disguises to trip up solvers. My main problems arose with the NE corner, though looking at it now … Read more “Times Crossword 24154”
Times 24,153
Solving time: 11:13 Fairly fast before I came to a screeching halt on 14D (PERSEPHONE). As a young boy I read far too many Biggles books, so enjoyed 19Ac. His being such a bad writer … Read more “Times 24,153”
Times 24152 – small states
Solving time: 9:48 A not too difficult puzzle, though I did get a good start with 1A/1D both falling at first look. This despite Mrs B’s attempt to slow me down with some gentle tickling … Read more “Times 24152 – small states”
Times Cryptic 24151 – Full House and Several Pairs
A pangrammatic puzzle (I guessed this was going to be the case quite early when 1 across contained a J, which was swiftly followed by an X, and not one but two Zs, Vs and … Read more “Times Cryptic 24151 – Full House and Several Pairs”
Suggestion list sent to the Times
Here’s what I sent to the Times …. This is a list of suggestions about the crossword club search facility. It’s the result of some discussion at the Times for the Times blog, and I’ll … Read more “Suggestion list sent to the Times”