Solving time: 33mins Apart from the Latin, and a few things which I didn’t know but sounded as if they had to be right, this was a gentle beginning to the week, befitting the holiday … Read more “Times 24318 – If I only had the Latin”
Month: August 2009
Sunday Times 4,343 – Light & Easy
Normally, the puzzles I tackle from the daily broadsheets will require at least a couple of references to Chambers, thesaurus and sometimes even to other sources like Wikipedia; perhaps to check spelling or a new … Read more “Sunday Times 4,343 – Light & Easy”
Mephisto 2556 Paul McKenna
A couple of weeks ago an anonymous blogger asked if we thought Mephisto was being dumbed down. We said we didn’t think so but to try to get a feel for the situation I timed … Read more “Mephisto 2556 Paul McKenna”
Saturday Times 24311 (Aug 22nd)
Solving time 17:05, which makes it above average in difficulty for me, but not a real stinker. Actually I was probably just off form, as it doesn’t seem all that difficult in hindsight now. Mind … Read more “Saturday Times 24311 (Aug 22nd)”
Times 24316 – Off for a lie-down now!
Time taken to solve: Off the scale, but something like 90 minutes to complete the grid and at least another 30 working on the explanations, so about 2 hours of anguish for me this morning. … Read more “Times 24316 – Off for a lie-down now!”
Jumbo 829 – August 15, 2009
About 30 minutes. A bit of a mixed bag here. Some really easy, some really good, some really poor, some nigh on impossible and two that I can’t explain. Across 1 STUDIO COUCH – (OUTDO … Read more “Jumbo 829 – August 15, 2009”
Times 24315
Solving time: 12:04 Less culture today, and – as ever – concentrated in the South-East, where there are two French authors (J-P Sartre & Anatole France) and “gangsta rap”. “Gangsta” has made it into Chambers … Read more “Times 24315”
Times 24314
Solving time: 8:43 A fairly straightforward puzzle – some novel words, but no clue really held me up. 27 and 7 assisted by a visit to Kew Gardens yesterday with a nephew. Jimbo will be … Read more “Times 24314”
Times 24313 Arty Crafties 8 Scientists 0
Solving time : 25 minutes An enjoyable puzzle stuffed full of authors, poets, artists, old coins, ancient Rome, Greek literature, and so on. It contains what may be the longest homophone in history (of an … Read more “Times 24313 Arty Crafties 8 Scientists 0”
Times 24312 “Not worth a pitcher of warm…er…seepage…..
Solving time: 44 minutes Music: Schubert Piano Pieces, Wilhelm Kempff Well, I’d clamped the record to the turntable, poured myself an iced tea, selected a sharp pencil, and settled down….arrrrgh! This is a toughie! No … Read more “Times 24312 “Not worth a pitcher of warm…er…seepage…..”