A pleasant puzzle of about average difficulty. The clue to 28 Down was unfortunately missing both from the paper and on line. I contacted Mike Laws who promptly supplied me and others with the clue, … Read more “Mephisto 2578 Mike Laws”
Month: January 2010
ST 4365 (Sun 24 Jan) – Pará lacks
Solving time: 4:40 A much better puzzle this week, as the schedule suggested, plus a couple of slight quirks (not inaccuracies) that probably give away the compiler’s identity. I didn’t know the Brazilian state of … Read more “ST 4365 (Sun 24 Jan) – Pará lacks”
Saturday Times 24442 (Jan 23rd)
Solving time 21:02, slowed down a bit by a couple of silly mistakes. Otherwise another fairly straightforward one for a Saturday, although there were a couple of obscure words and a literary reference that might … Read more “Saturday Times 24442 (Jan 23rd)”
Jumbo 854 – January 16th 2010
It was only when writing this blog that I realised how good this crossword was. After solving I felt as if I hadn’t really enjoyed it, but I realise now that I must have been punch-drunk … Read more “Jumbo 854 – January 16th 2010”
Football colours
Here’s a rash prediction: the 18 UK professional soccer teams whose home colours seem to me a reasonable reference in a present-day Times crossword. This is partly based on the fame of the team, partly … Read more “Football colours”
Tines 24447 – Dejas Blue
This took me exactly an hour. I printed it off last night and then settled down to solve it which was probably not a wise decision. By the time I had finished I was wide … Read more “Tines 24447 – Dejas Blue”
80th anniversary
For those who don’t know yet next Monday (1st February) will be the 80th anniversary of the Times crossword. After a few trial runs in the paper’s weekly edition, Times Crossword No. 1 appeared on … Read more “80th anniversary”
Times 24446: A quid for your Turkish port
Solving time : 20 minutes, looked like I was in for a pretty slick solve and then crawled to a halt with three to go – 13, and 15 down and 25 across. All of … Read more “Times 24446: A quid for your Turkish port”
24445
Solving time: 7:44 – with one careless mistake A fairly easy puzzle for me, with quite a few double defs – I counted 6, along with a couple of cryptic defs. Of these 8, I … Read more “24445”
Times 24,444 Why is it always Liverpool?
Solving time 25 minutes This is mainly good sound stuff, an average Times puzzle even down to the author and obscure poet. I worked steadily through it without too much trouble except for my last … Read more “Times 24,444 Why is it always Liverpool?”