I missed doing the last two Mephistos since I have been on the road, and it sounds like I missed some real tough ones. I found this mostly straightforward, I managed about three quarters of … Read more “Mephisto 2587 – Mike Laws”
Month: April 2010
Saturday Times 24496 (March 27th)
Solving time 15:05. Very enjoyable puzzle, not too hard but I can’t fault the surface readings and some of the wordplay was top-notch. COD to 12A for the anagram, but I also liked the set … Read more “Saturday Times 24496 (March 27th)”
TLS Puzzle No. 824 (with an unresolved clue at 7D)
Solving time: 30 minutes (5 unsolved) I thought this was going to be another success story. I solved 15 clues on my first run-through (and correctly guessed another, but didn’t dare put it in), and … Read more “TLS Puzzle No. 824 (with an unresolved clue at 7D)”
Jumbo 863
This was comparatively easy, with no outstanding clues, and one that I really felt was pretty poor (36A). It took me less than 25 minutes, but 8A did bring a smile to my face as … Read more “Jumbo 863”
Times Crossword 24501
Solving time: 32 minutes or thereabouts, interrupted by a very brief phone call. Attentive readers will no doubt be waiting with interest to see what excuse I would produce this week for failing to blog, … Read more “Times Crossword 24501”
Farewell, Bank Holiday Jumbos
I’ve just heard on the bush telegraph that the Bank Holiday Jumbo is no more. It seems you will not find one in tomorrow’s paper, nor any future Bank Holiday edition of The Times. Solvers … Read more “Farewell, Bank Holiday Jumbos”
Times 24500 – Smooth as Silk
The remarkable thing about today’s puzzle is the sheer elegance of the clueing with marvellous surface reading. Many clues have been cleverly crafted to arrive at a sensible surface reading that epitomise the best in … Read more “Times 24500 – Smooth as Silk”