Solving time: 19 minutes. So not at all difficult at this end. Which is surprising as the quack has me off the caffeine and I can’t usually do anything in the morning (let alone a … Read more “Times 24930: A Cambodian, a Lao, a Vietnamese and a Burmese try to get into a nightclub …”
Month: August 2011
Times 24,929
Timed at 21:41; Most of my struggles came in the top right, where 4 across and 7 down were reluctant to fall, as described below. Afraid I found rather too many slight quibbles to really … Read more “Times 24,929”
Times 24928 – Either the wallpaper goes, or I do
Solving Time: Around 30 minutes Relative to my recent solving attempts, I raced around this one but never felt completely in control on the corners, almost running off onto the verge at 5 and falling … Read more “Times 24928 – Either the wallpaper goes, or I do”
Mephisto 2658 by Don Manley
A puzzle by Don Manley, the first by anybody other than Paul McKenna and Tim Moorey since Mike Laws died. I don’t know if this is a permanent arrangement or simply a guest appearance. In … Read more “Mephisto 2658 by Don Manley”
Sunday Times 4445 (7 Aug 2011)
Solving time: About 28 minutes After last week’s fun and games, a much more conventional solve today. A few new words for me – CRAMBO, OJIBWAS & ORISONS, although I think I have probably come … Read more “Sunday Times 4445 (7 Aug 2011)”
Saturday Times 24921 – useful practice!
Solved on the train to Cheltenham last week, where I was going to take part in the 3D Crossword Championships (as advertised here for example). I found it pretty tough going in places, but nowhere … Read more “Saturday Times 24921 – useful practice!”
24926 – Got off lightly…
35 minutes for this one so yet again I failed to break through the 30 minute barrier, but this is certainly the easiest Friday puzzle for a long time. The clues that delayed me are … Read more “24926 – Got off lightly…”
Sunday Times Clue writing contest
Hello everyone – this is your old blog organiser with a rare reason for putting something here other than a response to a comment about a Sunday Times puzzle. I’m setting up a weekly online … Read more “Sunday Times Clue writing contest”
Jumbo 936 – Why Rabbit = Bird.
Nothing much to report. Went in fairly smoothly, no absolute gimmes and no major hold ups (apart from the odd self inflicted one). Further (limited) statistical analysis would lead me to postulate that the variance … Read more “Jumbo 936 – Why Rabbit = Bird.”
Times 24925 – the blog that almost never was
Solving time : 17:40 on the crossword club clock (CCC?) but I was being distracted here and there by texts and calls and I think this was on the easier side. I nearly didn’t get … Read more “Times 24925 – the blog that almost never was”