Solving time: 12:46. Another Championship puzzle. Why do they publish those on Wednesdays? And how many more do I have to go? Still, this was on the easy side I found. At least, I have … Read more “Times 25020: Gold he touches turns to everything”
Month: November 2011
Times 25,019 Brothers, Sisters or Tooth Repairs?
Solving time 25 minutes Standard Times Cryptic fare of average difficulty requiring some GK. The area of London may cause some problems, I’m not sure how well known it is. One One clue I don’t … Read more “Times 25,019 Brothers, Sisters or Tooth Repairs?”
Times 25018 – Pleased to meet you, Mr Rubble……BAM!
Solving time:42 minutes Music: Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto, Ferras/Karajan/BPO A rather strange challenge. For the first twenty minutes I had nearly nothing, and was thinking what had I got myself into, an American pretending that I … Read more “Times 25018 – Pleased to meet you, Mr Rubble……BAM!”
Mephisto 2673 – Don Manley
Interesting puzzle, this one – I did it in one session, but there were a few that I did not get the wordplay on at all, and my first version of the grid had four … Read more “Mephisto 2673 – Don Manley”
Sunday Times 4460 (20 Nov 2011)
Solving time: 30:09 Some nicely worded definitions this week. I liked ‘bloomers on line’ for LEI. Otherwise, not much to say, except that this felt like a very average puzzle for the ST. cd = … Read more “Sunday Times 4460 (20 Nov 2011)”
Saturday Times 25011 (Nov 19) – not easy!
Solving time – off the scale! Wow, how hard was this one?! I haven’t got an accurate time, but it must have been nearly an hour. Setter, you’re a nasty piece o’ work but your … Read more “Saturday Times 25011 (Nov 19) – not easy!”
Times 25016 – I’ve not had one of these to blog for ages
Solving time: 35:59 – Having been held up for a while by putting in a wrong answer at 24. For 24, I’d put in TIER. I was thinking ‘fine’ = final, so last letter of … Read more “Times 25016 – I’ve not had one of these to blog for ages”
Jumbo 951 – An Irish nationalist and an Old Field Marshall walk into a crossword puzzle……
…..not for the first time though! Enjoyable puzzle this one, with some great clues here and there. I thought 20D could have been great, but was simplified a smidge. A selection of good lift and … Read more “Jumbo 951 – An Irish nationalist and an Old Field Marshall walk into a crossword puzzle……”
Times 25015 – Concealing A Naked Daughter
This must surely be one of the most well-crafted and enjoyable puzzles in The Times. As I solved and parsed each clue, my admiration for the compiler grew. Syabas! (a Malay word equivalent to Bravo!) … Read more “Times 25015 – Concealing A Naked Daughter”
Times 25014: 5dn my face
Solving time: 1:16:32. The blog title says it all. Fell into every trap possible. Had to make a few wild guesses on the basis of crossing letters and got in a stew about parsing them … Read more “Times 25014: 5dn my face”