You know those puzzles where the definition or the word lengths alone give away the answer, and there are lots of obvious devices, crossword cliches, and laboured attempts at concealment? Well imagine the opposite of … Read more “Times 25,085”
Month: February 2012
Sunday Times 4471 (5 Feb 2012) – Apologies for being late (Andy’s fault!)
Solving time: 48:50 Many apologies for being a couple of days late with this one. I’ve been on holiday in Egypt for a week and I’ve just got back an hour ago. I did leave … Read more “Sunday Times 4471 (5 Feb 2012) – Apologies for being late (Andy’s fault!)”
Times 25084 – A file of owls?
Solving Time: 31 minutes I’m afraid the pressure to get this one finished and blogged in the shortest amount of time possible did not make for a happy or fast solve; the feeling of exasperation … Read more “Times 25084 – A file of owls?”
Times Jumbo 963
A straightforward Jumbo, with a rather botanical feel – ORACHE (18ac), PERICARP (30ac), OPUNTIAS (6dn) and MARIPOSA (42dn) were probably the most obscure answers. Personally, I’ll take any number of plant terms in preference to … Read more “Times Jumbo 963”
Mephisto 2684 by Paul McKenna
Standard Mephisto fare of reasonable level of difficulty. A “once in 50 years” event is recorded at 31A. The worrying news is occurring off the pitch with Rupert Murdoch once again obliged to jet into … Read more “Mephisto 2684 by Paul McKenna”
Saturday Times 25077 (4th Feb)
Attempted to solve on the train Monday morning after already doing Monday’s and Sunday’s puzzles. I got 3/4 through it in about 15 minutes, but then my brain seized up and I fell asleep with … Read more “Saturday Times 25077 (4th Feb)”
Jumbo 963
Some unusual words, but with 30+ years of crossword solving behind me only one needed checking in the dictionary (42D). Generally the clues were fair, but one or two did not quite work for me, … Read more “Jumbo 963”
Times 25082
Time taken to solve: Exactly an hour. A rather slow solve but I was never actually stuck. I don’t think there’s anything contentious here and not much in the way of obscure knowledge is required, … Read more “Times 25082”
Times 25081 – Millennium Madness
A most delightful puzzle with some brilliant surfaces, especially those long anagram clues. I thoroughly enjoyed solving and blogging this. Thank you, setter, whoever you are ACROSS1 EL SALVADOR *(SAD ALL OVER) the smallest and … Read more “Times 25081 – Millennium Madness”
Times 25080 — OOH: Double-O-Aitch Saves the Day
Solving time: 12:27 Got the four 14-letter answers quickly; then the four 10s. After that, spoiled for choice as to where to look for answers. The large number of multiple-word answers also helped a (for … Read more “Times 25080 — OOH: Double-O-Aitch Saves the Day”