I found today’s puzzle to be excruciatingly challenging with all manners of trickery and subterfuge employed in both the fodder and the definitions. If not for the need to fully understand and explain for this … Read more “Times 25321 – Excruciatingly Challenging”
Month: November 2012
Times Crossword 25,320 – Championship Class
This is the first puzzle from the second preliminary round of the Championships. It took me about 25 minutes, on the train going home, but I don’t think it is a hard crossword. It has … Read more “Times Crossword 25,320 – Championship Class”
Times 25,319 from the Civil War to Nam
Solving time 15 minutes My thanks to Tim for swapping with me two weeks ago and fielding the DBE puzzle. This one was kind to me being relatively straightforward but with some good wordplays to … Read more “Times 25,319 from the Civil War to Nam”
Times 25318 – Back to the grindstone
Solving time: 89 minutes Music: Beethoven, Piano Concerto #5, Bishop/Davis/LSO Although some of my colleagues were a bit concerned if this blog would appear, I have made it back to my post in NYC following … Read more “Times 25318 – Back to the grindstone”
Mephisto 2723 – Paul McKenna
Wow – I found this one a toughie to get through! Usually I’m on a pretty decent wavelength with Paul McKenna, but there were only a few here where I didn’t have to look up … Read more “Mephisto 2723 – Paul McKenna”
Sunday Times 4510 (4 Nov 2012) by Tim Moorey
Solving time: 76:42 – with two mistakes Not a very good effort by me this week. The mistakes were both genuine and couldn’t be blamed on typos. I found it tough going, but probably fair … Read more “Sunday Times 4510 (4 Nov 2012) by Tim Moorey”
Saturday Times 25311 (3rd Nov)
Solving time about 35 minutes, but I didn’t really time myself. This was one to savour, and it’s a shame I’m a bit pushed for time this morning and had to rush the second half … Read more “Saturday Times 25311 (3rd Nov)”
Jumbo 1004
Either this puzzle was easier than usual, or my nasty head-cold was actually speeding up the thought processes – I finished it in a little under 19 minutes. As ever, * indicates an anagram. Across … Read more “Jumbo 1004”
Times 25316
Solving time: 61:50 – with one wrong I started this last night, but fatigue overwhelmed me after 40 minutes with barely a third done. I got up early this morning to finish and polished it … Read more “Times 25316”
Times 25315 – double ell double ell!
Solving time : 21:51 – and most of that was spent in the bottom right corner. My laptop at home died, so I’ve sneaked in to work late to bang this out. Took two completely … Read more “Times 25315 – double ell double ell!”