As mentioned previously, I’ve pretty much given up trying to gauge the degree of difficulty of these puzzles – I consistently seem to be at odds with the consensus! What I can say for sure … Read more “Quick Cryptic 302 by Orpheus”
Month: May 2015
Times 26091 – no X after all
As I eventually managed 1a with its Q and finished with 1d in about 40 minutes (with tea and toast in bed, early doors), I thought this was going to be my first time announcing … Read more “Times 26091 – no X after all”
Quick Cryptic No 301 by Izetti
This is another Izetti – which I made much harder for myself than it actually was (see 17dn). Apart from 16dn (which should be get-able when the other letters are in place) I’m not sure … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 301 by Izetti”
Times 26,090
Clock stopped at 11:28, which included, as behooves all responsible bloggers, a certain amount of time spent parsing a few of those “well I know what it has to be, but should probably make sure … Read more “Times 26,090”
Times 26089 – Meaty Mayday
A little more Labour than normal needed on this Bank Holiday puzzle. I negotiated it safely if unspectacularly in 50 minutes, rather as I imagine Cook, AN Other, Balance, Root and the other boys will … Read more “Times 26089 – Meaty Mayday”
Times Quick Cryptic 300 by Palpatine
And so we reach Quick Cryptic No 300 having started out on 10th March last year, and to mark the occasion we have a new setter, or at least a new setter’s name, ‘Palpatine’, which … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 300 by Palpatine”
Sunday Times 4639 by Tim Moorey – the amorous setter…
A game of two halves for me. First pass through the clues resulted in about half the grid being completed (a highly unusual state of affairs), then the scoring rate slowed right down as I … Read more “Sunday Times 4639 by Tim Moorey – the amorous setter…”
Mephisto 2852 by Paul McKenna
No problems with this puzzle of medium level difficulty Across 1 LASCAR – fellow plafully = rascal then swap “r” and “l” to give LASCAR = camp-follower; 5 POMATO – PO-M(AT)O; PO-MO=post modern; AT=alternative technology; … Read more “Mephisto 2852 by Paul McKenna”
Times Jumbo 1144
The expression at 56ac was a new one on me, but generally I didn’t think there were too many obscure elements in this puzzle. As always, * indicates an anagram. Across 1 ALBERT CAMUS – … Read more “Times Jumbo 1144”
Saturday Times 26082 (25th April) – absolute belter!
Solving time: 26:47, mainly held up by my last three in (5ac, 10ac and 8dn). I actually got off to a fairly fast start to this one, but I kept stopping to admire the brilliant … Read more “Saturday Times 26082 (25th April) – absolute belter!”