Overall I found this a relatively straightforward offering, but with a few that had me scratching the head for a while. Some very nice clues – particularly liked 20 ac, 22ac, 2dn and 21 dn. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 372 by Des”
Month: August 2015
Quick Cryptic No 371 by Rongo
No time due to interruptions but this seemed a little harder than yesterday’s, particularly in the NW. A mixture of easy and challenging clues and generally very entertaining. Definitions underlined, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition, deletions … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 371 by Rongo”
Times 26,174
13:23, on a leaderboard where so far nobody among the other early birds is under ten minutes, which is normally the sign of a stiffish test ( breakfast time edit: the only people breaking that … Read more “Times 26,174”
Times 26173 – A Puzzle of Two Halves
I began this as if I were an Australian batsman playing Test cricket in Nottingham but ended as if I were Slaven Bilić protecting a 2-0 lead against a hapless group of overpaid superstars in … Read more “Times 26173 – A Puzzle of Two Halves”
Quick Cryptic 370 by Flamande
Level of Difficulty – moderate. I would have finished within my 10 minute target but for 1dn which nearly did for me. As it was I crept home in just under 12 minutes. I don’t … Read more “Quick Cryptic 370 by Flamande”
Sunday Times 4653 by Dean Mayer – which art verily a ripper!
Unravelling this little beauty was huge fun, and (at least for me) very challenging. I managed to get several runs on the board pretty quickly, giving me delusions that I was batting on a flat … Read more “Sunday Times 4653 by Dean Mayer – which art verily a ripper!”
Mephisto 2866 by Tim Moorey – An Amusing Amalgam
What one might term an eclectic puzzle. It makes reference to: a UK High Street retailer; L Ron Hubbard; a retired tennis ace; Hollywood film star; an old US President; a disgraced ex-MP; a well … Read more “Mephisto 2866 by Tim Moorey – An Amusing Amalgam”
Saturday Times 26166 (1st Aug)
Fairly straightforward puzzle solved in 12:46, although looking at the stats on the Club website there were a few regulars who struggled a bit with it. Maybe it’s just a wavelength thing – as in … Read more “Saturday Times 26166 (1st Aug)”
Jumbo 1160
A puzzle on the easier side, as reflected in a solving time of 16m 43s. I can’t fully parse 19A so any suggestions would be most welcome. * = anagram, cd = cryptic definition Across … Read more “Jumbo 1160”
Times 26,171: Oil That Is, Black Gold, Texas Tea
A really very straightforward crossword today to round off a not especially strenuous week. I did this the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper – got to remember how those elegant weapons for a more … Read more “Times 26,171: Oil That Is, Black Gold, Texas Tea”