22 minutes and 4 seconds, so dragging my feet somewhat. This was a crossword where, I think more than usually, you had to pay very close attention to where the dividing lines in the clues … Read more “26266 Reduced price offer in advance of Black Friday: a farthing for a clue.”
Month: November 2015
Championship 2015, Preliminary Two, Puzzle one – cogito, cogito…
Possibly because I was trying to do all three of this set of Qualifying puzzles in pseudo-exam conditions within a timeframe, I found this a bit of a slog; not especially difficult but with plenty … Read more “Championship 2015, Preliminary Two, Puzzle one – cogito, cogito…”
Quick Cryptic Number 447 by Flamande
A nice, straightforward crossword. Even including some unknown references (as the spy and the poet were to me) it should not take so long to solve that fun gives way to inconvenience. Definitions underlined. 1 … Read more “Quick Cryptic Number 447 by Flamande”
Quick Cryptic No 446 by Mara
A good romp today with Mara – a couple, of long anagrams which always hold me up – but not as long as the LOI intersection of 5dn and 15ac. Some very enjoyable clues (COD … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 446 by Mara”
Times Cryptic 26264
I thought I was heading for a record time on this one as I solved so many clues at the first reading, but then I hit a wall with the long Down clues unsolved and … Read more “Times Cryptic 26264”
Quick Cryptic 445 by Hurley
An odd grid, with two clues (11A and 18A) that didn’t actually need to be solved because their solutions could be completely filled in via their crossing answers, which always feels like a bit of … Read more “Quick Cryptic 445 by Hurley”
Times Cryptic 26263
28 minutes for this one. I blogged this as a last-minute stand-in so I haven’t written much, but please ask if further explanations are required. {deletions} [indicators] Across 1 CAPSICUM – CAP (beat), anagram [rocking] … Read more “Times Cryptic 26263”
Jumbo 1176 – Just the eight days late on filling the placeholder
Similar to the post immediately below. Only just remembered its due this weekend from noticing the current one is 1178! This usually doesnt matter when I attempt the current one on a Saturday lunchtime. It … Read more “Jumbo 1176 – Just the eight days late on filling the placeholder”
Times 26263 – Not available
I am not available for this blog due to a personal emergency. I have asked Ulaca by email to post the blog, so he should do so. If the blog does not appear as expected, … Read more “Times 26263 – Not available”
Sunday Times 4668 by Dean Mayer
14:56. A relatively gentle one from Dean this week, but a very fine and enjoyable puzzle nonetheless. As ever with Dean there are one or two somewhat loose things in here. For instance I struggled … Read more “Sunday Times 4668 by Dean Mayer”