Lots to enjoy in this puzzle by Flamande – humour and well crafted word play. Hard to call a COD but think it has to go to 20ac. It’s even harder for me to call … Read more “Quick Crytpic 481 by Flamande”
Month: January 2016
Times 26,306
Lovely stuff, this. Loads of clues where I started out baffled before suddenly realising what the clue was actually after, and who doesn’t love a good penny-drop moment? It also strikes me on reflection how … Read more “Times 26,306”
Times 26305 – None Dare Call It Conspiracy
He’s had a go at that awful Kennedy fellow, but is Oliver Stone up for the challenge of his – or anybody else’s – lifetime, attempting to get to grips with the mother and father … Read more “Times 26305 – None Dare Call It Conspiracy”
Quick Cryptic 480 by Izetti
I struggled to get going on this one, perhaps a little in awe of the setter as I don’t often have the opportunity blog one of Izetti’s offerings, but having finished eventually after 14 minutes … Read more “Quick Cryptic 480 by Izetti”
Mephisto 2888 by Paul McKenna – King Charles Meets Arthur English
The first puzzle of 2016 and a standard offering that shouldn’t unduly trouble seasoned solvers Across 1 BILLED – B(ILL)ED; “divan for one”=”divan is DBE”; caressed=BILLED (and cooed); 5 INCITE – INC-IT-E; 10 LAND-PIRATE – … Read more “Mephisto 2888 by Paul McKenna – King Charles Meets Arthur English”
Sunday Times 4675 by David McLean
It was with a mixture of trepidation and excitement that I strode to the crease last Sunday morning to take guard against a new bowler of whom I knew nothing (even his name had been … Read more “Sunday Times 4675 by David McLean”
Saturday Times 26298 (2nd Jan)
First Saturday puzzle of the new year, and it still has a couple of seasonal answers, as if it didn’t quite make the cut for Christmas week itself! A fine puzzle nevertheless. 14:44 here, with … Read more “Saturday Times 26298 (2nd Jan)”
Jumbo 1183
I had to check a couple of the answers and components as they were outside my knowledge, but the wordplay for all the clues was clear. A fair Jumbo for Boxing Day. Happy New Year … Read more “Jumbo 1183”
Times 26,303: My Interrobang Won’t Come Back
I don’t know what the record is for number of question marks in the clues of a Times crossword, but double figures of them seemed quite a lot, and was probably a good sign that … Read more “Times 26,303: My Interrobang Won’t Come Back”
Quick Crossword 479 by Hawthorn
Several entertaining clues here – 10a,12a in particular. LOI propound, even after getting pro and working my way through various currencies. Wordplay in 18d perhaps a bit obscure, but I suppose one always thinks that … Read more “Quick Crossword 479 by Hawthorn”