15:40 for this one, which I didn’t get around to until yesterday morning. Biffing in UNDERCOAT early on for 2dn didn’t help much, but it fit three of the crossing letters so I didn’t give … Read more “Saturday Times 26334 – 13th Feb”
Month: February 2016
Quick Crossword 509 by Tracy
Back in tricky territory again this week, I felt. Made up a word at 1a to begin with (cellural, anyone?) and stared long and hard at 18a before realisation dawned. I knew the word play … Read more “Quick Crossword 509 by Tracy”
Times 26,339: The Starlight Barking
Wow, was I ever not on the wavelength for this one, taking over 20 minutes to toil my way through out for the first time in what feels like a long time. It *had* been … Read more “Times 26,339: The Starlight Barking”
26338 Cutting through the red tape.
A respectable 18.11 derailed by a rather spectacular mondegreen (even if I do say so myself). Up to that point of discovery, on something like the third or fourth careful check, I rather enjoyed this … Read more “26338 Cutting through the red tape.”
Quick Cryptic 508 by Oran
No obscurities and no special GK needed. Unlike yesterday’s, this seemed to me to be very straightforward. I was interrupted by a phone call which was distracting and I failed to time it. A couple … Read more “Quick Cryptic 508 by Oran”
Times 26337 – Archimedes was here, so was Aristophanes
For once I was seriously against the clock, needing to solve and blog this for y’all to fustigate, before collecting visitors for a day being touristy. Surprise and relief, therefore, when my timer was stopped … Read more “Times 26337 – Archimedes was here, so was Aristophanes”
Quick cryptic Number 507 by Izetti
I found this very tricky, with some grown-up clueing leading me to unusual or unknown vocabulary. Amongst my list of (at best half-) guesses, were the ghost, plant, actress/material, and location in Sri Lanka. Bit … Read more “Quick cryptic Number 507 by Izetti”
Quick Cryptic 506 by Mara
Excellent offering today. Didn’t seem too hard but took me 13 minutes – some of which was spent admiring the clues. Good, humorous clues just kept on coming – in my solving order – 23, … Read more “Quick Cryptic 506 by Mara”
Times Cryptic 26336
This one took me 45 minutes which on reflection seems rather excessive but I reserve the right to take extra care and double-check the parsing when it’s my day for blogging. Nothing strikes me as … Read more “Times Cryptic 26336”
Times 26335 – Rebuke a Scotsman? That’s not right!
Solving time: 25 minutes Music: Christine Primrose, Aite Mo Ghaoil A moderate puzzle after the weekend offerings. Having tuned my brain up to the the Saturday/Sunday level, it is sometimes difficult to step down and … Read more “Times 26335 – Rebuke a Scotsman? That’s not right!”