All reasonably straighforward with one definition at 31A not understood Across 1 BIGGER – BI(G-G)ER; German=G; what you find in a stein=BEIR; 5 MISSED – M-(sides)*; my=M’ as in m’lud; ; 10 EVERSION – EVER-(is … Read more “Mephisto 2912 – Paul McKenna”
Month: June 2016
Sunday Times 4699 by David McLean – Yo Ho Ho!
For me this was far and away the most enjoyable from ‘Harry’ so far. Super puzzle, I thought, with plenty of wit (loved 16dn and 15a), some crackerjack anagrams (1ac and 28ac standouts), a highly … Read more “Sunday Times 4699 by David McLean – Yo Ho Ho!”
Saturday Times 26442 (18th June)
8:09 solved online, so fairly straightforward for me. Some UK-specific GK required (e.g. 25, 26) and a bit of ornithology too, but the wordplay made them all gettable I think. Across 1 Abraham in square … Read more “Saturday Times 26442 (18th June)”
Jumbo 1212 June 11, 2016 – From another time?
Probably should have blogged this one at the time of solving two weeks ago, because to tell the truth I don’t remember very much about it. Seems so long ago now, back when it was … Read more “Jumbo 1212 June 11, 2016 – From another time?”
Times 26,447: Exit Strategies
I made heavy weather of this puzzle, almost 20 minutes worth of it, after a terrible day in which I wrote my entire TLS blog only to lose the whole thing on hitting the submit … Read more “Times 26,447: Exit Strategies”
Quick Cryptic 599 by Izetti
Another DNF for me after last week. Clever anagram at 1a, but I didn’t know the phrase and also stumped by 5d, although nothing unfair about it. I think I blogged a dope/gen clue recently.A … Read more “Quick Cryptic 599 by Izetti”
TLS Crossword 1128 by Talos (June 3, 2016) – Like Catching Your Favourite Uncle Crossword Blogging
There have been some pretty gruelling TLS workouts in recent memory, so I was pleased to discover that this was “just” a straightforward cryptic crossword requiring a moderate breadth of literary GK to tackle. Thanks … Read more “TLS Crossword 1128 by Talos (June 3, 2016) – Like Catching Your Favourite Uncle Crossword Blogging”
Times Quick Cryptic No 598 by Teazel
A really nice puzzle, towards the harder end of the spectrum. I did yesterday’s just before this, and took just over twice as long today at 16 mins, so on a made-up scale of difficulty … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 598 by Teazel”
Times Cryptic 26446 – June 23, 2016 You find that there comes a time for making your mind up
A relatively benign brew which resulted in a time of 19.17. As I write, the seasonal thunder is rolling around the North Weald, ominously presaging the upheavals of the day ahead, and clearly our setter … Read more “Times Cryptic 26446 – June 23, 2016 You find that there comes a time for making your mind up”
Times 220677 – 1977, a year best forgotten?
I can’t say I jumped for joy when I saw I was blogging another ‘oldie’ this morning (I’ll also blog the 3rd TC Qualifier and post it when the closing date has passed). 35 minutes … Read more “Times 220677 – 1977, a year best forgotten?”