Whoever it was asking whether longtime Times solvers can guess the identity of the setters – I’ve been under the weather this week and so asked our esteemed editor for a special advance copy, during … Read more “Times 26,531: Old McDonald Had A Grid, X-Q-K-J-Z”
Month: September 2016
Quick Cryptic 669 by Teazel
Nearly twelve minutes for me, how did the rest of you go? My major hold-up at the end, for no reason I can offer in hindsight, was the classic old TV show at 24ac. One … Read more “Quick Cryptic 669 by Teazel”
TLS Crossword 1141 by Praxiteles – September 9, 2016
A surprisingly topical puzzle with some jokes, a dodgy homophone, some science, some philosophy, classics, an obscure poison, some religion, and a trap for the unwary. What could be better? I got this about half … Read more “TLS Crossword 1141 by Praxiteles – September 9, 2016”
Times Quick Cryptic No 668 by Izetti
A nice sprinkling of history in today’s tricky offering from Izetti. We had a Victorian cardinal, the First and Second World Wars, an old clan member (if we’re to stretch a point), and two references … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 668 by Izetti”
Times Cryptic 26530 – September 29, 2016. A Navel Encounter.
25 minutes on the dot, distracted perhaps by the incessant roar of a butterfly flapping its wings in the far, far distance. I don’t think there’s anything too tricky here, though there are a couple … Read more “Times Cryptic 26530 – September 29, 2016. A Navel Encounter.”
Times 26529 – one poet too many
Bushy tailed this morning, I sped through most of this in fifteen minutes, thanks to some write-ins and chunky anagrams. However the last few eluded me for a while longer, ending with 1d and 12a, … Read more “Times 26529 – one poet too many”
Times Quick Cryptic 667 by Flamande
Standing in at the last moment for William I prepared this in haste so please forgive lack of commentary. It took me 9 minutes to solve. Here’s my blog… As usual definitions are underlined in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 667 by Flamande”
Quick Cryptic 666 by Joker
666 may be ‘the devil’s number’ but this was 13 minutes of entertainment from Joker. With a mix of easy-in and harder clues, my COD goes to 11ac for the definition. I have a bit … Read more “Quick Cryptic 666 by Joker”
Times Cryptic 26528 – A Touch of Frost
This one took me a leisurely 37 minutes so I imagine some of the speed-merchants will be home within 10 today. There’s a reminder of the winter weather to come at 17ac and 16dn, and … Read more “Times Cryptic 26528 – A Touch of Frost”
Quick Cryptic 665 by Orpheus
Orpheus has been a member of the Quicky stable of setters since the beginning, giving us a puzzle about once every 3 weeks, and (in my experience at least) has produced offerings all over the … Read more “Quick Cryptic 665 by Orpheus”