8 minutes for this one which I found on the easy side. The surface readings here are particularly good, possibly with one exception which I have noted below. Here’s my blog… As usual definitions are … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 720 by Flamande”
Month: December 2016
Jumbo 1237 November 26, 2016 – Slightly 17 across
Sorry folks, this should have gone up yesterday morning. Getting behind in my duties at this busy time of the year. My struggle with the Jumbo continues, this one taking an hour and 14 minutes … Read more “Jumbo 1237 November 26, 2016 – Slightly 17 across”
Mephisto 2936 – Paul McKenna
Reasonably straightforward puzzle of no more than average difficulty Across 1 HAAR – H(A)AR(wich); sea mist on the east coast; 4 MONICKER – MO(N-I)CKER; name=N; a nickname; 10 ESCHEWALS – E-SCH-(wales)*; 12 ACTED – (fr)ACTED; … Read more “Mephisto 2936 – Paul McKenna”
Sunday Times 4723 by David McLean
An enjoyable puzzle from Harry which I managed to complete in a couple of leisurely sessions interspersed by an outing to the cinema to see ‘Paterson’, which I thoroughly recommend as an off-beat but charming … Read more “Sunday Times 4723 by David McLean”
Saturday Times 26586 (3rd Dec)
Solving time 16:05, which seemed a bit slow until I saw some of the times on the Crossword Club stats. It felt even slower to me as I was stuck on the last 3 or … Read more “Saturday Times 26586 (3rd Dec)”
Times 26,591: A Wet Weekend in Wales
A puzzle for which the word that springs to mind is “ingenious”: I found no shortage of toeholds to began my ascent, but then ran into many “how on earth do I get from here … Read more “Times 26,591: A Wet Weekend in Wales”
Quick Cryptic 719 by Rongo
Found this one to be easier than average, completing it in 3:55. Hope that means there was some encouragement for those on the beginners’ slopes, and the chance for a fast time (if that’s your … Read more “Quick Cryptic 719 by Rongo”
TLS Crossword 1151 by Broteas – November 18, 2016 No Macbeth, no Duncan
If you take it that 16ac is a reference to the William Walton opera based on Chaucer’s poem, there ain’t no Shakespeare in this one, making it a true rarity. It also contains something of … Read more “TLS Crossword 1151 by Broteas – November 18, 2016 No Macbeth, no Duncan”
Times Quick Cryptic No 718 by Hawthorn
I was a bit under the 11 minute mark today, making it one of the quicker ones I’ve tried in a while – helped out by a few easy clues, a few familiar clues, and … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 718 by Hawthorn”
Times Cryptic 26590 – December 8, 2016 Well, put together
A nice quick solve for me in 14.42, helped enormously by the vast majority of the clues looking like a collection of IKEA assembly instructions: insert part a into part b, attach part c to … Read more “Times Cryptic 26590 – December 8, 2016 Well, put together”