11 minutes for this rather elegant crossword from Breadman (an unusual setter? – I’m sure someone will let us know). A lot of clues seemed complex but broke down easily. There were a few clues … Read more “Quick Cryptic 776 by Breadman”
Month: February 2017
Times 26660
This took me 25 minutes so I have achieved my target half-hour at both opportunities so far this week. We have some brand names today, that of a magazine at 9ac and a well-known high-street … Read more “Times 26660”
Times 26659 – The need for speed….
Solving time: 14 minutes Music: Shostakovich, Symphony #11, Berglund/BournemouthSO I could hardly believe my time for this puzzle, as one clue after another fell with minimal effort. The one answer that should have given me … Read more “Times 26659 – The need for speed….”
Quick Cryptic 775 by Joker
A straightforward puzzle from Joker today, I thought, with a plethora of simple charades and no vocabulary likely to be completely beyond the ken of regulars. COD to 16A. The puzzle can be found here … Read more “Quick Cryptic 775 by Joker”
Sunday Times 4734 by Dean Mayer
19.33. Another very fine puzzle from Dean this week. I found it tricky, with numerous clues that had me scratching my head until the penny dropped. Looking at them now, as I write up the … Read more “Sunday Times 4734 by Dean Mayer”
Mephisto 2947 – Don Manley
I finished this with some very large question marks, four of which required some online research to sort out. Fortunately the definition was unambiguous in each case. 90-degree and 180-degree symmetry in the grid this … Read more “Mephisto 2947 – Don Manley”
Jumbo 1250
Somewhat harder than average, with a handful of unknowns for me that went in on wordplay and crossed fingers. I enjoyed a good number of the surfaces, which isn’t always the case with Jumbos – … Read more “Jumbo 1250”
Saturday Times Cryptic 26652 – February 18, 2017. Don’t cry for me Richard Nixon.
I’m just temping here, alternately with Brnchn (Bruce), for the next few weeks while our new boss Vinyl finds a permanent replacement for the irreplaceable Linxit (I believe B is continuing). Some vintage American material … Read more “Saturday Times Cryptic 26652 – February 18, 2017. Don’t cry for me Richard Nixon.”
Club Monthly 20197 February 2017
Solving Time: 40 minutes, quick for me once again this month though my efforts to parse 16dn seem unconvincing so far.. otherwise the usual very high quality stuff we have come to expect from the … Read more “Club Monthly 20197 February 2017”
Times 26,657: Down With The NHS
A second puzzle in a row done by me, in defiance of human physiology and all else that is holy, first thing in the morning; but once more this left me with loads of change … Read more “Times 26,657: Down With The NHS”