Easiest puzzle for some time – top to bottom solve and very little use of dictionary Across 1 BENEFACT – BENT surrounds CAFE reversed; 6 DADA – DAD-A; 10 ACALEPHAE – (a place he a)*; … Read more “Mephisto 2944 by Don Manley”
Month: February 2017
Sunday Times 4731 by Dean Mayer
The usual Dean Mayer blog epithets apply – elegant, succinct, masterly tight cluing with plenty of real ingenuity. This puzzle was, I think, probably one for the true connoisseurs. It struck me (Pseud’s Corner alert) … Read more “Sunday Times 4731 by Dean Mayer”
Jumbo 1247 January 21, 2017 – Gobbledegook, codswallop and bunkum…
…it’s as if the setter had anticipated my blog! As I recall, I got through most of this one quite quickly. Then slowed to a crawl for the last few to finally record a time … Read more “Jumbo 1247 January 21, 2017 – Gobbledegook, codswallop and bunkum…”
Saturday Times 26634 – 28th Jan
Finally got around to solving this on Thursday evening after work,and it took around 12 minutes or so. Nothing too difficult, although a few look harder on first sight – then you figure out which … Read more “Saturday Times 26634 – 28th Jan”
Time for a change
It’s with some regret that I’ve come to this decision, but also some relief. I’ve got to call it a day as maintainer of this site and as Saturday blogger. I’ve been contributing since 2006 … Read more “Time for a change”
Times 26,639: Bridge Over Troubled Waters
I’ve not been at the top of my cryptic game recently – stressed and tired from having piled too many other things onto my plate over the last fortnight, but at least I’m being paid … Read more “Times 26,639: Bridge Over Troubled Waters”
Quick Cryptic 759 by Izetti
Morning all. Many of you will recall that Izetti got the new year started for us with a bit of a stinker. He then graciously reponded to our grizzling by hoping that 2017 would improve … Read more “Quick Cryptic 759 by Izetti”
TLS Crossword 1158 by Myrtilus – January 13, 2017
I was rather hoping it wouldn’t be my turn to do this one because I had a glaring gaffe at 12D. But after Zabadak’s Inaugural phantom phenom blog on January 20th, it fell to my … Read more “TLS Crossword 1158 by Myrtilus – January 13, 2017”
Times Quick Cryptic No 758 by Rongo
This was my slowest time after a few speedyish days, coming in at 12-and-a-half minutes, so maybe slightly harder than average. Bonus new word (or re-learnt word), which is always nice, and one I’ll try … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 758 by Rongo”
Times Cryptic 26638 – February 2, 2017 Economy Class
19.11 with proper pre-submission checking, so for me the stiffest of the week so far but not oppressively so. What strikes clearly with this is the brevity of the clues, averaging around five words each. … Read more “Times Cryptic 26638 – February 2, 2017 Economy Class”