I had all bar three (19, 20, 25) done in less than 13 minutes (or thought I had), but then took ages to finish that corner off, only to find on submission (on the Times … Read more “Times 26683 – Done Like a Kipper”
Month: March 2017
Quick Cryptic 795 by Flamande
I always find Flamande’s puzzles entertaining, even if they are rarely at the difficult end of the spectrum, and this was no exception, with an enjoyable set of surfaces and little to quibble with in … Read more “Quick Cryptic 795 by Flamande”
Sunday Times 4738 by David McLean – irreverence tempered by competence
17:08. I made slightly heavy weather of this one, putting GO OFF ON A TANGENT at 8dn and then not reconsidering it for far too long. This made 17ac difficult. I eventually sorted that out … Read more “Sunday Times 4738 by David McLean – irreverence tempered by competence”
Mephisto 2951 – Tim Moorey
I found this one very very difficult – very few that went in without a trip to the dictionary. And even then I was digging myself into a hole, by confidently putting in IN CASE … Read more “Mephisto 2951 – Tim Moorey”
Times Saturday 26676 – March 18, 2017. Insights sadly lacking.
As I start this blog I still have three answers unexplained: 1ac, 11ac, and 12dn, although given the checkers I think all three answers are clear. I hope the penny drops soon. (Aha – 1ac … Read more “Times Saturday 26676 – March 18, 2017. Insights sadly lacking.”
Times Jumbo 1254
Another (probably) not-exceptionally-difficult Jumbo. As always, * indicates an anagram. Across 1 REFECTORY – alternate letters of bEeF, in RECTORY 6 SHOW-OFF – SHOW, + OF F 10 ORIEL – OR + IE + L … Read more “Times Jumbo 1254”
Quick Cryptic 794 by Izetti
Not much to say today. I think it was on the easier side, and I can’t see much that would raise a solver’s hackles. Took me 4:56. Thanks Izetti. Here’s how I parsed it all. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 794 by Izetti”
TImes 26,681: Pink Eye In The Morning, Solvers Take Warning
A beautifully set puzzle here, absolute cryptic economy combined with terrific surfaces across the board. I was really impressed by the synergy between wordplay and definition parts in multiple places – 14ac, 21ac, 2dn, 3dn, … Read more “TImes 26,681: Pink Eye In The Morning, Solvers Take Warning”
TLS Crossword 1165 — 1A by Praxiteles – March 3, 2017 Return to Mugby Junction…
….or The Magic Fishbone This is no normal TLS, and there are clearly those at t’Club who dislike it simply because everything in it is from Dickens. The extraordinary determination of Praxiteles to give every … Read more “TLS Crossword 1165 — 1A by Praxiteles – March 3, 2017 Return to Mugby Junction…”
Quick cryptic No 793 by Hawthorn
Through this in 12 minutes at 05:30 this morning, which kept my mind off the events of yesterday at least for a while. With about another million people, I was within half a mile of … Read more “Quick cryptic No 793 by Hawthorn”