Eleven minutes this morning, which is just outside my new target time, but this was a nice puzzle from Hurley. I spent an extra minute or so trying to parse SPENDER for 18a after falling … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1053 by Hurley”
Month: March 2018
Times 26991 – familiarity breeds chickens
I’m not sure how easy or hard this puzzle will prove to be on the snitchometer, but I found it mostly straightforward; it seemed that many of the clues I’d either seen the likes of … Read more “Times 26991 – familiarity breeds chickens”
Quick Cryptic 1052 by Hawthorn
Not sure if this was particularly tricky or if I just made unduly heavy weather of it, but this took me an age to complete. I suspect it was probably a bit of both: some … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1052 by Hawthorn”
Times Quick Cryptic 1051 by Mara
I completed this in a medium difficulty time which would have proved quicker had I not missed 1dn. I only found this relatively easy clue when I was struggling to complete 8ac. How does one … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1051 by Mara”
Times Cryptic 26990
I solved all but 7dn in 45 minutes, stared blankly at the remaining clue for another 15 and then used aids to come up with a word I never heard of and would never have … Read more “Times Cryptic 26990”
Times Quick Cryptic 1050 by Joker
12 minutes for this, so now a week has passed since I last achieved my 10-minute target and I think I have entered a sort of vicious circle so that I am apprehensive as I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1050 by Joker”
Times 26989 – One of the fifty ways?
Time: 27 minutesMusic: Mingus at Antibes Greetings, all. I am acting tonight as a last-minute substitute for Ulaca, who is otherwise engaged. Usually, when you get a puzzle you are not normally scheduled to blog, … Read more “Times 26989 – One of the fifty ways?”
Mephisto 3002 – Tim Moorey
This puzzle is on the easy side. In the blog, the definition in the clue is underlined and followed by the answer; the parsing; any comments ACROSS 1 Splash / short gaiter (4)SPAT: two meanings;4 … Read more “Mephisto 3002 – Tim Moorey”
Sunday Times 4789 by David McLean
An unusually straightforward anagram at 1ac right across the grid got me off to a most encouraging start, and with the well-read earl, the heavy rock and several others on the first quick read through … Read more “Sunday Times 4789 by David McLean”
Times Cryptic No 26982 – Saturday, 10 March 2018. A tasty number.
Much easier than last week. All done, checked and submitted in 33:16. LOI was 11ac, for no good reason – the concept came to mind quickly, but the answer hid itself in the recesses of … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26982 – Saturday, 10 March 2018. A tasty number.”