Hello all! I found this on the easy side of middle-of-the-road – mostly pretty straightforward, but with one or two tasty nuggets. I liked the 21-letter anagram at 13a and the novel anagrind at 15a … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1317 – 7th April”
Month: April 2018
Quick Cryptic 1074 by Felix
6 minutes without any major challenges. A good demonstration of the art of the Double definition, some of which (11ac, 3dn) had me thinking. I wonder if the setter is mourning the news that there … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1074 by Felix”
Times 27,017: Mission to Minsk
That archival puzzle on Wednesday may have been a blessing in disguise, if it put us in the right frame of mind for today’s, which I thought had a definite and not unpleasing old-school feel. … Read more “Times 27,017: Mission to Minsk”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1073 by Hurley
Some meaty and harder to spot anagrams in this offering from Hurley. My brain must be tuned to potential anagrams, because I see them even when they aren’t there, which can waste a lot of … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1073 by Hurley”
Times 27016 – we’ll do our best
Solving time: 14:27. Probably should have been a lot faster but I was held up by a few crafty definitions. Definitions so crafty that I suspect this will not be a puzzle for the biffers. … Read more “Times 27016 – we’ll do our best”
Times 230365 – when sausages had taste and puzzles had orchises.
The first qualifier puzzle for the 2018 TCC is published today, so this puzzle from yesteryear* appears in the online section instead. (I’ll blog the qualifier after the closing date for entries). I can’t say … Read more “Times 230365 – when sausages had taste and puzzles had orchises.”
Quick Cryptic 1072 by Teazel
Breezed through most of this enjoyable puzzle from Teazel until I was left with the 18a / 19d pairing at the end, which took me an age to work out. (Well, once 18a was finally … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1072 by Teazel”
Times Cryptic 27014
I needed 67 minutes for this one and found it very hard. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones] … Read more “Times Cryptic 27014”
Times Quick Cryptic 1071 by Pedro.
Spoiler alert. If you’d prefer to solve the grid with no thematic hint then please press the reveal button only after completion. Thank you, Pedro, for this well appreciated reminder of the wit and wisdom … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1071 by Pedro.”
Times 27013 – Peckinpah Meets Coward?
Sorry, owing to a number of unforeseen circumstances that I will not bore you with, I need to do this on the iPad. So, no bells and whistles (or clues), I’m afraid. A little under … Read more “Times 27013 – Peckinpah Meets Coward?”