A straightforward enough Jumbo with some nicely concise cluing, and which touched on some interesting areas of general knowledge in the across clues. Did I blog this one on the actual correct day for the … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1329: B for Mutton”
Month: June 2018
Times Cryptic No 27072 – Saturday, 23 June 2018. Thar she blows!
Another typically challenging Saturday puzzle, I thought. I had to do it in bits and pieces because I was otherwise engaged all that day, so I don’t have a time, but it rates as another … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27072 – Saturday, 23 June 2018. Thar she blows!”
Quick Cryptic 1124 by Alfie
Now, I expect this one will divide opinion. It was an enjoyable solve, and the wordplay is by and large reasonable, with the exception of 2dn maybe, and possibly 26ac if you think reversed hidden … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1124 by Alfie”
Times 27,077: Ignorance, Madam, Pure Ignorance
This was gentlish fare for a Friday, taking me no more than about 7 minutes on paper, but there was a light touch to the cluing and I chuckled and groaned in all the right … Read more “Times 27,077: Ignorance, Madam, Pure Ignorance”
Times 27069 – TCC third qualifier published 20 June
A sub 15 minute time on this, IMO the easiest of the three qualifiers this year. Plenty of scope for biffing, although some of the definitions are quite erudite, e.g. 10a, 21d. There is one … Read more “Times 27069 – TCC third qualifier published 20 June”
Times 27076 – put that bloody cigarette out!
Solving time: 24:15. The most difficult puzzle I have tried in a while, and although I’m three cocktails in I think this is a legitimate challenge, as most clues required an understanding of both wordplay … Read more “Times 27076 – put that bloody cigarette out!”
Quick Cryptic No 1123 by Mara
Well inside my harder target of 10 minutes, this took only 8 for me again this morning afer an unofficial PB yesterday, so I doubt there will be many complaints about this puzzle being too … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 1123 by Mara”
Times 27075 – Is it still Monday?
After Monday’s stroll with the SNITCH at only 70, and yesterday’s at 71, you’d think I’d be in for a brain buster. But no, I had all but two of these clues sorted in 14 … Read more “Times 27075 – Is it still Monday?”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1122 by Flamande
Masterful. After some recent puzzles, I was bracing myself for a real doozy. On the contrary, I found this to be relatively straightforward — but the best kind of straightforward, where the surface readings are … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1122 by Flamande”
Times Cryptic 27074
If Monday was the new Monday this week (as claimed by Kevin yesterday) I don’t know where that leaves this puzzle which I found even easier and it delayed me only 20 minutes. Edit: Thanks … Read more “Times Cryptic 27074”