Solving time: 09:47 The title refers to 13 across, and in keeping, while I type this up, I’m listening to Aretha Franklin’s sublime version – do yourself a favour and put it on while you … Read more “Times 27196 – have you anything to say to me?”
Month: November 2018
Times Quick Cryptic No 1223 by Oink
I don’t remember blogging an Oink puzzle before, but found this a gentle offering, completed in just under 9 minutes. Nothing to frighten the horses here. The only bit of general knowledge required is the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1223 by Oink”
Times 27195 – TCC Heat 1 number one. No easy starter for me.
Apparently 36 out of 90 entrants got this one correct, of whom 22 found time to finish the other two puzzles correctly in the hour or less. I was not feeling the brightest, having already … Read more “Times 27195 – TCC Heat 1 number one. No easy starter for me.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1222 by Wurm
A nice puzzle with fine wordplay, mostly solved in ten minutes. But then I spent the next five trying to figure out 10 Across, 19 Across, and 24 Across, all of which I had in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1222 by Wurm”
Times Cryptic 27194
This was a slow but steady solve and took me 62 minutes in all with only one answer unknown and no queries of any significance. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and … Read more “Times Cryptic 27194”
Times Quick Cryptic 1221 by Flamande
A very pleasant jaunt through crossword-land today with Flamande – nothing too scary as far as I can see. It took me 8:48 which I suspect will be around a 2 on the Kevinometer. Let … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1221 by Flamande”
Times 27193 – Epic Fails
To be honest, I was well stuffed by this one, albeit beaten by two rare words and one where I was looking for the wrong bit of underwear. Yes – one of the those days. … Read more “Times 27193 – Epic Fails”
Times Quick Cryptic 1220 by Tracy
My solving time was 6 minutes. I almost hesitate to suggest that I think most solvers will find this accessible and there may be few, if any, complaints about its level of difficulty. As usual … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1220 by Tracy”
Mephisto 3036 Paul McKenna
Unless you’re very experienced you are unlikely to solve a Mephisto without using Chambers. The idea is that you use the precise wordplay to derive an answer that you then verify in the dictionary. 19A … Read more “Mephisto 3036 Paul McKenna”
Sunday Times Cryptic 4823, by Jeff Pearce — It’s easy… too easy(?)*
* My desultory research indicates that the first citation of “It’s quiet… too quiet” may be a line in the film Drums Along the Mohawk (1939). This was a moderately entertaining and not very difficult … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4823, by Jeff Pearce — It’s easy… too easy(?)*”