This had a different feel from the usual QC fare, and I took a while to get into it. I got almost nowhere with the NW corner on first pass, and had to look several … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1412 by Des”
Month: August 2019
Times Cryptic 27422
I found this quite hard in places and needed 59 minutes to complete the grid. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and … Read more “Times Cryptic 27422”
Times Quick Cryptic 1411 by Hurley
The top half went in on first glance but things changed the lower down the grid I got. This culminated with 14dn. In retrospect I’m not sure why it caused such a problem but I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1411 by Hurley”
Times 27421 – God knows, they need all the publicity they can geth
This was, I think, a rather unMondayish offering, with some interesting vocabulary (if tending to the cruciveralesque, perhaps), a minor prophet from the Good Book, a relatively famous Roman playwright (they are all pretty non-famous … Read more “Times 27421 – God knows, they need all the publicity they can geth”
Times Quick Cryptic 1410 by Orpheus
Solving time: 8 minutes. This is my second consective blog of a QC by Orpheus, and very enjoyable it is too. I thought it was straightforward but I shall be interested as always to read … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1410 by Orpheus”
Mephisto 3074 – Tim Moorey
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. 1A … Read more “Mephisto 3074 – Tim Moorey”
Sunday Times Cryptic 4861, July 28 2019, by Dean Mayer — “an ultimate dim Thule”
I wasn’t at the top of my game—the heat must have been getting to me—as I at first inked in SOUND POLLUTION for the rather obvious 9. Still, this was more of a stroll than … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4861, July 28 2019, by Dean Mayer — “an ultimate dim Thule””
Times Cryptic No 27414 – Saturday, 27 July 2019. Blue moon – you saw me standing alone.
In the main, this was a fairly straightforward solve. Happily, there was no obscure technical items, although there were a couple of answers (27ac and 7dn) where I made a mental note to look in … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27414 – Saturday, 27 July 2019. Blue moon – you saw me standing alone.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1392 – 20th July
As I write this summary somewhat belatedly, I seem to remember that I didn’t find it overly hard, but there were a few unknowns I had to trust the wordplay for. No time recorded but … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1392 – 20th July”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1409 by Breadman
On my holidays in the Scottish Borders at the moment (apologies for the self-indulgence, but see the end of the blog for a couple of related bonus clues) and travelling home today, so I may … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1409 by Breadman”