Time taken: 11:14 Not sure what to say about this one – there’s a lot of phrases in the grid that I wouldn’t use, and most of them have wordplay that helps you to get … Read more “Times 27640 – let ‘er 24”
Month: April 2020
Times Quick Cryptic No 1593 by Joker
This was an absolute delight from Joker, all done and dusted in 13 minutes, so a perfectly targeted quick cryptic as far as I was concerned. From the very first clue there was much to … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1593 by Joker”
Times 27639 – one coffee was enough.
Well, last Wednesday we had one of the hardest on record, and this week I’ll be surprised if our SNITCH gets halfway to last week’s dizzy heights. I polished this off in a steady 18 … Read more “Times 27639 – one coffee was enough.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1592 by Izetti
Introduction 12:52. There was always something that could go in easily, but I found myself scratching my head at several clues that I could only get on a second pass. My slow-ish time was due … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1592 by Izetti”
Times Cryptic 27638
This was a technical DNF for me. I solved all but two clues in 35 minutes but after a further 10 minutes of getting nowhere I used aids to find one of the missing answers … Read more “Times Cryptic 27638”
Times Quick Cryptic 1591 by Wurm
A tough one which I only just completed thanks to some unlikely memory retrieves (1ac, 20ac, 13dn) plus a fingers crossed LOI at 10ac. 13 minutes. Beginners on the cryptic crossword road do need to … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1591 by Wurm”
Times 27637 – Nice and easy does it…
…one more time. Nothing to scare the equines here. If I could get home in 17 minutes, then I am expecting PBs and fast times from our speed merchants. Here’s how it pans out… ACROSS … Read more “Times 27637 – Nice and easy does it…”
Times Quick Cryptic 1590 by Juno
Solving time: 10 minutes. Today we have a very rare offering from Juno who although first setting for us in June 2014 has contributed only 10 puzzles to date. The most recent before this was … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1590 by Juno”
Mephisto 3110 – Then you eat him?
I have to admit partial defeat. While I was able to get about three-quarters of the puzzle without reference books, in the end I got most thoroughly stuck, and had to pull out all the … Read more “Mephisto 3110 – Then you eat him?”
Sunday Times Cryptic 4897, by David McLean — That rainy day feeling again
Not only am I (are we) virtually confined to quarters—at best allowed out for a little while each day to STRETCH ONE’S LEGS—but my ancient printer has decided to die on me, so I haven’t … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4897, by David McLean — That rainy day feeling again”