I enjoyed this puzzle and there were quite a few wordplay elements that were new to me. Also a big fan of the grid, 180-degree symmetry and two enrties that span the entire puzzle. Kept … Read more “Mephisto 3115 – Don Manley”
Month: May 2020
Times Cryptic No 27660 – Saturday, 9 May 2020. Donner und Blitzen!
Well, is 8dn a thundering good clue, or am I thunderstruck? I can make no sense of the definition, so I suspect there’s a British usage I’m not familiar with. If you know anything, please … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27660 – Saturday, 9 May 2020. Donner und Blitzen!”
Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1437 – 2nd May
I don’t keep a record of my solving times for the Jumbo, but this was surely my quickest at just 24:30 on the clock. For once there were (to me) no unknown words or General … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1437 – 2nd May”
Times Quick Cryptic 1614 by Mara
By some mistake The Times has given us 1614 by Mara and 1615 by Tracy today, one in the Crossword Club and both in the online newspaper. The blog for 1615 had already been posted … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1614 by Mara”
Times 27,665: Craving “A Good Walk Spoiled”
With the R&A getting a mention, along with its home of St Andrews on the slimmest of justifications, I think our setter may have been wishing he was 11ac-ing on the second half of 10ac … Read more “Times 27,665: Craving “A Good Walk Spoiled””
Times 27664 – we’ve got a live one!
Time taken: 13:04, with my last one in being the clue that floored me. Although it is not forbidden, I think it is unfair to clue proper names using anagrams, particularly uncommon foreign names that … Read more “Times 27664 – we’ve got a live one!”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1613 by Izetti
Whilst there were some very nice clues here, and nothing obscure or unusual, I’m not convinced that this offering from Izetti is up to his usual very high standards. It may just be me, but … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1613 by Izetti”
Times 27663 – no flooring me with this one.
Another Wednesday with a reasonably straightforward puzzle, made easier by the grid shape with four long clues around the edges. All four went in early on, once I’d accepted that the preserve required could be … Read more “Times 27663 – no flooring me with this one.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1612 by Teazel
Introduction 18:35. Without question the most difficult Quickie I’ve ever attempted. It was a real struggle to get home, and for a time I thought I might give up. Nevertheless, I appreciated having to think … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1612 by Teazel”
Times Cryptic 27662
Solving time: 45 minutes. Not easy and I was delayed by a couple of unknowns, but it’s all perfectly fair. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} … Read more “Times Cryptic 27662”