I found this a cheerful enough number, with intelligent and witty clues and nothing I could see that was obscure. My last two in, the mostly harmless crossing pair at 3d and 14a took my … Read more “27658 Thursday, 7 May 2020 “Two households, both alike in dignity””
Month: May 2020
Times 27657 – half an hour of pleasure and no pain.
I enjoyed doing this one as much as any of recent times, and, unlike last week, have no axes to grind about the definitions or clueing; some fine wordplay and nothing impenetrable. 1a and 2d … Read more “Times 27657 – half an hour of pleasure and no pain.”
Times Quick Cryptic 1607 by Joker
Just the one unknown meaning for me today (23ac) in an otherwise top-to-bottom solve. Definitions underlined. Across 3 Bric-a-brac mostly running wild (8) BARBARIC – anagram of (running) BRIC-A-BRAc (mostly). 7 Part of ulcer is … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1607 by Joker”
Times Cryptic 27656
Solving time: 40 minutes. Not overly difficult but I was slowed down by two unknown plants and the Australian bird. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} … Read more “Times Cryptic 27656”
Times Quick Cryptic 1606 by Tracy
I got nowhere in the top half of this puzzle so dropped down and built it back up again. Finally, I was left with three clues – 4ac, 4dn and 8ac which eventually fell in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1606 by Tracy”
Times 27655 – However, in Kilmacrennan……
Music: Bach Cello Suites, Jano StarkerTime: 22 minutes Well, here we have it, another easy Monday. As usual, I came home in about my usual time with no particular difficulties, just getting a little stuck … Read more “Times 27655 – However, in Kilmacrennan……”
QC 1605 by Hurley
Thank goodness this was an easy one. My Macbook screen is on the blink (literally) and my head is aching with trying to see the words through a blur of flickering lines and flashing colours. … Read more “QC 1605 by Hurley”
Sunday Times 4900 by David McLean – pandemic edition
9:53. A fairly straightforward puzzle from Harry this week, with nothing unknown to me in the answers and only one unfamiliar city in the wordplay. A few rather painfully topical clues in this age of … Read more “Sunday Times 4900 by David McLean – pandemic edition”
Mephisto 3113 – Tim Moorey
Well aren’t I silly – I had an incorrect entry – did not spot BRAWL. There goes my chance for a prize I am ineligible for and that is not in stock! Greetings all – … Read more “Mephisto 3113 – Tim Moorey”
Times Cryptic No 27648 – Saturday, 25 April 2020. Happiness is a crossword.
This was a delightful exercise. The most notable feature was how often I saw a probable answer, but hesitated to write it in because I couldn’t see why … in most cases to eventually smile … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27648 – Saturday, 25 April 2020. Happiness is a crossword.”