A zippy start to week – 6:33 yesterday and 6:54 today. This solve took on an X-rated approach starting by completing the NE then SW then up to NW and finally puzzling through the SE. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1651 by Mara”
Month: July 2020
Times Cryptic 27710
I completed most of this well within my target half-hour, then got stuck and after 45 minutes I gave up and resorted to aids to find the answer to my LOI at 27ac. I don’t … Read more “Times Cryptic 27710”
Times 27709 – Neque non solo nec sed etiam
A lot of anagrams and subtraction clues balanced out by a left-field clue (11a) – if I have parsecked it right, which is no given. All in all, an entertaining start to the week, which … Read more “Times 27709 – Neque non solo nec sed etiam”
Times Quick Cryptic 1650 by Hurley
This is my 200th blog of a Quick Cryptic and my solving time was 9 minutes. I don’t hold the record btw, as that belongs by a country mile to Chrisw93 who will post his … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1650 by Hurley”
Mephisto 3122 – And not just any island….
I found this one rather difficult, and needed considerable help from Chambers after filling in about 80% of the entries using only what I know. Some of the literals were a little tricky, although I … Read more “Mephisto 3122 – And not just any island….”
Sunday Times 4909, by David McLean — We are amused
This was an enjoyable way to pass a little time, though certainly not one of this setter’s most challenging. My biggest difficulty when I worked it last Saturday night was occasioned by an Internet outage … Read more “Sunday Times 4909, by David McLean — We are amused”
Times Cryptic No 27702 – Saturday, 27 June 2020. The Good Place.
For me, this puzzle was in the Good Place. No clue I couldn’t (eventually) solve, few answers if any that could be written in and justified at first glance. There were answers beyond my vocabulary … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27702 – Saturday, 27 June 2020. The Good Place.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1446 – kicking against the what?
This was mostly fairly gentle I thought, with the odd funny word to keep us on our toes, and only took about 35 minutes. First in was MOIST and last was DIGESTERS. Can you remember … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1446 – kicking against the what?”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1649 by Pedro – Sing along with me
A fun Quick Crossword with a gentle theme from Pedro today. It took an about average time for me of 5 1/4 minutes, although I think one or two clues are maybe on the tricky … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1649 by Pedro – Sing along with me”
TImes 27,707: Moanimalism
I didn’t manage to go off to the races, Monday-style, on this one, but only because, if anything, there was too little to get my head around, not too much – dull words straightforwardly clued, … Read more “TImes 27,707: Moanimalism”