A quick start but then things slowed down. My final gaps were the two crossers – at 6dn/12ac and 16dn/18ac where there were some unfamiliar terms. Finally completed just shy of 12 minutes – so, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1786 by Juno”
Month: January 2021
QC 1785 by Hurley
I have noticed a minority of comments recently suggesting that I (and presumably other bloggers as well) should not describe a puzzle as easy because new people who come along and who might find it … Read more “QC 1785 by Hurley”
Times 27871 – Damme, where’s that clue?
Time: 31 minutesMusic: Beethoven, Piano Sonatas, Wilhelm Backhaus. This was a bit more difficult for a Monday, although I managed to race through most of it in about 15 minutes before getting stuck. I was … Read more “Times 27871 – Damme, where’s that clue?”
Sunday Times 4936 by David McLean
13:55. A medium-difficulty puzzle from Harry this week. There were quite a few cryptic definitions, which won’t be to everyone’s taste. I quite liked these though, particularly the clever 14ac and 3dn. Clue of the … Read more “Sunday Times 4936 by David McLean”
Mephisto 3149 – Tim Moorey
Well we have often told you that you need Chambers to complete Mephisto (or at least to verify definitions), but in this case it is true four times over. There have been a few puzzles … Read more “Mephisto 3149 – Tim Moorey”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1475 – 28th December 2020. Polishing off the year
Hi all. This was the Boxing Day bank holiday (substitute day) puzzle, Boxing Day itself having been a Saturday, with its very own regular Jumbo. It was a good season at least for Jumbo lovers … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1475 – 28th December 2020. Polishing off the year”
Times Cryptic No 27864 – Saturday, 2 Jan 2021. There’s no such thing as a free hunch!
Well, this would have been a much easier job than the week before, if only I hadn’t come up with a plausible but wrong solution to an anagram. That gave me a crossing letter which … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27864 – Saturday, 2 Jan 2021. There’s no such thing as a free hunch!”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1474: EEZ’re Good
A fun Jumbo with some cool things going on in the across clues (9ac, 13ac, 53ac, e.g.), though the last half or more of the down clues seem universally very straightforward – I wonder if … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1474: EEZ’re Good”
Quick Cryptic 1784 by Pedro
More tricky than average, I’d say. Took me about 8 and a half minutes. No anagrams! COD 5dn Across 1 Order ambassador to infiltrate elite (6) BEHEST – Ambassabor in crosswords is HE (his/her excellency). … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1784 by Pedro”
Times 27,869: Now I Really Want A Waterproof Unitard
It’s early enough that I can say it without much fear of correction, best puzzle of the year so far, with not a single lacklustre clue and many, many candidates for COD. My time ticked … Read more “Times 27,869: Now I Really Want A Waterproof Unitard”