Another quality MCS with some finely-turned cluing, not a word wasted anywhere. I loved the guest appearances by L. Savage and C. Hodges, the fact that there were a few “normal-strength” clues in here to … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,248: Cute Rockney, All British”
Month: May 2021
Times 27991 – A pencil with a big eraser, actually!
Time: 61 minutesMusic: Mendelssohn/Schumann Piano Trios, Casals/Thibaux/Cortot I certainly did not do very well with a puzzle that should not have been very difficult. Yes, there are tricky bits, but we have seen most of … Read more “Times 27991 – A pencil with a big eraser, actually!”
QC 1885 by Breadman
Once again I managed to do most of this sequentially, thrown off my stride only by 21A which should have been enough of a chestnut for me by now just to write it in. I … Read more “QC 1885 by Breadman”
Sunday Times 4956 by Robert Price
19:43. Another very fine puzzle from Bob, who is having a great run. This one was also quite tough, so gave me plenty of enjoyment last Sunday. As usual with this setter there are lots … Read more “Sunday Times 4956 by Robert Price”
Mephisto 3169 – Don Manley
Greetings barred-grid fans, Don Manley has treated us to another grid of obscure words clued with immaculate wordplay. I cannot say much else other than that this would be an excellent puzzle for setters who … Read more “Mephisto 3169 – Don Manley”
Times Cryptic No 27984 – Saturday, 22 May 2021. Geographically challenged.
I was stumped by 12ac. The rest was Saturday standard. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? [Read more …]Notes for newcomers: The Times offers prizes for … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27984 – Saturday, 22 May 2021. Geographically challenged.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1498 – 15 May 2021
Hello again. This Jumbo I thought was extremely straightforward, solved in a single session (unusually for me) in maybe 20 mins. But it has some extremely neat surface readings and constructions, so I still enjoyed … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1498 – 15 May 2021”
Quick Cryptic 1884 by Mara
Quite the anagram fest today, which usually indicates the easier end of the spectrum, though I took 8 minutes which is mid-range for me. CoD probably 16ac. Across 1 Thought of French being set free … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1884 by Mara”
Times 27,989: There’s Only One Way To Solve, And That’s Your Own, Your Own, Your Own
Tersely clued, but with a good sense of humour throughout. I liked 15ac a lot: a short and unusual word makes for a good “hidden”, and groaned appropriately when I worked out the logic behind … Read more “Times 27,989: There’s Only One Way To Solve, And That’s Your Own, Your Own, Your Own”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1883 by Des
Des is an infrequent setter who I have blogged a couple of times before. I find that his puzzles are usually accessible and elegant, with occasional use of rare or archaic vocabulary, as is the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1883 by Des”