Mid-difficulty for me. The biggest challenges were the two 11-letter answers in the middle of the grid, so much so that I ended up working around them until the very end of the solve. Lots … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1907 by Mara”
Month: June 2021
Times 28017 – transport for the chop
I worked through this steadily with no real problems, knowing the ancient card game at 23d and the forest at 24a, and the rest; then struggled to explain how 22d works, even though the answer … Read more “Times 28017 – transport for the chop”
Times Cryptic 28016
I solved this in 22 minutes but it didn’t seem that easy in the process. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and … Read more “Times Cryptic 28016”
Times Quick Cryptic 1906 by Joker
A game of two hallves with the left hand side flying in but much slower progress toward the right. Which reminds me of a faintly remembered report of a goalless draw – the football reporter … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1906 by Joker”
QC 1905 by Tracy
A straight sequential solve for me. Not many anagrams, double definitions or hidden words which are the types of clue I normally find it easiest to get my teeth into so it must just be … Read more “QC 1905 by Tracy”
Times 28015 – A bit peckish, perhaps?
Time: 30 minutesMusic: Stan Getz, Sweet Rain I must admit I found this puzzle a little strained. There were some good ideas, but some of the definitions and wordplay were just a little off, not … Read more “Times 28015 – A bit peckish, perhaps?”
Sunday Times 4960 by David McLean – do you speak-a my language?
13:38. I really liked this puzzle, but I have left blogging until very late (as I write it’s just after midnight on Saturday) so I’m a bit rushed and my memory of solving it is … Read more “Sunday Times 4960 by David McLean – do you speak-a my language?”
Mephisto 3173 – Tim Moorey
Greetings barred-grid fans This is a classic Tim Moorey puzzle, a few cultural references, crafty wordplay and some fun surfaces. I did find this a little more difficult than the previous few weeks, not helping … Read more “Mephisto 3173 – Tim Moorey”
Times Cryptic No 28008 – Saturday, 19 June 2021. Saturday rules, OK?
Well, the community clearly prefers Saturday blogs to appear the following Saturday, so here it is! Anyone who discovers that their fingers went into autopilot, and typed “that puzzle was easy … unlike this week”, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28008 – Saturday, 19 June 2021. Saturday rules, OK?”
Cryptic Jumbo 1503 – 12 June 2021
Hello again. This Jumbo I thought was medium difficulty, easy to start but (as is becoming usual for me) much harder to finish off. I still can’t fully parse 1dn, comments welcome, and despite a … Read more “Cryptic Jumbo 1503 – 12 June 2021”