I didn’t find this terribly difficult, and finished most of it before going to bed. Don Manley’s cluing is very precise, and if you just trust the cryptics completely you will get the answers. The … Read more “Mephisto 3172 – Tall tales? Not here!”
Month: June 2021
Sunday Times Cryptic 4959, by Robert Price — strength in numbers
I really enjoyed this. There are no answers shorter than five letters, and (but of course, it’s Bob!) many slick surfaces evoking amusing images that may distract you so much that you skate right over … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4959, by Robert Price — strength in numbers”
Times Cryptic No 28002 – Saturday, 12 June 2021. Don’t miss it!
There was concern among comments on last week’s blog about a (to be fair, very mild) suggestion that this puzzle was harder than the week before. Maybe it was, but I found it a delight, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28002 – Saturday, 12 June 2021. Don’t miss it!”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1502 – 5th June
I thought this at the gentler end of difficulty for a Jumbo, taking just over 35 minutes. It did take me a while to get properly going, though, solving only 6 across clues on the … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1502 – 5th June”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1899 by Orpheus
Oh dear. I came a bit of a cropper with this one, getting stuck on my last clue (1A) and having to resort to a wordfinder to finish. I can’t remember the last time I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1899 by Orpheus”
Times 28,007: Footymania
In keeping with the present zeitgeist, this crossword has multiple football XI’s in it, one of them even Italian, to celebrate Italy’s recent 3-0 win over Switzerland. (Can I just say I’m borderline offended by … Read more “Times 28,007: Footymania”
28006 Thursday, 17th June 2021 Keep taking the tablet.
Well that’s been exciting. My PC has made itself unobtainable, so I’m working on a not very powerful android tablet, fine for doing the crossword, as I seem to make fewer mistakes, but a bit … Read more “28006 Thursday, 17th June 2021 Keep taking the tablet.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 1898 by Wurm
A touch under 11 minutes, around a minute longer than yesterday’s, so tricky enough and it took a while to get going properly. A top-notch puzzle, with lovely surfaces and satisfying misdirection throughout. A few … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1898 by Wurm”
Times Quick Cryptic 1897 by Joker
A bit of slang I didn’t know (5dn), but this didn’t really hold me up. Otherwise, staple fare finished comfortably within target. After a second look, I thought there might have been something fishy going … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1897 by Joker”
Times 28005 – right on the money.
This was one of those puzzles, for me, where the entry points are slow to arrive, then the answers come thick and fast, until you’re left with a couple of obstinate ones (2d, 4d) which … Read more “Times 28005 – right on the money.”