9:46. I didn’t find this puzzle particularly hard but I really enjoyed it. Some clever stuff here including (to take a couple of random examples) the excellent cryptic definition across the top row and the … Read more “Sunday Times 4984 by David McLean”
Month: December 2021
Mephisto 3197 – Tim Moorey
Greetings barred-grid fans. Took me a while to get into this one, and my copy is covered in notes (though I take more notes when I know it is my turn to blog), but no … Read more “Mephisto 3197 – Tim Moorey”
Times Cryptic No 28152 – Saturday, 4 December 2021. Let us pray, like 23dn.
This flowed easily enough, except for the lingering doubt over 23dn, my LOI. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? Note for newcomers: The Times offers prizes … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28152 – Saturday, 4 December 2021. Let us pray, like 23dn.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1528 – 27 November 2021
Hello again. I don’t really have a time for this crossword for two reasons, the first of which is that I tend to do jumbos in several short sessions, as and when time permits. The … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1528 – 27 November 2021”
Quick Cryptic 2024 by Izetti
I found this awkward to start with, though it started to flow once I got going. I’ll be interested to see how others get on, but I reckon this is at the trickier end of … Read more “Quick Cryptic 2024 by Izetti”
Times 28,157: Quaerere Verum, Ire XC Milia Passuum Occidens
Now this is the stuff! A really good Friday puzzle I thought, despite one piece of wilful obscurity – you know I’m usually all for wilful obscurity in everything, but one must draw the line … Read more “Times 28,157: Quaerere Verum, Ire XC Milia Passuum Occidens”
Times Quick Cryptic No 2023 by Joker
Another very fine puzzle from Joker (my second in a row whilst blogging), which took me 12 minutes to complete, fully parsed. There was only one piece of unknown GK (12 across) and some fine … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2023 by Joker”
Times 28156 – and it’s goodnight from him
Time taken: 14:13. I got off to a pretty good start but took a long time to piece together the ones I had to get from wordplay, and was relieved when there were no pink … Read more “Times 28156 – and it’s goodnight from him”
Times Quick Cryptic 2022 by Trelawney
Introduction 4:42, which I imagine will be a slowish time by comparison with the speed demons! As often with Trelawney, the puzzles are not usually very taxing, but the clues are very nicely constructed. This … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2022 by Trelawney”
Times 28155 – … and so Cornish means like a cereal?
A meaty Wednesday, this week, not far off a Friday helping, I thought. A couple of definitions on the edge of acceptable, I felt (1a, 15a) and one word at 24d I didn’t know but … Read more “Times 28155 – … and so Cornish means like a cereal?”