Time: 39 minutesMusic: Rimsky-Korsakoff, Scheherezade, Kondrashin/Concertgebouw I was quite impressed with this little number. Unlike most Monday puzzles, it definitely stretched me out a little. Perhaps I was expecting an ordinary Monday puzzle, causing me … Read more “Times 28231 – Monday, Monday……and an important blog announcment!”
Month: March 2022
Times Quick Cryptic 2085 by Teazel
Hi all. I’m happy to join you here, taking on the blogging slot vacated by Astartedon. This puzzle took me bang in the middle of my usual time range (the clock stopped at 7:31) so … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2085 by Teazel”
Mephisto 3209 – Tim Moorey
Greetings barred-grid fans I found the top half of this puzzle pretty tricky. Time got away from me, so this is a late and quick blog. In Mephisto puzzles, defnitions can be confirmed in Chambers … Read more “Mephisto 3209 – Tim Moorey”
Sunday Times 4996 by David McLean
15:33. Quite a tricky one from Harry this week, and all the more enjoyable for it. Some fun and quirky definitions, a number of very good cryptic ones, and a particularly brilliant &Lit at 16dn. … Read more “Sunday Times 4996 by David McLean”
Times Cryptic No 28224 – Saturday, 26 February 2022. Painless puzzle pleases.
After a busy week that left me with a backlog of daily puzzles, I was pleased to get through this one without problems. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28224 – Saturday, 26 February 2022. Painless puzzle pleases.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1542 – 19th February
I rather enjoyed this Jumbo which has a certain amount of quirkiness and whimsy enlivening the wordplay and definitions, with some taking me a while to work out…. and the style makes me think I … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1542 – 19th February”
Quick Cryptic 2084 by Orpheus
For some reason I absolutely tore through this in 4 minutes, which is my quickest time in ages. Everything is pretty familiar, to an experienced solver at least. The only one that gave me pause … Read more “Quick Cryptic 2084 by Orpheus”
Times 28,229: A Good Blog Spoiled
I liked the first row of this very much, with the interesting device at 1ac and “details of damage on label” being a classic sneaky definition part. But a lot of the rest was relatively … Read more “Times 28,229: A Good Blog Spoiled”
Times 28228 – I’ll take my grapes sour, please.
Time taken: 12:03 but with one incorrect, and my incorrect answer was my pet peeve in crosswords, a proper noun clued as an anagram. I could picture the sculptor’s pieces, those very thin metal men. … Read more “Times 28228 – I’ll take my grapes sour, please.”
Times Quick Cryptic No 2083 by Hurley
I think this was a classic Quick Cryptic; nothing too obtuse, nothing too difficult, simple devices clearly indicated. It still took me 13 minutes, and probably should have been quicker, but I took a moment … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 2083 by Hurley”