Quite tricky today. Although I managed to finish just inside my target time, Tracy has a way of making you second guess how the clue works while solving it. I did not know 3dn, 7dn, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2107 by Tracy”
Month: April 2022
Times Cryptic 28256
Having completed all but four answers in 20 minutes I thought I was going to achieve my target half-hour with time to spare, but 13ac/dn, 16ac and 12dn delayed me and I needed 34 minutes … Read more “Times Cryptic 28256”
Times Quick Cryptic 2106 by Joker
I seem to have been tuned in to Joker on this one, zipping through in 6 minutes. Did I have a good day or was it easy? Do let me know. Definitions are underlined. Across … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2106 by Joker”
Times Quick Cryptic 2105 by Izetti – T’ya love DDs?
Hi everyone. I spent well over two minutes on my last two in, 8a/2d, but managed to finish in 8:11, still comfortably in my expected time zone. I didn’t notice until writing up the blog … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2105 by Izetti – T’ya love DDs?”
Times 28255 – Print users gobsmacked!
Music: Shostakovich, Symphony 10, Karajan/BPOTime: 40 minutes Perhaps my time was not great, but I have a pretty good excuse. I was about ten minutes into my solve when I noticed my printout had no … Read more “Times 28255 – Print users gobsmacked!”
Sunday Times 5000 – mmmmm
23:36. A suitably chewy puzzle for a remarkable 9ac. Not as hard as ‘Sunday Times Cross-Word Puzzle No 1’ though, which appeared on the same day and left me with the impression that if I … Read more “Sunday Times 5000 – mmmmm”
Mephisto 3213 – Paul McKenna
Welcome barred-grid fans! A change is as good as a holiday, so I am always happy when there is something a little different about the grid. Paul McKenna has given us an 11×13 grid anchored … Read more “Mephisto 3213 – Paul McKenna”
Times Cryptic No 28248 – Saturday, 26 March 2022. Names Were the Nemeses Weighing on the NW.
This got off to a good start, but the north-west corner brought me to a standstill. The setter got one up on me at one down, by getting me thinking about law enforcement, not opera. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28248 – Saturday, 26 March 2022. Names Were the Nemeses Weighing on the NW.”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1546 – Daisy, Daisy give me two GTs and two PMs
This was a relatively straightforward Jumbo, but a NHO plant, a “foreign” sporting term and a couple of bits of head-scratching wordplay kept me on my toesies. First in was KEY RING and last, because … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1546 – Daisy, Daisy give me two GTs and two PMs”
Monthly Club Special 20,258: Oh, The Cluemanity!
Some insane words and super duper cluing in this one. I really loved the next level deviousness of 6ac, all reverse cryptic and &lit stuff in general, and the great surface of 27ac: but my … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,258: Oh, The Cluemanity!”