A scorpion of a QC! I was well and truly bitten by the sting in the tail which was 13dn.
Month: September 2022
Times Quick Cryptic 2215 by Jalna
Hello everyone. Thanks to Jalna for a puzzle which I found lots of fun and thought perfectly pitched for the slot.
Time after time, I don’t have a clear favourite to mention here, but this time I do: 17d. I also liked the gift of frilly clothing in 14a. Neither of these clues have misleading definitions, but both have delightful wordplay.
Times 28387 – Hey, Mr Jagger, this was a bit difficult!
I had intended to attribute the problems I had with the puzzle to the Bank Holiday, but upon checking the calendar I find that was last week. I didn’t help myself by biffing estaminet with two checkers, even though that is an old cafe and not an old hotel.
Sunday Times 5022 by Dean Mayer
I found this very hard initially, with only a few clues going in after my first pass.
Mephisto 3235 – Don Manley
Greetings barred-grid fans. Another fine puzzle from Don Manley where the wordplay falls into place neatly. There’s not as many unusual words in the grid, so I expect most will find this at the easier … Read more “Mephisto 3235 – Don Manley”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1571 – and that’s when I remembered where I’d left my bike
Hello once again. I think we’re in average Jumbo territory here in terms of difficulty. The usual smattering of GK needs and advanced vocab are here, along with trademark Times well-disguised definitions…
Times Cryptic No 28380 – Saturday, 27 August 2022. Wine, songs, fairy tales.
As the title says, wine, songs, fairy tales, and more: everything you need for a Saturday night? Actually, this is a pleasant middle of the road Saturday challenge, which you might well have finished before lunch.
Quick Cryptic 2214 by Hurley
I enjoyed this. It’s fairly straightforward, but introduces some devices that are marginal for a QC, so beginners may struggle
Monthly Club Special 20,263: Not To Be Confused With Tiny Paul Rudd
After a too-swiftly-dispatched Friday 15×15, it was great to have this beast to entertainingly fill up the rest of the half-hour. I was repeatedly delighted by the audacity and elan, especially the numerous times the … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,263: Not To Be Confused With Tiny Paul Rudd”
Times 28,385: Atlas Shrugged
I did this in under 5 minutes, so no matter how much I enjoyed some of the clues I am duty-bound to call into question its Fridayishness. And I *did* enjoy the cluing: fun definition … Read more “Times 28,385: Atlas Shrugged”