I found this a curious mix of excellent clues and (IMO) rather unsatisfactory ones.
Month: November 2022
Times Quick Cryptic No 2267 by Izetti
None of the vocabulary should be too tricky here, though I had to think twice about some of the constructions.
Times Cryptic 28448
I didn’t find this very easy but it was an enjoyable solve and I was never in doubt that I would finish it.
Times Quick Cryptic No 2266 by Wurm
Like the subject of the song by The Who?, I’m a substitute here for another guy!
Times 28447 – Down in the kitchen
I found this harder than usual for a Monday, and only got five across answers on the first read-through. Fortunately, the down clues were easier, and I gradually made progress.
Times Quick Cryptic 2265 by Hawthorn
Hi everybody. I started apace, then slowed down somewhat to finish in a normal-for-me-for-a-quickie time of 07:16. My last in was 3d: I knew I needed to think a bit laterally, but still took a few moments to coax my creaky brain up a gear. No complaints – which, considering that I’m in a distinctly grumpy mood as I write this, might just be high praise! 5a is my COD – for the penny-drop, natch. Thanks Hawthorn!
Mephisto 3245 – Tim Moorey
Greetings barred-grid fans. Don’t remember a lot about solving this last week, as it was through a Sunday morning fog after enjoying myself thoroughly (maybe a little too thoroughly) at a Renaissance Faire on Saturday. … Read more “Mephisto 3245 – Tim Moorey”
Sunday Times 5032 by Robert Price
9:34. The usual very high quality fare From Robert this week.
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1582 – 29th October
A typically entertaining Jumbo, this one, with plenty of straightforward clues to get you going but a few chewy bits as well A little trickier than average, I thought. Thank-you setter. How did you all get on?
Times Cryptic No 28440 – Saturday, 5 November 2022. Please to remember … the fifth of November?
The fifth of November used to see celebration of Guy Fawkes day with firecrackers in Australia, but fire danger in hot and often dry weather put an end to that. So just a regular Saturday. The puzzle had some answers at the outer reaches of my vocabulary, gettable from wordplay.