Author: branch

A pleasant Saturday number, done in regulation time. I blinked a bit at the “sounds like” clues at 1ac and 19dn, but probably that’s just me.

I liked the reference to the Tennyson poem, even though that clue, along with some others at the top right, took me longest to see!

I had a flashback to high school physics at 1ac. Otherwise, I had no trouble “forcing” my way through this, except for 13ac which I hoped to figure out before it’s time to load this blog. Alas, it turned out to be my first complete fail as a blogger!

This puzzle appeared on April Fools Day, but the setter resisted any temptation, unless I’ve missed something.

Several things I didn’t know here, but nothing that made an answer impossible to get. Overall, it felt like a steady solve.

I was puzzled by a few of the anagram indicators here. I eventually realised what was happening in 10ac, but I made a note of 6dn, to check whether that one is on anyone’s list of anagram words! A good amount of head-scratching here, but all done, even if a bit slowly.

I loved the Churchilllian reference at 15ac. Clearly the clue of the day.

Much to like this week. Answers went in quickly, until I slowed down in the NE corner. My LOI, and also my COD, was 7dn with its clever reference to Washington DC. Exceptional!

Today’s setter did some delightful “sleight of hand” with words that deceived the solver. The definitions in 12d and 14d looked like something entirely different; I smiled at mention of the playmaker in 17d too.

I got through this relatively quickly, until I found myself staring at 9dn wondering what could possibly fit there. Eventually, the crossers suggested the relevant comic book hero, and presto!