Author: branch

I’d never heard of the political arrangement at 12D, so no music played for me … tho’ I’m sure it was different for some. Anyhow, the answer was clear from the helpers. Nor was my geography up to naming the answer to 2D – that one I had to look up. Everything else was within my ken. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on?

A regulation Saturday challenge, done in perhaps slightly under regulation time. 11D stretched my knowledge of Covent Garden – do they sell roses there? 14A amused me, and 15D stretched my vocabulary. Thanks to the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28278 – Saturday, 30 April 2022. Who will buy my bright red roses?”

A fun exercise. Not too hard and not obscure, with two answers I didn’t know but could work out. 24A raised a smile. The parsing of 2D puzzled me but no doubt I’ll sort it … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28272 – Saturday, 23 April 2022. Right as a 6D.”

This was a straightforward solve, with a few obscurities that we’ve seen before. The top right held my last few in, shortly after I cracked 8D. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28266 – Saturday, 16 April 2022. Known unknowns?”

This was easy bar the last few in the north-east. I knew I’d seen the answer to 10A before, but even after I got that, it took ages to see the wordplay … a delightful … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28260 – Saturday, 11 April 2022. Show me the shape of your money!”

Well done, setter! Clue after clue made me smile. My eye fell first on 20A, which set the tone! Things flowed enjoyably through the SW corner, then the rest of the bottom half. LOI was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28254 – Saturday, 4 April 2022. Impeccable performance.”

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.”

Lots of familiar words as answers, with challenging wordplay to untangle. I enjoyed it! Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? Notes for newcomers: The Times offers … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28242 – Saturday, 19 March 2022. Wordplay’s the game.”

I thought I detected more humour than usual in this offering. 17ac made me smile, and 15dn had a light touch. New setter, or just a sunny day? We’ve finally had some sunshine in these … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28236 – Saturday, 12 March 2022. No lack of spirit here.”

Far and away my favourite clue here was 1ac. The answer took me totally by surprise, obvious though it may have been to some. Overall, a fun outing. Thanks to the setter for a very … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28230 – Saturday, 5 March 2022. A horse, my blogdom for a horse.”