Author: branch

For the second week running, we had a reference to someone I hadn’t heard of, and once again I didn’t need to know who they were. He directed wrote The Bridge on the River Kwai. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28050 – Saturday, 07 August 2021. Who was Carl Foreman?”

This was fun. There were several clues here whose answers I guessed but couldn’t explain. I’m sure we’ll clear them up here. A special mention to 15ac – very neat. Thanks to the setter for … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28044 – Saturday, 31 July 2021. Who is Maggie Tulliver?”

An enjoyable puzzle, without much comment from me. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? Notes for newcomers: The Times offers prizes for Saturday Cryptic Crosswords. This … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28038 – Saturday, 24 July 2021.”

A smooth run here, in intervals while submerged in other things, so I expect some fast times reported. The clues seem easier than usual to blog for some reason – not that necessarily made them … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28032 – Saturday, 17 July 2021. Not drowning…solving.”

Here in our locked-down city, it was nice to have a Saturday crossword to tackle. All went smoothly. I liked the appearance of Fats Waller, and welcomed meeting the three words I didn’t know. Thanks … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28026 – Saturday, 10 July 2021. Ain’t Misbehavin!”

For me, this crossword had a very unusual feel. I stalled about 80% finished, and after I eventually found plausible answers for every clue, I had a long list of puzzling things to work through. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28020 – Saturday, 3 July 2021. Martial Arts, or Music?”

A straightforward Saturday puzzle. Everything made sense on reflection (or on examining the typesetting with a microscope for 10ac!). Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? [Read … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28014 – Saturday, 26 June 2021. Plain sailing except for the sandbanks.”

Well, the community clearly prefers Saturday blogs to appear the following Saturday, so here it is! Anyone who discovers that their fingers went into autopilot, and typed “that puzzle was easy … unlike this week”, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28008 – Saturday, 19 June 2021. Saturday rules, OK?”

There was concern among comments on last week’s blog about a (to be fair, very mild) suggestion that this puzzle was harder than the week before. Maybe it was, but I found it a delight, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28002 – Saturday, 12 June 2021. Don’t miss it!”

My major blockage with this one was the Brazilian jet. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? [Read more …]Notes for newcomers: The Times offers prizes for … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27996 – Saturday, 5 June 2021. Can Scrabble champions jet through crosswords?”