Author: branch

With the rain pouring down non-stop on the Emerald City, I wouldn’t have minded if this puzzle had been more challenging. As it turned out, it was accessible to journeyman solvers like me, and probably … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27930 – Saturday, 20 March 2021. Wet or dry?”

Times Cryptic No 27924 – Saturday, 13 March 2021. A satisfyingly “Saturday” puzzle. All doable, but not much easy. An obscure term at 22dn, but clear from the wordplay. The best cricketing clue ever at … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27924 – Saturday, 13 March 2021. Down the middle of the fairway, or into the rough?”

Well, that was fun. I got started in the NE corner, and finished in the SW. There was a scattering of words I had to look up post solve, but nothing to stop one finishing. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27918 – Saturday, 6 March 2021. How do you spell that?”

Well, I want to give very special thanks to the setter this week. The crossword was full of answers I didn’t know, but could get from the very precise wordplay. Particular mention goes to 22ac, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27912 – Saturday, 27 February 2021. How do you spell that?”

I was stuck on this for ages, with three clues unsolved. To clear my mind, I started preparing the blog. Joy – all three jumped out after the break! It’s not an easy puzzle, but … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27906 – Saturday, 20 February 2021. What mental block?”

There was some very clever wordplay here, but nothing to stretch the solver’s general knowledge. So, I expect success stories, perhaps achieved slowly. The number of exotic wordplay indicators struck me as unusual, with particular … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27900 – Saturday, 13 February 2021.”

This was a delight. Clever definitions, challenging wordplay, and some amusing surfaces. Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. My definition of the day was 12ac closely followed by 27ac, and wordplay of … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27894 – Saturday, 6 February 2021. Slip, slap, slop.”

This was a smooth and quick solve until I was left only with the red at 20ac and the reference to the underworld at 7dn. Unlike the reference last week to Trotsky, this week’s red … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27888 – Saturday, 30 January 2021. The red flames of Hell.”

There were at least five clues here where I thought, well that must be the answer, although I can’t explain it! I’ll put it in and look up how, who or why before I write … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27882 – Saturday, 23 January 2021. Crosswords in the mist?”

We have a famous communist in today’s grid. It reminded me of an exchange in the 1983 Australian election campaign. Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser said that if a Labor government was elected, “people would be … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27876 – Saturday, 16 January 2021. Reds under the bed?”