Author: branch

In the meantime, in between time, ain’t we got fun? This crossword took us from sunup with the swelling sound of birdsong (kookaburras, for example) to sundown (time for supper), but it was a quick … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27690 – Saturday, 13 June 2020. In the meantime …”

It took me a long time to get on the setter’s wavelength. Once I did, they had me chuckling, starting with 17dn and 17ac. My clue of the day was clearly the kettle lady at … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27684 – Saturday, 6 June 2020. A game of two halves.”

This was fairly easy for a Saturday; two weeks in a row. Even so, my first one in was wrong and had to be fixed later! I also had a few general knowledge gaps. I’d … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27678 – Saturday, 30 May 2020. Sunshine and sweet treats.”

This was fairly easy for a Saturday. It was distinguished by some very clever anagram indicators that took me time to see, and some clever usages I had to look at twice. LOI was 9ac, … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27672 – Saturday, 23 May 2020.”

My brain was in a fog, so my solving time was off the chart. Nothing to do with COVID, thankfully! The puzzle wasn’t easy, but I don’t think there’s anything that should frighten the horses … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27666 – Saturday, 16 May 2020. The mellow mists of May.”

Well, is 8dn a thundering good clue, or am I thunderstruck? I can make no sense of the definition, so I suspect there’s a British usage I’m not familiar with. If you know anything, please … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27660 – Saturday, 9 May 2020. Donner und Blitzen!”

It’s a beautiful, sparkling autumn day as I write this blog in the Emerald City, so I found it a little ironic that my last answer in was the one with the Oz reference. Never … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27654 – Saturday, 2 May 2020. Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

This was a delightful exercise. The most notable feature was how often I saw a probable answer, but hesitated to write it in because I couldn’t see why … in most cases to eventually smile … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27648 – Saturday, 25 April 2020. Happiness is a crossword.”

This was something of a battle. I enjoyed the challenge, except perhaps when I stalled over my last two outstanding, the Mediterranean 14ac and the Gothic 4dn. If I’d known the shared letter where they … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27642 – Saturday, 18 April 2020. Mediterranean Gothic Crossroads.”

This puzzle felt somewhat harder than the average Saturday puzzle, with a special mention for obscure vocabulary and neologisms. I didn’t know 1ac, although the meaning is clear, nor 9ac or 13ac, and I felt … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27636 – Saturday, 11 April 2020. Worshippers of obscure gods.”