Author: branch

Typical Saturday fare. Unusually rich in homophones, I thought, and in quaint double definitions (dd). No references as far as I could see to the birthday party across the Atlantic. Thanks to the setter for … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27708 – Saturday, 4 July 2020 … when the crossword doing’s dandy!”

For me, this puzzle was in the Good Place. No clue I couldn’t (eventually) solve, few answers if any that could be written in and justified at first glance. There were answers beyond my vocabulary … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27702 – Saturday, 27 June 2020. The Good Place.”

This looked for a while like an opportunity for a personal best. I wrote in clue after clue … then, two-thirds of the way through, I hit the wall. How do you all go? My … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27696 – Saturday, 20 June 2020. Fast start.”

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.”