Author: branch

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.”

Winter is approaching this side of the globe, and so the crossword now appears in time to tackle, and in this case to finish, before lunch. Joy! I often find the quickest way into a … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27630 – Saturday, 4 April 2020. Back to front.”

I found this another relatively easy number for a Saturday. My FOI was 4ac, and LOI was 1ac, which I think was also my favourite among a number of contenders. Several delightful clues, like 14ac … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27624 – Saturday, 28 March 2020. Heteronyms ’R US.”

I barely finished the horror Friday puzzle by the time Saturday’s reached the web site, so it was a relief this one was solvable! My FIO was 14ac, which was so obviously an anagram. My … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27618 – Saturday, 21 March 2020. Doubling down on definitions.”

This puzzle was much easier than the previous week, with ‘starter’ clues like 24dn and 26dn, followed by meatier things that covered a broad range of general knowledge, but were guessable if you didn’t know. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27612 – Saturday, 14 March 2020. Everything you could ask for.”

This puzzle took me several times longer than the week before. No walk in the park here! I wrote in 1ac at a glance, and then there was a long interlude before I solved 20ac. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27606 – Saturday, 07 March 2020. Of imaginary beasts and fanciful fractions.”

This week’s puzzle felt like a speed test. 1ac went in at a glance, and then each helper letter seemed to lead to another answer. So, I was finished quite quickly, although I admit I … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27600 – Saturday, 29 February 2020. A run in the park.”

I’m sorry this is a half hour late. I’m not sure why. Some weird time zone problem, I suspect. Anyway, the puzzle was not as easy to finish over lunch as last week’s, but was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27594 – Saturday, 22 February 2020. More food for thought.”