Joy and bliss for me – another Saturday that I could finish without tearing of hair or beating of breast, without spending too much time in a state of 15ac. The NE corner was the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27300 – Saturday, 16 March 2019. Let bliss and joy abound.”
Author: branch
Times Cryptic No 27294 – Saturday, 09 March 2019. Show me the money.
Welcome, travellers. This puzzle will take us through Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, and a Pacific island, on our way to South America. We’ll need lots of foreign money! The puzzle wasn’t particularly hard, but featured lots … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27294 – Saturday, 09 March 2019. Show me the money.”
Times Cryptic No 27288 – Saturday, 02 March 2019. Snakes on a plane.
This was a fly-by-night effort. In other words, I did it on an inter-city flight on my way home from a long meeting. Under the circumstances, it went reasonably quickly – at least I finished … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27288 – Saturday, 02 March 2019. Snakes on a plane.”
Saturday, 23 February 2019 – Times Cryptic No 27282. Quick, it’s Saturday!
This seemed like the easiest Saturday puzzle it’s ever been my task to google. All clues are well constructed, but few if any would be out of place in a Quick Cryptic. Perhaps using the … Read more “Saturday, 23 February 2019 – Times Cryptic No 27282. Quick, it’s Saturday!”
Saturday, 16 February 2019 – Times Cryptic No 27276. Up in the air.
Saturday, 16 February 2019 – Times Cryptic No 27276. Up in the air. I solved this puzzle on an iPad on an intercity air flight. It was all done by the time I landed, bar … Read more “Saturday, 16 February 2019 – Times Cryptic No 27276. Up in the air.”
Times Cryptic No 27270 – Saturday, 09 February 2019. Good for the digestion.
This seemed fairly straightforward for a Saturday. I finished comfortably over lunch. There was a good helping of clever wordplay, and lots of gravy. I liked 12, 17 and 27ac, and 16, 19 and 24 … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27270 – Saturday, 09 February 2019. Good for the digestion.”
Times Cryptic No 27264 – Saturday, 02 February 2019. Let the punishment fit the clue.
I wish I could say I “was brilliant” as per 9ac, but this one outlasted lunchtime for me, so a little harder than some I’d say. For discussion purposes, the clue of the day will … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27264 – Saturday, 02 February 2019. Let the punishment fit the clue.”
Times Cryptic No 27258 – Saturday, 26 January 2019. A sunburnt country.
As I wrote this a week ago on Australia Day, the sunburnt country continued to set high temperature records. Lucky today’s puzzle wasn’t a scorcher too. I finished all but 25ac in regular time, but … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27258 – Saturday, 26 January 2019. A sunburnt country.”
Times Cryptic No 27252 – Saturday, 19 January 2019. Happy Australia day
This blog appears on an Australian public holiday to mark the arrival of British settlers in Sydney Cove. A good or a bad thing depending which side of history you were on. Arguably not the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27252 – Saturday, 19 January 2019. Happy Australia day”
Times Cryptic No 27246 – Saturday, 12 January 2019. The agony and the ecstasy.
There were some delights here. I loved 10ac and 24dn, but the standout for me was 15dn – the clue of the year so far for me! (That’s a small sample, it’s true.) I spent … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27246 – Saturday, 12 January 2019. The agony and the ecstasy.”