Author: branch

An easy run-up to Christmas, I think. I was done before lunch, rather than over the meal, for once. I hope you all had pleasant festivities. Strangely, by the time I was three-quarters of the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27228 – Saturday, 22 December 2018. All tees dotted and eyes crossed.”

Those who like obscurities may have been disappointed – nothing here was new even to me (although the male ferret was lost in the distant reaches of memory). On the other hand, there were lots … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27222 – Saturday, 15 December 2018. A Dickens of a time.”

This had a nice spread of general knowledge, without ever getting totally over my head. Sports, poets, pharaohs, statistics – you pick it! I did it over lunch without timing it, but felt it was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27216 – Saturday, 08 December 2018. Clues for all topics.”

There might have been a bit of a retro feel to this puzzle. Old scientists, old literature, old poets, old playwrights. I liked the fact that the several such that I didn’t know were gettable … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27210 – Saturday, 01 December 2018. Ah, the good old days!”

This was fun. I worked steadily up and across from the bottom right until I found myself gazing at 1ac, 1dn and 4dn. All done over lunch, as is normal now daylight saving has arrived … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27204 – Saturday, 24 November 2018. A good test here.”

I found lots to like in this rather challenging puzzle. 26ac caused me most grief, but my clue of the day was 16ac. I’ve always been a fan of Frank! Thanks to the setter for … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27198 – Saturday, 17 November 2018. He did it his way.”

On a hectic Saturday, I found this a struggle. I was slow to get the sailor, and slow to recognise the music. Pity, as there were many delightful definitions and wordplays. I hope others had … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27192 – Saturday, 10 November 2018. Off the wavelength.”

Well, that was a breeze. I was finished in about 30 minutes, which for me rates as a gentle canter. Perhaps they decided to give the rest of us a bit of a break, while … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27186 – Saturday, 03 November 2018. Better the devil you know.”

This was a very interesting mix of clues. There were some lovely definitions, like 1ac and 2ac for a start. There were also some clues that would only appeal to me if the puzzle was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27180 – Saturday, 27 October 2018. Open book exam?”

This had some relatively obscure vocabulary, but happily the wordplay generally told us how to spell the answers. So, no complaints on that score here. Now that the clocks have changed, I normally do the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27174 – Saturday, 20 October 2018. A whale of a puzzle.”