Well, that was hard. After about two and a half times as long as last week, I finally felt reasonably sure I knew all the answers, but now as I submit the blog five days … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26946 – Saturday, 27 January 2018. Everything old is new again.”
Author: branch
Times Cryptic No 26940 – Saturday, 20 January 2018. The anniversary waltz.
This puzzle appeared on the first anniversary of the inauguration of the current US president, and not a single reference! Such restraint. I finished this in a bit over 20 minutes on the timer, so … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26940 – Saturday, 20 January 2018. The anniversary waltz.”
Times Cryptic No 26934 – Saturday, 13 January 2018. Double the fun!
This puzzle may have set a record for the number of double definition clues – five out of 29. I found it relatively straightforward – 36 minutes on the timer. I put in 24ac on … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26934 – Saturday, 13 January 2018. Double the fun!”
Times Cryptic No 26928 – Saturday, 06 January 2018. All right bar my plight.
This might have been a “typical” Saturday puzzle, if I hadn’t foolishly biffed a wrong answer to 25ac, and so made 23dn impossible until I eventually gave up and went back to check the helpers. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26928 – Saturday, 06 January 2018. All right bar my plight.”
Times Cryptic No 26922 – Saturday, 30 December 2017. A gentle wind-down.
Well the last Saturday crossword for 2017 made for a pleasant finish to the year. Now that clocks have changed I regularly do the crossword over our midday meal and found nothing to upset the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26922 – Saturday, 30 December 2017. A gentle wind-down.”
Times Cryptic No 26916 – Sat, 23 December 2017. Never mind the turkey, pass the Crossword please
I have no idea how long this took, because it was a workshop topic over a pre-Christmas lunch with what might, given luck, be the next generation of crossword fans! I do know that after … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26916 – Sat, 23 December 2017. Never mind the turkey, pass the Crossword please”
Times Cryptic No 26910 – Saturday, 16 December 2017. A Christmas present?
Finished on paper in 45 minutes – a gallop by my standards. I think most of the clues in this puzzle are unusually straightforward in structure, with very few obscure references. The challenges are in … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26910 – Saturday, 16 December 2017. A Christmas present?”
Times Cryptic No 26904 – Saturday, 09 December 2017. Diamonds are forever.
Times Cryptic No 26904 – Saturday, 09 December 2017. Diamonds are forever. I struggled with this crossword at the end of a long hard week. Others may have found it easier. Lots of general knowledge … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26904 – Saturday, 09 December 2017. Diamonds are forever.”
Times Cryptic No 26898 – Saturday, 02 December 2017. A sunny spot in my day.
Easier than last week I thought, and again with the admirable quality that one could write answers in with the confidence that yes, that must be it … although I had to look twice at … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26898 – Saturday, 02 December 2017. A sunny spot in my day.”
Times Cryptic No 26892 – Saturday, 25 November 2017. Give it to me straight, doctor!
Harder than last week for me, but very enjoyable. Every clue was solvable, even the beast at 18ac, and every answer went in with that satisfying feeling, “yes, clearly that’s it”. I didn’t know a … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26892 – Saturday, 25 November 2017. Give it to me straight, doctor!”