For me this puzzle was hard to start, but once I had a foothold it flowed fairly smoothly. Once I saw 1dn, the NW corner gave up its secrets easily. Hardest was probably the long … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26958 – Saturday, 10 February 2018. Once begun, half done.”
Author: branch
Times Cryptic No 26952 – Saturday, 03 February 2018. Normal service has now resumed.
After the mystery clues of the previous Saturday, this was a straightforward solve. I took a wild stab at the botany clue, and took the setter at his word for the geography clue, but everything … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26952 – Saturday, 03 February 2018. Normal service has now resumed.”
Times Cryptic No 26946 – Saturday, 27 January 2018. Everything old is new again.
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.”
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.”