Author: branch

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.”

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!”

A bit harder than last week I thought, and more exotica, but I got there without ever being driven to desperation. There were lots of clues I liked, but my clue of the day is … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26886 – Saturday, 18 November 2017. It’s an Enigma.”

This was my idea of a perfect crossword! I am a big fan of puzzles that use familiar words in unfamiliar ways, rather than obscurities from foreign places and times, and/or plant and animal names. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26880 – Saturday, 11 November 2017. Nice clues if you can get them.”

Times Cryptic No 26874 – Saturday, 04 November 2017. Slowed to a crawl. While, we hoped, the stars of the troupe were tripping and twirling their way through a series of competition puzzles, this one … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26874 – Saturday, 04 November 2017. Slowed to a crawl.”

I found this relatively easy for a Saturday, which is of course not to say easy in any absolute sense. I’m back to solving on paper, but I estimate it took me about 40 minutes … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26868 – Saturday, 28 October 2017. Uluru, if you please!”

This was a fairly straightforward solve, although not very quick. I finished the LHS first, then the top right, and finally made sense of the bottom right. I’m always happy when there’s no weird vocabulary! … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26862 – Saturday, 21 October 2017. Straight down the fairway.”

After doing the previous Saturday’s blog, I could see some synchronicity in the minds of that setter and this one. A reappearance of “Devil’s  Island”, and an echo of “cabbages and kings”, this time actually … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26856 – Saturday, 14 October 2017. Synchronise your cluing.”

Lots of obscure references in this one, at 13ac, 3dn and 14dn particularly, but everything was gettable from wordplay or definition so a fair challenge. I am writing this blog belatedly so I don’t have … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26850 – Saturday, 07 October 2017. Devilish stuff.”