Author: branch

For me, this was a slow solve, but never frustrating, apart from another club site problem. I started solving on my iPad, only to find that a standard iPad multi-finger gesture prompted the club site … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26820, Saturday 2 September 2017. A good idea on paper.”

 Perhaps my enjoyment was jaundiced by jet-lag after 23 hours of travel, but there were several clues I found unsatisfying here: 14ac, 4dn, 7dn  and perhaps 16dn, not to mention 15ac which is still a … Read more “Times Saturday 26814 – 26 August, 2017. I’ve got a little list!”

This started easily with the two geisha clues, but got progressively harder. 14ac, 17ac and 7dn were all difficult. My choice for the clue of the day is 20ac – nice definition and nice wordplay. … Read more “Times Saturday 26808 – August 19, 2017. What does a geisha desire?”

I got through this in just over an hour, so quickly for me. And all done without paper on the new site, since I’m travelling. It was the sort of puzzle I like, with clever … Read more “Times Saturday Cryptic No 26802 – 12 August 2017. Very relaxing.”

This was my first blog from the new Crossword Club site. I was able to solve on paper more or less as usual. The only real hiccup came when I tried to cut and paste … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26796, Saturday, 05 August 2017. Everything old is new again?”

I don’t know if it was because I have just got back from being heavily engaged in other things, but this crossword seemed to be a struggle from start to finish. (Thanks to McText for … Read more “Times Saturday 26790 – July 29, 2017. Call me baffled.”

This was great fun, not least because I was watching replays of Wimbleton at the same time. There were several unknowns, but in each case the rest of the clue steered me straight eventually. Cats … Read more “Times Saturday 26778 – July 15, 2017. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.”

I think this will be another easy or medium puzzle by Saturday standards, at least for the expert solvers. A nice mix – some history, some geography, some languages. The SE corner took me longest … Read more “Times Saturday 26772 – July 8, 2017. One for our North American friends.”

After struggling last week, this week went very smoothly until the last answer! I started well, finishing the bottom half (all bar one) and then the NW followed by the NE, but then found myself … Read more “Times Saturday 26766 – July 1, 2017. Nothing tedious today.”

After breezing through last week, this week saw me thud back to earth! I started well, finishing the NW corner, but then gradually slowed to a standstill. My last ones in were 15ac, 6dn, 20dn … Read more “Times Saturday 26760 – June 24, 2017. Too many unknowns?”