Author: branch

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?”

For me this was my easiest puzzle ever on a blogging day. I barely stopped working through the grid. It seemed that either the wordplay or the definition took me straight to the answer. The … Read more “Times Saturday 26754 – June 17, 2017. Crazy as an Ottoman.”

Good to be back! Thanks to McText for standing in. This puzzle had a slightly different feel to it. The surfaces of the clues all read nicely, and some of the definitions had a nice … Read more “Times Saturday 26748 – June 10, 2017. And the polls are in!”