Author: Chris

A QC for the old hands to charge through and the newbies, I hope, to finish. That is if they don’t get all muddled, as I did, with 16dn which took the final minute of … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1206 by Tracy”

An excellent QC, in my opinion, as it was quick (8:28) but definitely put up a struggle. Unusually, I had several half answers around the grid at one time waiting for a crossing letter (e.g. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1201 by Izetti”

Just over ten minutes for this one and all the time it seemed pretty tricky. Loi 22ac. Whilst the old timers may sail through, serenely or otherwise, I feel there are a lot of learning … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1196 by Orpheus”

Thanks to vinyl1 and plusjeremy for stepping in over the last couple of weeks. It’s very hectic having just got back – two interruptions during the course of solving means that I have no meaningful … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1191 by Pedro”

Clicked a few seconds over 10 minutes whilst working on LOI 20ac. A fair smattering of anagrams and a dog reference or two made this a pleasant solve. As I can’t see anything else in … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1176 by Mara”

A decent time (9:23) but I didn’t find this easy. Towards the end I was faced with gaps in all four quadrants but was relieved that none of these took too long to fall, the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1171 by Breadman”

Like yesterday’s I started off at a sprint, especially the left side, but then struggled with some of the chewier clues. I was left staring at the last two – COD 7dn then LOI 16ac … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1166 by Joker.”

Having got no joy in several clues in the top half, I ducked down to the SW and built the grid up from there. Last two standing when everything else was complete were 17ac and … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1161 by Orpheus”

LOI 8ac took a while to drop and took me to a fraction over 8 minutes. If one were to feel particularly strongly about it, one could formulate a reference to US politics in 1ac, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1156 by Pedro”

16:32. This was slow going all the way through and I wondered if I’d ever complete the NW. Last two in (LTI) 8ac and then 2dn. Normally when I go through the clues in detail … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1151 by Teazel”