Author: dorsetjimbo

Another unusual grid with only 15 across clues but 21 downs – it’s almost four little puzzles bolted together. Not an indirect anagram in sight in a pleasant middle of the road offering. Across 1 … Read more “Mephisto 2850 by Don Manley”

A slightly strange grid with 20 across clues and only 16 down and hence quite a number of 4 letter words. This puzzle appeared on 29th March which was Ximenes’ birthday and I have two … Read more “Mephisto 2848 by Tim Moorey – Happy Birthday Macnutt”

By far the easiest Mephisto I’ve done for quite some time – mostly simple constructions with signposted definitions. Perhaps Don was intent upon helping our friends in Iceland who celebrated Beer Day on 1st March … Read more “Mephisto 2844 by Don Manley – Minn er a hálfpottur”

Enjoyable middle of the road puzzle Across 1 SCHOOLE – SCHOOL-(barg)E; Waggledagger for shoal; 7 FEHM – FE(H)M; Henry=H (physics); FEM=femme=homosexual partner; medieval German court; 10 LOOED – LOO-(th)E-D; to forfeited in game of loo; … Read more “Mephisto 2842 by Tim Moorey”

There’s a rather old fashioned feel to this puzzle with references to Frank Buchman, bits of Latin, women waiting for a given time to propose and a defunct TV detective series amongst other features. Nothing … Read more “Mephisto 2840 by Paul McKenna – quid sit bisextilis babe?”

I worked steadily through this middle of the road puzzle but was left with one that stumped me – 29A. I wanted the answer to be GENNET as I was obsessed with book=GEN rather than … Read more “Mephisto 2838 by Don Manley – Jane Austen Edition”

A fairly gentle opening to 2015 with a pleasant if undemanding puzzle Across 1 EARD – (h)EARD; see yird in C – to plant in Perth; 4 MESOCARP – (some)*-CARP; a layer of cells within … Read more “Mephisto 2836 by Tim Moorey”

I found this the hardest puzzle for some time, perhaps fitting as it appeared on the anniversary in 1913 of the publication of Arthur Wynn’s “word-cross” in the New York World. I had three quries. … Read more “Mephisto Word-Cross 2834 by Paul McKenna”

I found this puzzle a little on the easy side, completing most of it without reference to Chambers. I was intrigued to see a location defined as an obscure village rather than by its more … Read more “Mephisto 2832 by Don Manley – Hunt The Village”

A middle of the road puzzle with no queries – very straightforward solve Across 1 TRIDUAN – (N-AUDI-RT) all reversed; of three days duration; 7 SALP – PLAS(h) reversed; marine creature; 10 RENAL – hidden … Read more “Mephisto 2830 by Tim Moorey”