A rather easy Mephisto a great deal of which requires no reference to Chambers Across 1 AGNAME – A-G-NAME; Gabon=G; advanced=A; state=NAME; handle=(slang) name; 5 TUSCAN – corporation=TU(m) then substitute SCAN=survey for m=piece of m(ockery); … Read more “Mephisto 2668 by Tim Moorey”
Author: dorsetjimbo
Times 24,983 Salome Caresses Nelson’s Column
Solving time 25 minutes I struggled with this at times, never really getting onto the setter’s wavelength. For me there is some stretching of meanings and one clue 16D that troubles me a little. There … Read more “Times 24,983 Salome Caresses Nelson’s Column”
Mephisto 2666 by Paul McKenna
This is all very straightforward and on the easier side of the spectrum. Across 1 PRISSIER – PR-IS-S(I)ER; present=PR; series=SER; 7 IDLE – (s)IDLE; 10 CHALCEDONY – CH-(done)* in (clay)*; check=CH (chess); a mineral; 11 … Read more “Mephisto 2666 by Paul McKenna”
Times 24,971 – shortly I’m heading for a place to party (6,3)
Solving time 15 minutes Not only is the Times Crossword site running on an out of date authorisation certificate but this morning I couldn’t access the site at all – had to go rushing down … Read more “Times 24,971 – shortly I’m heading for a place to party (6,3)”
Mephisto 2664 by Don Manley
Another very straightforward puzzle of average level of difficulty Across 1 KAME – KA(M)E; jackdaw in Jedburg=KAE; a bank of sand; 5 LASAGNA – LA(SAG)NA; wood=LANA; 11 ELEPHANTS,EAR – (see a plant her(e))*; 12 MUDIRIA … Read more “Mephisto 2664 by Don Manley”
Times 24,959 – Bewitched
Solving time 12 minutes As easy a puzzle as you’ll find in the Times – difficult to find much to say. I have a mental block over the cryptic for 5A. A doff of my … Read more “Times 24,959 – Bewitched”
Mephisto 2662 by Tim Moorey
In my opinion the best Mephisto for some time. A very good mix of clues with a sprinkling of real gems.Thank you Tim. Across 1 SJAMBOKS – S(JAMB)O(u)KS; piece of armour=JAMB; Arab markets=SOUKS then remove … Read more “Mephisto 2662 by Tim Moorey”
Times 24,947 of tight trousers and adulterous queens
Solving time 20 minutes This is an entertaining puzzle containing a good mixture of clues of different type and degree of difficulty. A reasonable range of GK plus a small amount of slightly obscure vocab, … Read more “Times 24,947 of tight trousers and adulterous queens”
Mephisto 2660 by Paul McKenna
Not too difficult as these things go without great recourse to Chambers. I don’t understand 33A which I solved by looking at the checking letters,T?ARS reading the first three words of the clue “rush special … Read more “Mephisto 2660 by Paul McKenna”
Times 24,935 Vanilla Flavour
Solving time 25 minutes As ever the pressure of writing the blog slowed solving a bit and I’m inclined to think this is just on the easy side of average. There is no strange vocabulary … Read more “Times 24,935 Vanilla Flavour”