This is the first Mike Laws Memorial Puzzle that appeared in the paper last Sunday 5th June. It originally appeared as puzzle number 1894. I do hope that those of you who have solved Mike’s … Read more “Mike Laws Memorial Mephisto 1894”
Author: dorsetjimbo
Mephisto 2648 by Paul McKenna
This is a very straightforward puzzle that barely required a Chambers for solving. Today The Times carries a tribute to Mike Laws. There are three of his old puzzles plus a special tribute puzzle composed … Read more “Mephisto 2648 by Paul McKenna”
Times 24,863 I’m From Head Office – I’m Here To Help You
Solving time 20 minutes A little harder than yesterday but within one standard deviation of the mean. Some mathematics and some more foreign words hwyl! Overall, this shouldn’t present too many intractable problems. Across 1 … Read more “Times 24,863 I’m From Head Office – I’m Here To Help You”
Mephisto 2646 Mike Laws’ Swan Song
After this puzzle was printed we learned the sad news that Mike Laws had died. Our thoughts are with his family at this painful time. I never met Mike but I have solved all of … Read more “Mephisto 2646 Mike Laws’ Swan Song”
Times 24,851 Just Like That
Solving time 25 minutes Reasonably straightforward puzzle that was fun to solve. The odd bit of slang and the reference to Tommy Cooper may prove problematic for overseas (or even some younger) solvers. Other than … Read more “Times 24,851 Just Like That”
Mephisto 2644 by Tim Moorey
I found this a little on the difficult side and particularly the SW corner where I took a while to see how SAICS worked and to remember that ACRE was a port, something I verified … Read more “Mephisto 2644 by Tim Moorey”
Times 24,839 Of Trews and Ghillies
Solving time 15 minutes Easiest puzzle for some time with many clues solved straight from definition. One obscurity is the Scotsman’s shirt which cropped up in a Mephisto only a short time ago but which … Read more “Times 24,839 Of Trews and Ghillies”
Mephisto 2642 by Paul McKenna
Another in a growing line of good quality puzzles of average difficulty. If one could devise a level of difficulty index its standard deviation over recent weeks would be very small. There are no queries, … Read more “Mephisto 2642 by Paul McKenna”
Times 24,827 Of Pubs and Cricket Teams
Solving time 20 minutes Another large helping of poetry associated references plus a fairly obscure reference to a cricket team that many will, I suspect, find a bit baffling. At 15D we have an interesting … Read more “Times 24,827 Of Pubs and Cricket Teams”
Mephisto 2640 by Mike Laws
Another very enjoyable, standard puzzle of average difficulty. No particular talking points. I have a minor query at 17A EGRET whilst at 21A I discovered yet another way to mishit a golf ball – not … Read more “Mephisto 2640 by Mike Laws”