Solving time : 38 minutes! Usually I’d have given up and headed for the solving aids on this one, but that would have meant getting out of my chair and that wasn’t happening. Another Thursday … Read more “Times 23944 – the Thursday annihilator!”
Author: glh
Times 23932 – Phwoar indeed!
I didn’t time myself on this one, I think if I solved it under usual conditions, it would be a 20-25 minuter. Clues were good, some nice wordplay, I solved this one in front of … Read more “Times 23932 – Phwoar indeed!”
Mephisto 2491 – Mike Laws
I found this one mostly straightforward, but Mike Laws has a habit of slipping in a word that completely eludes me (including last time I blogged one of his puzzles), and he’s gone and done … Read more “Mephisto 2491 – Mike Laws”
Times 23920: DD, XX, and trusting one’s instinct
Solving time : 15 minutes, with one unconfirmed guess. Blazed through most of this, some fun and fruity wordplay and two clues that had me outright laughing – not quite Clues in Blue territory, but … Read more “Times 23920: DD, XX, and trusting one’s instinct”
Times Crossword Championship 2008: 2nd qualifier
Solving time : let’s keep this one to ourselves. I found this more difficult than qualifier 1 Across 1 P(e)ACEMAKER 6 WASTE: two definitions 9 DORIS: I in Diana DORS. Is this a sign to … Read more “Times Crossword Championship 2008: 2nd qualifier”
Mephisto 2487 – Paul McKenna
Two new things – this is the first Paul McKenna Mephisto that I’ve blogged (I know he comments occasionally on the Crossword Centre and so may well be looking in here, so “hi Paul”), and … Read more “Mephisto 2487 – Paul McKenna”
Times 23902 – wordplay goes bumph
Solving time : 26 minutes. On a first read-through of the across clues I didn’t get a single one, and I was sure we were in for a dose of impossible Thursday. I fared a … Read more “Times 23902 – wordplay goes bumph”
Championship Qualifier #1
Solving time : shhh, it’s a secret. I’m not entering the Crossword Championship – even if they had a Southeastern US regional final, I wouldn’t be able to make it to the UK in October. … Read more “Championship Qualifier #1”
Times 23884 – in which we take the knife to Wales
Solving time : 27 minutes (edit: and one error! Defeated!). Unfamiliar circumstances, having to solve (and blog) this without a paper copy. I found this a real slog, had to take a rehydration break in … Read more “Times 23884 – in which we take the knife to Wales”
Mephisto 2483 – Tim Moorey
I’ve found the last few Mephistos pretty tricky and this was no exception, took about four sittings to finish it, and liberal use of Bradfords. Even after getting the two 12-letter words straight off, there … Read more “Mephisto 2483 – Tim Moorey”