Author: Guy du Sable

Has it already been two weeks since I last blogged? Seems like only yesterday… Although the time before mid-March seems long ago and far away. Hope you’re all well and staying safe. I’m writing this … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4899, by Robert Price — On the (short)wavelength”

Not only am I (are we) virtually confined to quarters—at best allowed out for a little while each day to STRETCH ONE’S LEGS—but my ancient printer has decided to die on me, so I haven’t … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4897, by David McLean — That rainy day feeling again”

I hope everyone here and their loved ones are well and safe. Having a distraction like a good crossword puzzle in a time like this can be a godsend. To tackle a problem for which … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4895, by Dean Mayer — Golden archness”

Bob was in great form with this outing, giving us no less than three well-crafted &lits (some puzzles don’t even give us a slightly clumsy one), and some diabolically devious cluing (21 and 2D stand … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4893, 8 III 2020, by Robert Price — Literally amazing”

Happy Leap Year! I’m glad last month had an extra day, as I needed some time to catch up… What struck me about this puzzle was that among the generally quite straightforward and succinct definitions … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4891, 23 II 2020, by David McLean — It’s apposite day!”

Well, it never fails. My biographical note has been posted with this blog now for only a matter of some weeks, and it will soon be out of date, and in a most distressing way. … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4889, 9 II 2020, by Dean Mayer — Do I have to spell it out?”

A very enjoyable, solid effort, in which the definitions (except those for CDs and &lits) are consistently epitomes of succinctness. The Arab bazaar may be a new word to someone out there, but the Americans … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4887, 26 I 2020, by Robert Price — Quoit the puzzle!”

Hey, I had a McLean puzzle last go-round! Well, Biddlecombe has explained what happened there… This was great fun, despite the absence of any really unusual vocabulary, nothing previously unknown to work out strictly via … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4885, 12 I 2020, by David McLean — Needling Boris”

As I had never blogged a Jumbo before, I was glad to find, once I got started, that this was all fairly straightforward, and a real holiday gift rather than a chore. We have every … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4883, 29 XII 2019, by David McLean — Oh, just see what a glorious fill”

Rather than quote Jesus Christ in reference to my FOI, 13, I prefer to evoke the Rolling Stones, especially since the track in question is one of the few where a lead vocal is sung … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4881, 15 XII 2019, by Robert Price — Let’s drink to the hard-working people…”