Author: Zabadak

  I’m not sure about this one, and it took me over 30. Partly that’s because my guts are doing an audition for the remake of the Mr Creosote sketch, which is a shame because … Read more “28774 It’s not Advent yet.”

  Well that was fun, though my time of 28.21 suggests I also found it challenging, which I did, especially getting going at all in the top half. But I liked it: the clues are … Read more “28762 Et in Arabia ego”

  Another short-sighted typo marred my 24.27, which didn’t feel that long and will probably prove to be slower than it should have been. I have the impression of a puzzle with an almost comprehensive … Read more “28750 Blow winds and crack your cheeks”

  I don’t think this was all that hard, but it took me the best part of 26 minutes. I spent quite a lot agonising (unnecessarily as it turns out) over the three little letters … Read more “28738 All the way round single handed”

  Pleasant enough if not too demanding “for a Thursday” and I got through in less than 20 minutes but (as I think is my regrettable custom) I can’t spell the American. I’d sort of … Read more “28,726 Le Bikini jaune du temps perdu.”

  I confess to being in two minds about this thing. I want to say there are some very clever clues and some fine and amusing, even risqué, surfaces. Perhaps because I never really got … Read more “28714 Dam’ and blast. So fair and foul…”

  Another fine puzzle which occupied me for 25.44, which looks to be a pretty good time. I found the right hand side of the grid much easier than the left, fading generally into the … Read more “28702 A special operation or two.”

  I managed an error free completion in 23.30, a lot of that trying unsuccessfully to work out what a sense of belonging was, even though I read Alex Haley not so long ago. Nothing … Read more “28690 Hinge benefits”

  Not unpleasant, and not too demanding either, though the demands of careful parsing for your benefit stretched my time to 20.19. Some bits of the TLS are on display, and some may not be … Read more “Times 28678 “Dost thou not suspect my years?””

  I managed this in 21.09, just maintaining the record of getting quicker every day this week. By 5 seconds. This one is distinguished by a collection of immaculate surfaces and, to my eye, no … Read more “Times 28666 More of a beauty than a Beast”