My oath, this took me a long time to start with, and not much quicker once I got going. Too much time barking up wrong trees and laboriously working out wordplay so you lucky lot … Read more “Times Cryptic 26782 – July 20, 2017 Let there be, and eventually there was.”
Author: Zabadak
TLS Crossword 1180 by Talos – June 16, 2017 A host of golden brickies
This one definitely had its points of interest, not to say contention. Initially hiding his light under a bit of Printer’s Devilry, Talos has provided us with some devious and mind-stretching cluing. With a fine … Read more “TLS Crossword 1180 by Talos – June 16, 2017 A host of golden brickies”
Times Cryptic 26764 – June 29, 2017 As drunk as a judge?
George is kindly standing in for me next week while I travel to Italy, so long as British Airways can find some cabin crew. Which explains why I’m presenting this one. Now, I’m normally inclined … Read more “Times Cryptic 26764 – June 29, 2017 As drunk as a judge?”
Times Cryptic 26758 – June 22, 2017 To boldly solve.
I have not returned to the sunlit uplands of speedy solving yet, so will be content with the 34 minutes it took. I did think actually parsing some of the longer ones took more time … Read more “Times Cryptic 26758 – June 22, 2017 To boldly solve.”
TLS Crossword 1177 by Praxiteles – May 26, 2017 Here let us wallow
This was an entertaining if relatively untaxing grid, which I completed in 34 minutes without having to Google around, though some guess work was checked up on to confirm lest I commit egregious errors once … Read more “TLS Crossword 1177 by Praxiteles – May 26, 2017 Here let us wallow”
Times Cryptic 26746 – June 8, 2017 No X here
Resolutely eschewing even the tiniest hint of politics, this maintains the absolute neutrality required on the actual polling day, lest any of us should be tempted to adjust our voting intentions by the least part … Read more “Times Cryptic 26746 – June 8, 2017 No X here”
TLS Crossword 1174 by Myrtilus – May 5, 2017 Nothing Daunted
Expecting the trademark pun across the top line is just beginning to be helpful: if you can get one or other, it becomes a significant extra bit of information for solving the associated clue. But … Read more “TLS Crossword 1174 by Myrtilus – May 5, 2017 Nothing Daunted”
Times Cryptic 26734 – May 25, 2017 !
Well, this was fun, with a device in one clue (26) that only works if used so sparingly that us poor suckers forget about it in between times and get flummoxed by it all over … Read more “Times Cryptic 26734 – May 25, 2017 !”
Times Cryptic 26722 – May 11, 2017 Taking Steppes
19’27” with no particular hold ups and an even quality of cluing. My impression is that there are a lot of single letter additions and subtractions and a broad range of ways to indicate the … Read more “Times Cryptic 26722 – May 11, 2017 Taking Steppes”
TLS Crossword 1171 by Broteas – April 14, 2017 A mender of bad soles
This was definitely a solid diversion from the humdrum business of life, and I ploughed through it with cheerful determination for 71’12”. Blogging it, I am conscious of how much careful tiptoeing I was doing … Read more “TLS Crossword 1171 by Broteas – April 14, 2017 A mender of bad soles”