17.16, so about as close as can be to an average puzzle for me. At the moment, though, I seem to be starting fast, slowing down about a third of the way through, and speeding … Read more “26086 For those of you who don’t like sport…”
Author: Zabadak
26074 What’s French for “raining cats and dogs”?
16.27 to place all the available letters in the correct order, so pretty much my average. After yesterday’s amusing diversion (I was amused, anyway) we’re back to the convention of actually having definitions for every … Read more “26074 What’s French for “raining cats and dogs”?”
26062 April Fools are supposed to be completed by midday, I thought
I thought this was going to be a doddle, one of those where the first two across clues go straight in along with most of the intersecting ones. But somehow the time stretched out to … Read more “26062 April Fools are supposed to be completed by midday, I thought”
26050 A fourth ‘and piece of work
It occured to me that a crossword in which the same word appears four times might set some sort of record, which would at least offer some distinctive for this one. Fastest of the week … Read more “26050 A fourth ‘and piece of work”
26038 In which Marx fails both as economist and film maker.
No push over this one, though I did manage to scrape in 59 seconds before the big hand hit the 6. That’ll be 29.01 for those of you who are too young to be bothered … Read more “26038 In which Marx fails both as economist and film maker.”
26026 In which I restored Mlle Nina to her rightful place
Stopped the clock at 19.36, and only time will tell whether that’s a decent time for a slightly tricky puzzle or a stumbling dawdle through a piece of standard fare. There were some decent chuckles … Read more “26026 In which I restored Mlle Nina to her rightful place”
26014 Not just a bog standard crossword
Knocked off in 20.47, including a last minute change of heart over the ending of 9 across, where I suspect we might see a few error messages today. A decent array of clue types on … Read more “26014 Not just a bog standard crossword”
26002 In which philosophers have a race. On camels?
16.43 for this one, slowing down towards the end and puzzling a while over the entry at 24 (25 two days ago) where I currently have only a sketchy idea of how it might work. … Read more “26002 In which philosophers have a race. On camels?”
25990 The one with a mission to the Gentiles.
An odd feel to this one: it felt harder than is was, and I disposed of it in 15.12, about 2 minutes sub par for me. Mostly somewhat lengthy clues, of the kind which conjure … Read more “25990 The one with a mission to the Gentiles.”
251214 Cricket one left, right?
Not much of a festive feel about this one, unless you’re antipodean, I suppose, in which case the relative abundance of cricket references might make some sense. As far as I can make out, there … Read more “251214 Cricket one left, right?”