Author: ilanc

Solving time: 44:55 This felt like hard work. Exacerbated since the puzzle wasn’t available online – so, necessity being the mother of invention, I was forced onto the streets of NYC where I actually did … Read more “Times 23679/hard work”

Solving time: 28:30 Needed an eolith to crack a few of these: in particular, I’m not convinced I understand 10A for which I’ve guessed OUTLAWRY. I’ve started sort of recording my times to include seconds … Read more “Times 23631/needed an eolith”

Solving time: 42’ Solved in under half-an-hour except for the top-left: 1A and 1D took another 15’ to decipher. The usual couple of wordplays that I’m still mull[et]ing over. Across 1 FLATS,PIN – Only after … Read more “Times 23655/in a flat spin”

Solving time: 37’ Was going pretty fast and I had deluded myself into thinking I could join the illustrious crowd who solved Friday, Sunday and Monday in record times… until I hit the NE corner … Read more “Times 23649/what about Whitby?”

Solving time: 35’ Had to use Chambers to work out 19D (ELF-LOCKS) and for 11A (CHASUBLE) – I’ve already mentioned that ecclesiastical clues aren’t my forte. No long multi-word phrases this time which is usually … Read more “Times 23643/tangled mop”

Solving time: 45’ Looks like a pangram — given the presence of the uncommon z, q, x, k, j – I haven’t checked the other letters. In fact, there are three checked q’s here which … Read more “Times 23637/cute”

Solving time: 40’ Unsure about one answer: 22D. Otherwise, on the relatively easy side (e.g. easier than yesterday’s). The top-left held a couple of inspiring poetical refs (6D and 7D) – the latter had to … Read more “Times 23631/inspiring”

Solving time: 25’ but… Pretty fast for me but… I cheated a bit with online references: e.g. OPUNTIA. I found this a rather prickly puzzle since some of the wordplay was subtle and some of … Read more “Times 23619/prickly”

Solving time: 45’-1h (didn’t properly time myself). Another first-class and, to my mind, hard puzzle. The SW corner was the most challenging – nothing fell there until quite late. As per usual a couple of … Read more “Times 23613/dogs, hogs and pigs”

Solving time: 55’ The last 7 or 8 clues (2 in each quadrant basically) slowed me down considerably: in particular, RECLAME, POTTER (oddly enough), HIERATIC (quite hard), CASINO, DISMAY, AIT. I did spot a slight … Read more “Times 23607/wizardry”