Author: jackkt

I read through all the clues without solving one today. At first I put this down to apprehension knowing it was my turn to write the blog at the end of a difficult week, but having … Read more “Times – 24280 – They’ve had it in for us this week”

Time taken to solve: 30 minutes for all but the 14s and 27across. These added another 15 minutes to my time. The RH I found more straightforward than the LH and in particular the SW … Read more “Times 24268”

This puzzle had some cracking surfaces but in other respects it was a fairly routine offering that delayed me longer than it should have. I felt sure that I was going to finish well within my personal … Read more “Times 24256 – Not A Stinker”

This took me the best part of an hour using aids to get me started again after about 15 minutes in the doldrums with only half the puzzle completed. There are no difficult words or particularly … Read more “Times 24244”

Time taken to solve: Off the scale. I resorted to aids after an hour. I might have appreciated this excellent tough puzzle more if it hadn’t been my day to blog. As it was I’m afraid … Read more “Times 24232 – Worst Nightmare”

This took me about 45 minutes in two sessions because having completed the LH and most of the SE my mind went blank and I couldn’t get started in the NE so I took a break. … Read more “Times 24220”

Time taken to solve: 26 minutes. Mostly straightforward stuff requiring little special knowledge. I learnt one new book title (18d) and one new meaning of a familiar word (6d) but both were obvious from the wordplay. … Read more “Times 24208”

I made very slow progress on this one but having completed it I can’t really understand what my difficulty was. I think perhaps I’m a bit nervous on days when it’s my turn to blog … Read more “Times 24196 Tortoise’s Hell”

I was surprised this took me nearly an hour. I started off very confidently in the SW corner having noted there were lots of multi-word answers elsewhere which I thought would fall into place quickly … Read more “Times 24184 – Phew!”

This took me 40 minutes, but having finished it I don’t quite understand what detained me for so long. The 5s were the last in, and I think I wasted too much time trying to … Read more “24172”