Author: Kitty

Hi everyone.  I’m relaxed about it, but where possible try to avoid seeing the name of the setter while solving.  I was surprised when I had finished to find that this puzzle was by Joker.  The last Joker was the infamous 2353 where, like many others, I had an OWL (one wrong letter).  I also took a long time to get there.  By contrast the time on the clock today was 2:28 faster than my average.*

What I really want to do is focus on enjoyment and of the quality of the clues, rather than the time taken.  Yet, yet again, I have little to say other than I enjoyed it and have no complaints.  The comments I do have are by the clues below.  Thanks Joker!

Hello everyone.  This puzzle took me nearly 10 minutes, the time at which I start to feel that either the puzzle is a little hard for a QC or I’m having an off day.  Happy to stay the right side of the boundary, but still, you can tell me which!  In any case, thanks Teazel.

Hi all.  It’s another Orpheus Monday.  With a few family members appearing in clues and answers, including the rather naughty 5d, perhaps I should have subtitled this post A Family Affair.

It took longer for me to get a foothold in the NE than elsewhere, but once I did the rest followed without undue delay.  As usual I’m struggling to nominate a COD, but I’ll go with 16a.  Thanks Orpheus!

Hello all.  Orpheus is back just a couple of puzzles after his last.  That one was my fastest of the year so far, while today I was just relieved not to be reporting my first DNF of 2023!  I had my fingers crossed that 12a meant what it needed to mean, but the gods were smiling and my faith in wordplay was rewarded.  Lots of nice touches here, I thought – but what did you think?

Hello everyone.  A double definition fest today, but all very enjoyable.  Nothing to send me bananas, and I rather liked the similarly-coloured 6d.  Thanks Mara!

Hello everybody.  I enjoyed this puzzle, which felt trickier than my time would suggest.
My last in was 11d.  12a made me smile to solve, but not to write up in the blog!  I liked 3d because it could be very apt for anyone not a fan of the relevant wordplay.  It would also indeed be irksome if the setter tended to leave bits out of the clues.  Happily, all present and correct here – thanks Joker.

Hi all.  I hope 2023 has started well for you.

Thanks to Orpheus for another enjoyable puzzle, in which I noticed quite a few things in other things.  He or she is not one of them, but I liked the creative musician in 10a.