Hello, and happy Boxing Day. (Kitties like boxes!)
The right hand side of this puzzle went very smoothly for me, but the left took rather longer, bringing the whole a little past my average time. My last in was 12a. 18a stood out for its surface and so is my pick of today’s clues. Thanks Izetti!
Hello from London, where I am taking refuge with Mr Kitty for a break before the seasonal madness begins. This is my last blog before all that, so I will take the opportunity to wish all of you the kind of time you would like.
An enjoyable Monday offering from Oink, I thought, with the usual piggy appearance early on and a visit from one or two of his farmyard friends too. 1d and 9d are my pick of the clues today, from a strong field. Thanks Oink!
Hi all. For once I have a proper solving time to report as I put my head down for a single jumbo session. I started well, with lots done after 20 minutes, but after that was surprised to finish in (just) under 45 minutes, which is good for me for a Jumbo. Had to trust the wordplay in quite a few places, and the last quarter of an hour or so could have easily taken twice as long and ended with gaps or wrong answers, so I was lucky. Thanks setter!
Hi everyone. There’s a bit of a sciencey feel to this offering from Pedro, which always goes down well with me.
Hi everybody. I started apace, then slowed down somewhat to finish in a normal-for-me-for-a-quickie time of 07:16. My last in was 3d: I knew I needed to think a bit laterally, but still took a few moments to coax my creaky brain up a gear. No complaints – which, considering that I’m in a distinctly grumpy mood as I write this, might just be high praise! 5a is my COD – for the penny-drop, natch. Thanks Hawthorn!
Hi all. I’m a little bleary after a sociable weekend in York, so will be brief today. No dramas to report, no time notably slow or fast, just another good Quick Cryptic. Thanks Breadman!
Greetings from York, where I am in attendance at John Henderson’s annual Sloggers & Betters gathering. As a result I may be late and/or or under the influence when replying to any comments.
I solved most of this on the journey up, and it was certainly a welcome diversion from being crammed with fellow suffers into an overcrowded train.
Hi everyone. While Chris is busy grandson sitting, I am the first of those sitting in for him here.
A puzzle to phone a friend about? I ask because a cockney reference and no less than three dogs (two of them eating) made me think of dog and bone. I was almost tempted to take inspiration from Astro_Nowt and pen some suitable lines, but you are spared my doggerel!
Hello everybody. I think it’s safe to say this is a puzzle for those who appreciate one particular clue type …
Hi all. My second Joker to blog comes directly after my first. Is there a special name for a pair of Jokers? Two weeks ago many of you found the puzzle very tricky and I will be interested to hear how you fared this time around. In my case, today’s took 30 fewer seconds (or about 7% less time) and I was slower in the south than the north, ending up in the SE. Even as I stare down into the pit, my favourite is 6d. Thanks Joker!
