Hello, and Happy New Year! Our seasonal bling is cleared away but there is still a plentiful supply of chocolate to polish off – just how I like it.
This was, I’m sure, the first time I’ve ever done a Jumbo in less than half an hour. So thank you very much, setter, for that welcome gift.
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 …
