Kitty – Page 15 – Times for The Times

Times Cryptic Jumbo 1565 – 9 July 2022. Don’t go 45d in the sun, folks

Kitty23rd July 2022 at 9:00 AM10 September 2025Jumbo Cryptic

Hello everyone. I hope that you have been managing to stay cool. I’ve just noticed that my last Jumbo blog was written in the last heatwave, which wasn’t as bad as this one has been. I fervently hope that in five weeks’ time I won’t be saying the same thing!

Again, no time for this as I solved when it was still far too hot and took my time over a few sessions. I didn’t have too many difficulties, but did have to trust to the wordplay in places. It’s satisfying when you can do that but still have reasonable confidence in your answers. Thanks setter!

Times Quick Cryptic 2175 by Teazel

Kitty11th July 2022 at 1:46 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Hi everybody. Teazel puzzles seem to invariably* hit my expected solving time, and just to fit my expectations of a Quick Cryptic generally. 15d is my pick of the clues (despite being a little deprived of snooze due to the current heatwave), but I expect a range of different favourites today. Thanks Teazel!

Times Quick Cryptic 2165 by Hurley

Kitty27th June 2022 at 1:45 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Hi all. I liked this offering from Hurley. There’s nothing wrong with the across clues (unless you wish to throw your dictionary at 11a in protest) but my picks today are all in the downs. The breakdown of 2d may be common enough but I thought the execution, with the twist in the tail, was deftly done. I almost always lap up a reverse clue, so 3d made me happy, and I also appreciated the Uxbridge English Dictionary nature of 12d. Thanks Hurley!

Times Cryptic Jumbo 1560 – 4 June 2022. I predict a … melting igloo

Kitty18th June 2022 at 12:09 AM10 September 2025Jumbo Cryptic

Hi everyone. I didn’t record a time for this as it was a very leisurely solve on holiday, but it felt gentle. Lots to like though and, going through it again for the blog, I was impressed by the high quality. Thanks setter!

Times Quick Cryptic 2155 by Jalna

Kitty13th June 2022 at 1:35 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Warm greetings from sunny Dorset, where I am staying with my friend Willow the cat and his humans.

I enjoyed this one, from the neat 1a to the smooth 19d. Lately I seem to fare better than usual with puzzles ending in 5: perhaps blogging focusses my mind. Therefore, I will just leave it to you all to report back on how you found it. Thanks Jalna!

Times Quick Cryptic 2145 by Tracy

Kitty30th May 2022 at 1:39 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Hi all. Tracy is a setter who can be relied upon to produce entertaining and perfectly sound easier-end puzzles. If I say that there is nothing to complain about and that the clues read smoothly it might sound like damning with faint praise. But, rest assured, I am praising.

Times Cryptic Jumbo 1555 – 7 May 2022

Kitty21st May 2022 at 9:03 AM10 September 2025Jumbo Cryptic

Hello everyone. This felt like a very well balanced puzzle in terms of difficulty: the distribution of filled answers stayed even as I solved, and my pace remained steady. All very enjoyable too. Thanks setter!

Times Quick Cryptic 2135 by Orpheus

Kitty16th May 2022 at 1:23 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Hello hello hello, shiny happy people, and welcome to our shiny new site! (A warm welcome to matte and miserable people too, of course – I’m with you!) I am so grateful for all the brilliant work put in by the development team to bring us here.

Times Quick Cryptic 2125 by Oink

Kitty2nd May 2022 at 1:37 AM10 September 2025Quick Cryptic

Hi everybody. I have always liked Oink’s puzzles, finding them sound, gentle and a lot of fun – everything a Quick Cryptic should be. After a good start I slowed in the SW and finished in a whisker over 6 and a half minutes, still towards the lower end of my usual time range.

Times Cryptic Jumbo 1550 – 16 April 2022. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Kitty30th April 2022 at 1:00 AM10 September 2025Jumbo Cryptic

Hi all. No time for this as I solved on my phone in bed with 40 or so winks in the middle. I thought it a brilliant puzzle with plenty of clever, cunning and well-disguised … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1550 – 16 April 2022. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish”