Hello everyone. I did this on a train journey which always makes it harder to think. After an encouraging start I ran into problems at the end. Thanks setter!
Author: Kitty
Times Quick Cryptic 2578 by Joker – swings and roundabouts
Hello all. Joker can sometimes be tricky but sometimes goes easier on the solver. For me, this came very much in the latter category. Thanks Joker!
Times Quick Cryptic 2566 by Orpheus
Hi everybody. I hope 2024 is treating you well. This puzzle certainly treated me well as I came home comfortably inside my inner target time and enjoyed the ride as usual. Thanks Orpheus!
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1650 – 26 December 2023
Hello all, and Happy New Year. I like to blog when the puzzle is fresh in my mind (which should mean doing the write up early but in practice means leaving the solve until the last minute too). Not something I managed with this one – and with all the fun and games on Boxing Day, I don’t think the puzzle was fresh in my mind even at the time! All I remember is that I found it rather tricky and did look up one or two things. Had to work quite hard to parse some of it a second time around as well. My COD is 46d, which really tickled me. Thanks setter.
Times Quick Cryptic 2555 by Izetti – Meowy Catmas!
Merry Christmas everyone.
This was similar to Izetti’s last for me, difficulty-wise. I think my COD is 4a, but 9a and 6d were also lots of fun. Thanks Izetti!
Times Quick Cryptic 2545 by Teazel – a prickly one
Hello everyone. This took me over my outer target time, so I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that you found it tough. If you in fact did well then well done! Thanks Teazel.
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1645 – 25 November 2023. Fear of Santa
Hi all. I can’t give any real assessment of this as crosswording has had to fit around life. Solving was done in pre-bed sleepy snatches, and blogging done later in a bit of a rush. I have a dim memory of using aids anyway, I think for 34d and maybe another. Thanks to the setter – I hope to be more awake for your next one!
Times Quick Cryptic 2535 by Teazel – Paris in the the spring
Hi all. Thanks to Teazel for an enjoyable puzzle. It’s always nice to see 11d and hope it delighted some solvers who hadn’t seen it before. Timewise I was about a minute less than average, or normal for a Monday. How did you find it?
Times Quick Cryptic 2525 by Oink
Hello all. I don’t anticipate many complaints that this was too hard, but what do I know? It went very smoothly for me, both to solve and to write up, that’s all I can say. Except to add that I liked it – thanks Oink!
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1640 – 21 October 2023. Topping!
Hi everyone. This was a confidence booster as despite a few unknowns or barely-knowns I found everything provided to enable me to enter it all in reasonable confidence – and in very reasonable time (for me) of under 40 minutes too. Thanks setter!