Author: kororareka

Solving Time: 1 hr 33 minutes It’s an auspicious occasion and a less than impressive response to it on my part. I couldn’t make a start or a finish on it and wasn’t too flash … Read more “Times 25000 – Just another number”

Solving Time: 37 minutes Following an unusually flaky solve on Saturday, even by my standards, I approached today’s with trepidation, and indeed managed to make hard work of some of the easier clues. Still, I … Read more “Times 24988 – Not as able was I…”

Solving Time: 35 minutes Mctext has blown a gasket today, so at short notice I’m stepping in. I found this to be on a par with Monday’s and Tuesday’s; not too difficult, not overly easy. … Read more “Times 24984 – A 16’s wife slipped from the garrison…”

Solving Time: Forgot to stop the clock, but under the hour. Some tricky vocabulary, which ultimately led (sic) to my downfall, as I rejected the only plausible answer at 4, thinking it was a double … Read more “Times 24976 – Not able was I”

Solving Time: 33 minutes Not very difficult if you’re up on your arcana. The N.E. corner contributed most to my time. I have Charles Lamb’s pen name tattooed inside my eyelids, but found it has … Read more “Times 24964 – Beware of falling sheep?”

Solving Time: 27 minutes For a few tense minutes I thought I might regret swapping with vinyl1 today, but despite beginning (and ending as it eventuated) with two drinks (my bête noire) at 1ac & … Read more “Times 24946 – Make that a double”

Solving Time: 25 minutes Fairly rapid progress across the top half and then a lull before the bottom half conceded defeat, mainly because of gaps in my knowledge of racing, gaming and nineteenth century housework. … Read more “Times 24940 – Don’t cry for me, I’ve no Vesta”

Solving Time: Around 30 minutes Relative to my recent solving attempts, I raced around this one but never felt completely in control on the corners, almost running off onto the verge at 5 and falling … Read more “Times 24928 – Either the wallpaper goes, or I do”

Solving Time: 30 minutes A quick romp around the north followed by a not so quick trudge around the south as the wind left my sails. Finally held up by yet another troublesome 4-letter clue … Read more “Times 24916 – Classics on the agenda”

Solving Time: 35 minutes or so Had trouble starting and finishing, but made good progress in between. Mainly held up at the 1d/11ac intersection; as the old saying goes: “Never begin at the beginning, or … Read more “Times 24904 – It’s all about Aus?”