mctext – Page 12 – Times for The Times

Times 24828 — Hidden talents

mctext20th April 2011 at 9:54 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Time taken: 56 minutes, without full understanding of several answers. Had the devil of a time with this sucker. Mostly, I suspect, because of some of the stranger defs. Still, no real complaints apart, possibly, … Read more “Times 24828 — Hidden talents”

Times 24822 — Magic Pudding

mctext13th April 2011 at 10:06 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 17 minutes Most trouble in the top left today. So solved more or less backwards; mostly because, of the two long clues, 9dn was easy while 3dn took a while to spot. Also … Read more “Times 24822 — Magic Pudding”

Times 24816, 2nd Qualifier (6th April): One I prepared earlier

mctext13th April 2011 at 7:00 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: see earlier post. Not a difficult puzzle I thought. So fast times will be posted. There are a couple of complete (and intersecting) giveaways involving a well-known Pom who helped the Frog aristos … Read more “Times 24816, 2nd Qualifier (6th April): One I prepared earlier”

Times 15493: Substitute … me for him

mctext6th April 2011 at 10:09 AM10 September 2025Other Crosswords

Solving time: see below. This is a substitute puzzle because 24816 is the 2nd Qualifier for the 2011 Championship. I’ll blog the latter on 13th April when the competition closes. Did both puzzles simultaneously in … Read more “Times 15493: Substitute … me for him”

Times 24810 — What’s worn underneath the kilt? (Reprise)

mctext30th March 2011 at 9:57 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 58 minutes Probably the most difficult puzzle I’ve had to blog since I took over the Wednesday slot. A bit like sticking your head in a bucket of water: horrible at the time … Read more “Times 24810 — What’s worn underneath the kilt? (Reprise)”

Times 24804, Scribes and Pharisees beware!

mctext23rd March 2011 at 10:30 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 28 minutes. Saw 1dn (RAIDER) right off and was hoping for a fast solve. So much for hope! The rest (apart from the omissions, below, perhaps) was a bit harder. Still, there were … Read more “Times 24804, Scribes and Pharisees beware!”

Times 24798 — Standing outside oneself

mctext16th March 2011 at 10:28 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 9 minutes As the time suggests, a quite easy puzzle today. I was happy to see the clock stopping before double figures clicked over. (A very rare event I should add.) RESTHARROW was … Read more “Times 24798 — Standing outside oneself”

Times 24786, 1st Qualifier, 2011 Championships (2nd March)

mctext10th March 2011 at 3:32 PM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 21 minutes. Not a difficult puzzle, though I had some hold-ups in the NW. Of note is the inclusion of three homophone clues; none of which should be controversial. The answer to 17 … Read more “Times 24786, 1st Qualifier, 2011 Championships (2nd March)”

Times 24786, Placeholder

mctext2nd March 2011 at 12:04 PM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Today’s puzzle, as well as being the regular daily, is also the 1st Qualifier for the 2011 Championship. So I’m taking it that it should not be blogged until 10th March when the solution comes … Read more “Times 24786, Placeholder”

Times 24780: 2/4 alive, twice dead

mctext23rd February 2011 at 10:28 AM10 September 2025Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 28 minutes. The time could probably have been shorter, as I let the clock tick on while I made coffee. So I suspect we’ll get some crackers today. One day I’ll get around … Read more “Times 24780: 2/4 alive, twice dead”