Author: mctext

Solving time: 25:38 Bit of housekeeping: (1) filling in for Jerry today as he’s elsewhere; (2) apologies to Jim for missing yesterday’s blog. Busy yesterday with a tense euchre tournament. Not a difficult puzzle on … Read more “Times 25176: I guess that’s why they call it the blues”

Solving time: 29:54 … … but not with full understanding of all answers; in particular 24dn which required my phone-a-friend option. Thanks again! Now I have to say that I didn’t like this puzzle much. … Read more “Times 25170: 14 or 16?”

Solving time: 32:05 Could have been faster without a touch of blogger’s nerves at the 2dn/9ac intersection. No excuse for this in retrospect. Off to a good start with the long anagram at 5dn and … Read more “Times 25158: The PM’s Mysterious Briefs”

Solving time: DNF. Had most of this done quickishly. But completely defeated by 8dn. I have no idea what’s going on there and await the responses of our regular contributors. On edit: now resolved thanks … Read more “Times 25146: KO’d in the Ring”

Solving time: 18:53 A bit phased early this morning by the header of the puzzle on the Club site: “The 2012 Times National Crossword Championship Qualifying Puzzle No 2 with full details of how to … Read more “Times 25134: Thou spreadst a table”

Solving time: 32:55 About the same as yesterday’s puzzle: medium difficulty with a few giveaways to help us along. Thankfully, these were in most of the short answers and the anagrams. Also glad not to … Read more “Times 25122: More from the Spanish Embajador”

Solving time: 21:35 So Jerry got his wish from two days ago: “isn’t it about time we had an easy one or two?” Might have been quicker — not that it matters much to me … Read more “Times 25110: Daggers drawn”

Solving time: 20:40 For me the third easy-ish day in a row — though some won’t agree about Monday. (Stinker for George tomorrow? Though, if so, I’m sure he’ll polish it off with his usual … Read more “Times 25098: Don’t come the uncooked crustacean with me”

Solving time: 37:39 Five minutes of which was spent on look-ups for 23dn. A clue that looks simple but may have stumped a few solvers, including yours truly. Apart from that, a pretty steady solve. … Read more “Times 25086: No Eye Deer”

Solving time: 12:27 Got the four 14-letter answers quickly; then the four 10s. After that, spoiled for choice as to where to look for answers. The large number of multiple-word answers also helped a (for … Read more “Times 25080 — OOH: Double-O-Aitch Saves the Day”