Author: mctext

Solving time: 19:31. Romped through the bottom half, helped by the crossing anagrams at 13dn and 23ac. But a bit slower in the North where I thought there was something terribly clever going on with … Read more “Times 25074: A citizen of credit … and renown?”

Solving time: 50:51 Had the devil of a time with this one. A definite wintry feel to it too: snow, ice, a cold wind etc. Given that it’s going to be 36˚ here today, guess … Read more “Times 25062: Snow on bloody snow”

No solving time recorded: but more or less forever. Struggled with this after a horrid spell of neuralgia early in the morning led me to take CNS-numbing medication. So it’s probably just me. Others may … Read more “Times 25050: Clothed in crinoline / Of smoky burgundy”

Solving time: 21:47. Not helped by the ABC test commentators chatting about cryptic clues; and the fact that I had to keep running to watch the TV as the wickets fell. Across  1 C,LASSI,C. Lassi: … Read more “Times 25044: Ramchandra, the Indian Summer”

Solving time: Technical DNF To explain: abandoned after an hour and a bit, totally confused by 19dn (see title) because I had a mistaken C at the end of 17ac and figured COURAGE; but what … Read more “Times 25038: But screw your Boerewors to the sticking-place, / And we shall not fail.”

Solving time: 36:12 Another Finals puzzle (No.1, I’m told) and I hope there’ll be a further analysis from Mark G. (via linxit) to go with my bare-bones blog. I tried doing this under competition conditions: … Read more “Times 25032: Chin-chin!”

Solving time: 1:07:26. And even then, a couple of parsings I’m not sure of: 6dn and 24dn. A miserable morning all round. But it’s a darned clever piece of work for all that. Across  1 … Read more “Times 25026: Get me a crocodile sandwich!”

Solving time: 12:46. Another Championship puzzle. Why do they publish those on Wednesdays? And how many more do I have to go? Still, this was on the easy side I found. At least, I have … Read more “Times 25020: Gold he touches turns to everything”

Solving time: 1:16:32. The blog title says it all. Fell into every trap possible. Had to make a few wild guesses on the basis of crossing letters and got in a stew about parsing them … Read more “Times 25014: 5dn my face”

Solving time: 31:14. But I’m pleading the 96th Amendment (“Bloggers will be excused slow times when fully parsing clues before entering answers”). A good (but not great) puzzle I felt with a few traps for … Read more “Times 25008: The flowers that bloom in the spring …”