Author: Penfold

This was mostly very straightforward with just a smattering of “funny” words to sort the men from the chaff. First in was PARASOL and last two were RAREE SHOW and ERINYES. Are you sitting comfortably?  … Read more “JUMBO 1236”

Nothing to scare the horses here and some fun along the way. First in was BEER MUG and last was TREE RING. Away we go then. Across 1 BEER MUG  – ER + MUG (features … Read more “TIMES JUMBO 1231”

I solved this in the garden with nothing to use as a timer other than the passage of the sun but I’d say it took me comfortably less than an hour so falls into the … Read more “TIMES JUMBO 1226”

I’d say this was the best Jumbo I’ve blogged so far, full of wit, imagination, originality and really good cluing so thanks to the setter for a first class example of the compiler’s art.

I haven’t got much to say about this puzzle so let’s get straight on with it.  I solved it in 4 bursts of about 10 minutes each. First in was SORBET, last in ATHENIANS. Across … Read more “TIMES JUMBO 1216”

I bet you didn’t even notice that this is nearly two weeks late.  If I’m wrong, and you’ve been lurking at the top of the stairs brandishing a rolling pin, waiting for me to bring … Read more “Times Jumbo 1211”

I didn’t find this one particularly difficult but there did seem to be a lot of unusual words and several examples of the dreaded long single word answer.  When we played hangman at school if … Read more “JUMBO 1206”

Three blogs in and I’d say this was certainly the hardest Jumbo I’ve had to blog so far.  Spread over a few days with interruptions and with time taken to parse everything and make notes … Read more “JUMBO 1201 – Me Grim, you Ariadne”

As the recently departed Keith Emerson used to play along to, welcome back my friends to the show that never ends.  I solved this the day after publication after a long drive and with much … Read more “JUMBO 1196”

Sorry this is up later than scheduled. Let’s blame it on “technical issues”. I don’t “do” the Jumbo with any regularity and when I do I don’t time myself so I can’t say with any … Read more “Jumbo 1191”