Solving time 7:58 After an easy puzzle yesterday, something just a bit more meaty today. No (direct) hidden word or initial letter clues, and only three pure anagrams, two with ‘split fodder’. There are also … Read more “23859 – how hard for you?”
Author: petebiddlecombe
Times Championship announced
Under the puzzle in the paper: The Times Crossword Championship will take place again this year at Cheltenham on Sunday, October 12. Full details will appear with the first qualifying puzzle on Thursday, April 3. … Read more “Times Championship announced”
Sloggers and Betters 4 – a pub and meal evening on 4/4
As some readers will know, we’ve had a few evening meetings at London pubs for contributors to and readers of this blog, fifteensquared and Tony Sever’s RTC3. Both times, we’ve also had some setters present. … Read more “Sloggers and Betters 4 – a pub and meal evening on 4/4”
23853 – Easy for a Wednesday
Solving time 6:21 Quick start with a very easy 1A and chestnutty 10 and 12, so most of the top filled in quickly, then ran out of speed in the bottom half. Can’t see any … Read more “23853 – Easy for a Wednesday”
Mephisto 2478 – Chris Feetenby
Solving time: not taken, but completed without books. Well, nearly – I had PERANE at 29A. Across1 UNS=sun*,HIP=fruit, as in rose-hip5 STI(G)ME – stime = to peer, in Scots, and stigme = a dot used … Read more “Mephisto 2478 – Chris Feetenby”
I say Cheltenham, you say Brooklyn
Spare a thought this weekend for competitors in the ACPT – American Crossword Puzzle Tournament – the annual chance for American crossword solvers to get together and test their skills on puzzles like those in … Read more “I say Cheltenham, you say Brooklyn”
23,847 – it’s that red stuff again
Solving time 7:08 A good puzzle which feels like the kind where experience pays off in solving time. Red biddy has definitely been seen in the last few months, and I think track shoe made … Read more “23,847 – it’s that red stuff again”
Bird on a box
This cute little feller is part of the the ‘bird on a box’ picture that accompanies 404 / file not found errors on the Times Online site. In theory I’m breaching copyright, but I coudn’t … Read more “Bird on a box”
COD bonus puzzle
This is just a louder endorsement than the one already given by dorset_jimbo for Anax’s first COD bonus puzzle. If you trek over to his Times COD site, you’ll find it. Haven’t finished it yet … Read more “COD bonus puzzle”
23,841 – pangrammatic poser
Solving time:23 minutes when unwisely solved late last night. I thnk it should have taken about 15. Lots of fiendish clues – it was quite hard to find a few to miss out. Given the … Read more “23,841 – pangrammatic poser”