Author: piquet

I began this not feeling especially sharp, but was surprised to find I had it all done and dusted in 21 minutes without any significant pauses, starting with 1a, 6a and 6d, ending with the … Read more “Times 27831 – Greeks, heroes and Greek heroes”

This took me well over an hour and I’m still wondering about how 2d works. There is a mix of easy or familiar clues, with some oblique definitions and unusual words – 19a and 15d … Read more “Times 27825 – chestnuts and tough nuts to crack.”

A fairly gentle challenge for a Wednesday, I thought. I had to think about how to make 1a have 13 letters, not just 11, but it really does. 7d is a bit medical but quite … Read more “Times 27819 – light relief, and another 72 days to wait.”

Today the UK Parliament is discussing another lockdown to start tomorrow. I, and several hundred thousand others, have signed a petition arguing for our golf courses to be kept open (albeit playing only in pairs … Read more “Times 27813 – A Rake’s and Pilgrim’s Progress feature today; do not despond when in Berkshire!”

I’m expecting to see a sub-100 snitch for this one, as it took me somewhere near a PB to complete. The word play was so exact that even the more obscure words like 10a, 11a, … Read more “Times 27807 – It’s all Greek to me, but tant pis.”

I liked this, a classic type puzzle with several tricky anagrams and nothing obscure (unless you don’t know French). I particularly liked 14a, 22a, 26a and 16d. I expect many will biff 6d and 10d … Read more “Times 27801 – a souper test for your anagram skills.”

Oxbridge colleges, cricket, easy chemistry, pottery, herbs, and a painful blister (like the one on my heel after ill fitting golf shoes); our setter obviously has read my CV and wanted to make this easy … Read more “Times 27795 – right up my street.”

A pleasant and not too tricky Wednesday this week, which has a good mix of easy clues, and some interesting words. Well, interesting in the sense that, with time to fill, one can potter off … Read more “Times 27789 – my postilion has blown it!”

At last, this Wednesday’s child is not full of woe; I enjoyed this somewhat more challenging puzzle, with scope for biffing but some tricky parsing afterwards. 11a is timely, as the BBC and Countryfile get … Read more “Times 27783 – Children in Need time again.”

This was a fast solve and a not very exciting crossword for me, I can’t find much to say about it, except it was disappointing for a Wednesday. So I noticed it was #27777. I … Read more “Times 27777 – two and the Angel Number will look after us.”