Author: richardvg

Solving time: 5:54 A very fast time for me, and so I won’t be surprised if some others get well under 5 minutes. A pretty straightforward puzzle, though with lots of fun clues. I particularly … Read more “Times 24,381”

Solving time: 21:30 Really sorry this is late. Thanks to George for placeholder and for reminding me about it. Therefore done in a rush and pretty thin. Happy to fill it out as people tell … Read more “Times 24,369”

Solving time: 12:57 Fairly quick start, then held up on a few, 15 and 22A being last in. Especially galling to be caught out by a hidden word (METHOUGHT), but I do like long hiddens. … Read more “Times 24,357”

Solving time: 15:23 Reasonably steady solve until after 10 minutes I had only three left (4 (SUBSTANCES), 6 (THE BEAR) and 7 (COMMA)). And they took another 5 minutes. Looking at them now I can’t … Read more “Times 24,345”

Solving time: 9:24 I don’t feel I whooshed through this, but I went through pretty steadily with no long hold-ups. Some of the constructions or allusions were tricky, but there is nothing obscure in this. … Read more “Times 24,333”

Solving time: 14:30 I found some of this rather tough, though with lots to enjoy. I was going to write that there was nothing very obscure, but then I had never heard of Perm (5A), … Read more “Times 24,321”

Solving time: 12:04 Less culture today, and – as ever – concentrated in the South-East, where there are two French authors (J-P Sartre & Anatole France) and “gangsta rap”. “Gangsta” has made it into Chambers … Read more “Times 24315”

Solving time: 10:03 Sorry. Slightly later than planned today as the Times site wouldn’t let me log in. I had to go out and buy a paper. Nothing wrong with the Crossword, though. At least … Read more “Times 24,297”

Solving time: 7:52 Very quick on the top half, this morning. And only slightly slowed in the lower half. Excellent clues today, I thought. I started listing a couple with amazingly natural surfaces (1, 9, … Read more “Times 24,285”

Solving time: 12:34 Lots of fun in this one, along with a lot of chewy words. Egeria, sennight, and nilgai are all a bit obscure. And ISA, LMS and Ryde may not be very well … Read more “Times 24,273”