Author: rolytoly

Bit of a chewy one today from Izetti: I did yesterday’s just beforehand in 7 minutes and this in 13. I was held up slightly at the end at 6d/16ac, but the grid was half … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1768 by Izetti”

A couple of tricky bits in this very neatly-worded puzzle from Teazel – at nine minutes it took a minute longer than Tuesday’s done just beforehand. Good, concise clues with smooth surfaces made for a … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1758 by Teazel”

Rongo is one of our more occasional setters, having appeared every six months or so for at least the last couple of years. I didn’t bother searching further back than that. Previous puzzles seem to … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1748 by Rongo”

Gentle enough from Hurley today – it’s been a while since I’ve blogged a puzzle and have come in under 7 minutes, so that was nice if not especially diverting. Slight hold up at the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1738 by Hurley”

I’d say this was pitched at middling difficulty today from Orpheus, but I was held to two minutes over target with a tip-of-the-tongue moment (or two) at 20ac and then a longer pause at the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1728 by Orpheus”

I found this a very different type of solve to yesterday’s QC, despite a fairly similar time: with that one I chugged along at an ok pace before grinding to a halt for the last … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1718 by Teazel”

A bit of a trickier one today from Teazel – at a minute-and-a-half over target this took a touch longer than yesterday’s 15×15, with five fewer clues. That was also with several unparsed until post-solve, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1708 by Teazel”

A top-notch QC, pitched towards the easier end of medium difficulty. I came in two minutes under target, about half the time it took for Tuesday’s done just beforehand. But that was without noticing the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1698 by Felix”

A second outing for Monty today, his first being a fortnight ago to the day. Looking back over the previous comments, it was a puzzle that divided opinion, with some fairly tough clues, a dash … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1688 by Monty”

I think we have the added interest of a new setter today, and a very enjoyable puzzle it was too: a broad range of difficulty with an elephant trap or two for the unwary biffer … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1678 by Monty”