Solving time: 9:39 Some nice clues in this (17ac and 23dn are my favourites), and the usual couple of mistakes – wordplay in 26ac and enumeration at 21ac. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like … Read more “ST 4232 (Sun 8 Jul) – Ruse contre ruse”
Author: talbinho
ST 4231 (Sun 1 Jul) – Easy as Phi
Solving time: 2:41 Wow, where did that come from? 2:41 is a PB for me for this puzzle, and my best time ever for a 15×15 blocked crossword. A little wasted time on 9ac, which … Read more “ST 4231 (Sun 1 Jul) – Easy as Phi”
ST 4230 (Sun 23 Jun) – Divine comedy
Solving time: Didn’t record, but took ages to get CALIPASH and DIVINE in the top left, and resorted to references to get FIG-LEAF. The preamble to this puzzle should have read: In two clues the … Read more “ST 4230 (Sun 23 Jun) – Divine comedy”
ST 4229 (Sun 10 Jun) – Blunderpants
Solving time: 7:57, one mistake (20ac). There are some really good clues in this puzzle, which I thought was probably the best ST crossword since #4213. I especially liked 14ac, 24ac and 18dn, but almost … Read more “ST 4229 (Sun 10 Jun) – Blunderpants”
Jumbo 702 (Sat 2 Jun) – Love it or hate it
Solving time: 17:37 [This posting is a few days late, for which my apologies.] Most of this was straightforward; it would have been a PB (just under 14 minutes) except for 22dn and 46dn. Some … Read more “Jumbo 702 (Sat 2 Jun) – Love it or hate it”
ST 4228 (Sun 10 Jun) – Off Rhoda
Some very loose clueing in this puzzle and a few obscure answers & wordplays, 1ac probably being the hardest clue. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 PAN + SOPHY – luckily … Read more “ST 4228 (Sun 10 Jun) – Off Rhoda”
ST 4227 – Beetle-brained, ‘alf-witted
Solving time: 3:34, two “writos” (20ac and 6dn). This would have been my best time for this puzzle if I hadn’t written ‘bettee’ for BEETLE at 20ac and ‘alf’ for AUF at 6dn. Enough said. … Read more “ST 4227 – Beetle-brained, ‘alf-witted”
ST 4226 (Sun 27 May) – Artful dodgery
Solving time: 8:10 No real hold-ups at the end on this one, but overall I thought this was harder than usual. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 OLIVER TWIST; (OR VILE)* … Read more “ST 4226 (Sun 27 May) – Artful dodgery”
ST 4225 – The good, the bad and the unco
Solving time: 6:22 Quite a few obscure words in this, especially in the top left, but the clues were accurate and helpful. As only 3dn was new to me, I think my time was probably … Read more “ST 4225 – The good, the bad and the unco”
Times Jumbo 698 (Sat 12 May) – Blunder gatherer
Solving time: 21:00, three mistakes (30ac, 34ac and 20dn). This would have been under 15 mins but for 34ac, 41ac and 3dn. I got the last two of these right but guessed the first incorrectly, … Read more “Times Jumbo 698 (Sat 12 May) – Blunder gatherer”