Author: talbinho

Solving time: 9 mins Actually just a couple, at 10ac, but if only the Sunday Times crossword were like this every week: some outstanding clues here, especially the anagrams at 28ac, 5dn, 8dn and 13dn, … Read more “ST 4325 (Sun 19 Apr) – Three cheers”

Solving time: 8:40 Standard fare with a mixture of good (1ac, 13ac) and bad (15ac, 7dn, 8dn). * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 AQUALUNG – nice pun on ‘the deep’ = … Read more “ST 4324 (Sun 12 Apr) – Take a deep breath”

Solving time: 2:46 An easy puzzle but I enjoyed lots of these clues, especially 20ac. Do I detect the hand of Tim Moorey? A very happy (if slightly belated) Easter to all readers. * = … Read more “ST 4323 (Sun 5 Apr) – Boa awe”

Solving time: 3:24 Pretty good this week. The anagram at 28ac would be my pick of the bunch. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 PRO + PROSITION – I hesitated here … Read more “ST 4322 (Sun 29 Mar)/Second guess”

Solving time: 5:43 This would have been quicker if I’d known the name at 1/29/19dn instead of having to work it out from the crossing letters! Whether Mr Hopkins’ output was any good or not … Read more “ST 4321 (Sun 22 Mar) – Metre reading”

Solving time: 6:25 After last week things could only improve. I’m not really a fan of this setter’s rather loose style but the majority of the nitpicks below are quibbles rather than complaints. I suspect … Read more “ST 4320 (Sun 15 Mar) – Backwards analysis”

Solving time: 4:37 Oh dear. That wasn’t very good at all. Three clueing errors, I think (26ac, 8dn and 11dn) and numerous other quibbles, but please do comment if you have any better explanations. If … Read more “ST 4319 (Sun 8 Mar) – Lost for words”

Solving time: 13:55 Some difficult words in this (I didn’t know CARGOOSE, JOTA or BREECHES BUOY and there are other tricky ones too), and a very mixed bag of clues. * = anagram, “X” = … Read more “ST 4318 (Sun 1 Mar) – Jota joy”

Solving time: 4:30 I found this very much at the easier end of the ST spectrum and should have recorded a faster time, but got a bit stuck on 21ac (CLIPPER), 18dn (UNIT COST) and … Read more “ST 4317 (Sun 22 Feb) – Blunder squirts”

Solving time: 7:15 A few difficult words this week – I don’t think I’ve come across GHILLIE or Henry Higgins before. * = anagram. Across 1 A HEAD FOR HEIGHTS; (HAG + FISH + TOAD … Read more “ST 4315 (Sun 8 Feb) – Hurricane Higgins”