Author: ulaca

Well, I was an epic fail in 40 minutes on what is not a particularly hard test. My major problem was 10a, in spite of having been one once. Too clever for me. I imagine … Read more “Times 28189 – Winds moderate, doing their thing from the north”

A wrong guess at the Malagasy native did for me, in what was otherwise a very nice way to get the week going. Onwards and upwards… ACROSS 1 Notice doctor cuddling new arrival (6)ADVENT – … Read more “Times 28177 – Start the way you mean to go on”

This was definitely a step-up from usual Monday fare, with some cunning misdirection, lots of multi-word definitional bits and one or two bits of obscure (for some) vocabulary. I came a bit of a cropper, … Read more “Times 28165 – Rider of waves, indeed!”

Writing the blog, it would appear that it was in the down clues that the setter really hit his/her stride. However, there was lots to enjoy too even as we were taken on a trip … Read more “Times 28153 – Petite Messe Solennelle pour vous?”

Mondays appear to have been ramped up a bit recently, with this one coming in at around my true NITCH. (The actual number is lower, but that’s mainly owing to the fact that submissions with … Read more “Times 28141 – Sunil Havaskar?”

With some relatively obscure vocab and some tricky wordplay – on one occasion coinciding in the same clue – this was definitely on the tricky side for a Monday. I was already struggling when I … Read more “Times 28129 – League of Nations?”

Thanks all for your patience. I’ve been travelling around within Hong Kong a fair bit over the weekend and have only just returned to our retirement nest on the beautiful island of Cheung Chau. Crossword-wise, … Read more “Times 28117 – no caparison”

I thought this crossword was fun, quirky, not too easy and a little left-field. Several words which are more familiar with other meanings, and one word which could probably stand as a shibboleth test to … Read more “Times 28105 – Blood! Death! War! Rumpy-pumpy!”

What a weekend of sport it was! For me, disappointment followed disappointment, as Europe was handed a lesson in the Ryder Cup set in one of the scarier states of old US of A, and … Read more “Times 28093 – Racing Demons”

Born in Canada to a Romanian dad and a Chinese mum, Emma Radacanu is as British as you can get, and I would like to dedicate this blog to her fabulous run to the US … Read more “Times 28081 – I’ll have whatever Emma’s having”