Author: ulaca

A rare sub-16 for me, so we can expect some serious times from the Bay Area and Barnes. I thought this was a most enjoyable stroll, with just a clue or two to keep the … Read more “Times 27361 – Cock-up on the coding front”

A very enjoyable Monday offering, which helps to exorcise the memory of Friday’s bestial offering (excellent though it was after its own fashion). Lots of nice stuff here. I needed three stabs at 8a, essaying … Read more “Times 27349 – Of Hackney Laureates and Minotaur Slayers”

This is an eminently Mondayish sort of puzzle that will terrorise no horses. Indeed, even donkeys and mules – as it were – are likely to find that fear is not the primary emotion with … Read more “Times 27337 – I guess why that’s why they call it the blues”

A rare excursion under 20 minutes for me, so easy, but perhaps not as easy as I made it, since it had very little sciency stuff. No, looking at it again, I’d say this was … Read more “Times 27325 – Settlements Abounding”

In my last blog, I mentioned that I had an important announcement to make and today that announcement is made: after seven years and 200 puzzles blogged (today is my 200th), I have decided to … Read more “Times 27313 – Salut, et encore merci pour le poisson”

What a puzzle, containing one of the most unlikely words to ever appear in a Times daily puzzle! Congratulations to everybody who persevered and worked it out. (No kudos at all to those who might … Read more “Times 27301 – And top of da morning to you too, setter!”

Well, almost. It’s amazing what setters can get into a crossword if they try hard enough, or if the solver looks hard enough. Today, for example, we have Booby Moore (who was ‘Born Barking’ – … Read more “Times 27289 – The Silver Fox meets Bobby Moore”

Most unusually I snuck under 18 minutes for this one, which furriners might find a bit tricky with a fairly recondite Scotch county popping up. There’s also a fairly obscure word for genie, which might … Read more “Times 27277 – Perverse and foolish once I strayed”

I really enjoyed this, a slightly above averagely difficult Monday offering, if my performance was anything like par for the course. There was quite a lot of man and woman stuff kicking around, as well … Read more “Times 27265 – A little bit of whatever tickles your fancy”

Slightly more tricky than the average Monday, this took me just shy of 30 minutes. Among some neat clues, my vote for best of the day goes to 6d for the relieved parents. Very nice. … Read more “Times 27253 – Won hondred n yeaty!”