Author: ulaca

And here we are, fresh from an invigorating trip to Greece, the second part of which was spent on the fair isle of Chios, not a million miles away from the place referenced at 14 … Read more “Times 27073 – Jumbly polysyllables out the ass”

By the time you read this (or not), I will be on the first leg of my Greek tour, which starts in the Ionian island of Lefkada before moving to the Aegean island of Chios, … Read more “Times 27061 – Eternal summer gilds them yet”

I was awful slow to get my last three, failing unaccountably to see 22 across, 16 down and 21 down. I thought this was a very nice puzzle – a degree or two harder than … Read more “Times 27049 – The Lord Bless You and Keep You”

Today’s was very much your average Monday offering – high in entertainment and not too taxing. The lovers of the bodice-ripping Regency tales of Ms Heyer get a clue all to themselves. Most of us … Read more “Times 27037 – Spooner in the Works”

Today I will be doing something that I have never done in my six years of blogging, namely, offering advice to the setters and the editor. This is something that I am loath to do, … Read more “Times 27025 – Lessons to Learn”

Sorry, owing to a number of unforeseen circumstances that I will not bore you with, I need to do this on the iPad. So, no bells and whistles (or clues), I’m afraid. A little under … Read more “Times 27013 – Peckinpah Meets Coward?”

Well, I found this difficult, taking over an hour. No idea how others have done, as I have been out enjoying the beautiful weather in Hong Kong’s hidden gem, its north-east corner. I wasn’t so … Read more “Times 27001 – Mini-monster”

Well, talk about instant retribution from the crossword gods! On Friday I dared to wonder if I would ever on my Monday watch get a puzzle as difficult as the one dished up that day, … Read more “Times 26995 – Monday Monster”

Not much to say about this puzzle, with its multiple use of charades (A + B type clues). It was so straightforward that my time of 18:41 may not see me safely Snitchified. Nonetheless, I … Read more “Times 26977 – Over the Tree-tops I Float Thee a Song”

A very Mondayesque puzzle indeed, which I romped through in 21 minutes, so we may expect the speedsters to be comfortably sub-5. Sometimes a puzzle is like a London bus – you know what I … Read more “Times 26965 – Swimming the Lucinda River with Joie de Vivre”