Author: ulaca

Some bridge, some baseball, some golf, but not a cricketing clue in sight. Thank the Lord for small mercies, then, after watching England just a Brathwaite away from Twenty20 glory. Sometimes I wonder why I … Read more “Times 26377 – Though I Dream in Vain”

Something of an international flavor to this one – a slightly tougher Monday than usual. Perhaps my prayers to the gods of London Bridge Street have more clout now that I am a centurion? But … Read more “Times 26365 – A whiff of garlic and the waft of Gitanes”

Today is my hundredth blog. To mark the occasion, I invited my fellow bloggers (including a couple of lapsed ones) to help write up the Across clues. I also approached one confrère specifically to see … Read more “Times 26353 – Ton Up”

An odd beast this one – loads of straightforward clues and one which defied all my best attempts to solve it, even though I’d sussed out the second bit. So, a victory to the setter, … Read more “Times 26341 – The Meaning of Death?”

The Lunar New Year is ushered in with this tricky little number, which features quite a few animals but none I recognise among the Oriental Zodiac. But I have more serious things to consider, like … Read more “Times 26,329 – Minkey Business”

I did the crossword online and am writing this up wearing gloves, which may lead to more typos than usual. Sadly, I cannot blame the temperature in my office (not much above 12 degrees, I … Read more “Times 26317 – Peaceful Easy Feeling”

He’s had a go at that awful Kennedy fellow, but is Oliver Stone up for the challenge of his – or anybody else’s – lifetime, attempting to get to grips with the mother and father … Read more “Times 26305 – None Dare Call It Conspiracy”

This will be up in a couple of hours – depending on my ability to solve the thing, of course. Which turned out to be prescient words, indeed, as I failed on the tricky 5a. … Read more “Times 26293 – A win for the setter”

Looking at the early times posted on the Crossword Club, I have to say that this was a puzzle where a holiday taken in Bulgaria 35 years ago made all the difference between a Did … Read more “Times 26281 – A Stink in the Tale”

Simpler even than your average Monday, so long as you trust the wordplay for an Irish nationalist and a boiled sweet – or happen to know them from real and/or cruciverbal life. Sadly, my time … Read more “Times 26275 – Unhinged Treachery”