Author: ulaca

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”

Standard Monday fare, with a somewhat loose definition cum somewhat tricky anagram indication at 6d holding me up at the end and causing a brief panic, as I considered I might be in unknown word … Read more “Times 26257 – Period Piece”

A trickier than usual Monday number, in which the right-hand side gave up its secrets before the somewhat more recalcitrant left. Lots of nice stuff, if rather a plethora of insertion-style clues, but my COD … Read more “Times 26245 – Health and Efficiency Issue”

A gentle way to ease into the new week with a weird dance and a weird painting, but little else to bother the seasoned solver. Talking of which, many congratulations to Mark Goodliffe for snaffling … Read more “Times 26233 – The Referee’s Decision is Final”

Thank you for your patience. I know some people will be champing at the bit to give their comments – and perhaps a word or two about the puzzle as well. 24 minutes for this … Read more “Times 26221 – Don’t mention the rugby…”