20 minutes for all bar 17 and 24 then another 11 on these. Mostly very easy, mais il y a une mauvaise surprise, non? Across 1 S+CAMP4 BIG DIPPER – switchback is another term for … Read more “Times 25413 – ‘Allo ‘allo, what’s this ear?”
Author: ulaca
Times 25401 – Give Me That Old-time Religion
After a weekend of fine geographically-orientated puzzles (Tim Moorey’s excellent Sunday offering contains my clue of the month so far), a slightly trickier than usual Monday crossword, albeit one likely to generate less heat than … Read more “Times 25401 – Give Me That Old-time Religion”
Times 25383 – Some sort of Djoke?
As the tennis clues rained down on me as thick and fast as a Djokovic off-forehand, I began to unravel like a Scottish tennis player. A tired 60 minutes, including a challenge on the pre-Renaissance … Read more “Times 25383 – Some sort of Djoke?”
Times 25371 – May the Fours Be With You
The presence of two recondite words at 4 across and 4 down means that this puzzle is going to find a few out – including me. I ‘resorted to aids’, as the saying goes, pleased … Read more “Times 25371 – May the Fours Be With You”
Times 25359 – Where’s Patrick Moore when you need him?
Back with a bang after my holiday in England, despite the effects of a combined assault from the common cold and jetlag, clocking up a rare sub-30, if only by the narrowest margin, but with … Read more “Times 25359 – Where’s Patrick Moore when you need him?”
Times 25336 No Sweat
My third in a row before my colleague Vinyl takes the helm for the three up to Christmas. This one was as simple as they come – the only unknown for overseas solvers is likely … Read more “Times 25336 No Sweat”
Times 25330 Classic, Cryptic and Corny
Two in a row for me, as I will be in England for Christmas – where, incidentally, I hope to meet up with as many solvers and setters as can make it to a pub … Read more “Times 25330 Classic, Cryptic and Corny”
Times 25324 – Cilla Rides Again
Well, this one is definitely not your average Monday offering. Quirky, outrageous in places – notably 25 ac – but always fun even as it flirted with the borders of acceptability. 80 minutes for me, … Read more “Times 25324 – Cilla Rides Again”
Times 25312 Bowling for Coalmine
42 minutes, eight or nine of which were on 25 ac at the end. I found the bottom easier than the top, where I gave myself problems in the NE by chucking in ‘fall’ at … Read more “Times 25312 Bowling for Coalmine”
Times 25300 Verging on the farcical?
A puzzle which was definitely smarter than your average Monday offering, with a word at 4 across that doesn’t even make it into Oxford Dictionaries Online. Lots of good stuff, though, which took me around … Read more “Times 25300 Verging on the farcical?”