Hello, did you miss me? A bit? Well in that case, go on then, have a new blog. My friends, I did not distinguish myself. Except insofar as I solved without any errors. My time … Read more “Times Championship Final 2023: Like Falling Off A Bike”
Author: Verlaine
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1579: They Don’t Like It Up ‘Em
No complaints about this lovely Jumbo, brimming with good surfaces and interesting wordplay. Given that I only started getting into Dad’s Army a couple of years ago (I may be slow, but I always get … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1579: They Don’t Like It Up ‘Em”
Times 28,427: Very Sad Not To Have Solved This In 4’33”
There were definitely some finely turned clues in this one – I was very taken with the two different setters in 23ac and the two different covers in 4dn – but honestly there can be … Read more “Times 28,427: Very Sad Not To Have Solved This In 4’33””
Times 28,421: Pangram’s People
I made pretty swift progress through this pangrammatic puzzle: have lots of unusual letters and curious words means that the crossers are often more helpful than might otherwise be the case. But I liked a … Read more “Times 28,421: Pangram’s People”
Times 28,415: He Drinks a 1d Drink, He Drinks A 9d Drink, He Drinks a 1ac Drink, He Drinks a 15ac Drink
Apparently the Latin for Friday is “dies Veneris”, so I was halfway tempted to describe this crossword as not being quite venereal enough, but the connotations are not great. In any case there were a … Read more “Times 28,415: He Drinks a 1d Drink, He Drinks A 9d Drink, He Drinks a 1ac Drink, He Drinks a 15ac Drink”
Monthly Club Special 20,264: My First Wish Is For Infinite More Crosswords
I thought this was really very tricky and I am sorry that I left it until the very end of the month to try to tackle! A number of the clues took a LOT of … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,264: My First Wish Is For Infinite More Crosswords”
Times 28,409: No, Your Father Was Not A Nun, Baldrick
I liked this and did find it quite tricky, mostly due to the definition parts often being quite inconspicuous within the clue. I enjoyed the fact that there was no talking down to the solver, … Read more “Times 28,409: No, Your Father Was Not A Nun, Baldrick”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1574: How To Upset An Applecart Without Scaring The Horses
I did this in 9 minutes it looks like from the leaderboard, and had no real recollection of any of it, so it’s probably not unfair to describe this as a Mondayish Jumbo (which is … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1574: How To Upset An Applecart Without Scaring The Horses”
Times 28,397: Sealed With A Loving Kiss
This put up enough of a struggle to merit its Friday slot – I finished inside 10 minutes, but it was touch and go, the SE corner in particular giving me numerous minutes of grief. … Read more “Times 28,397: Sealed With A Loving Kiss”
Times 28,391: Now NOBODY In A Times Crossword Is Still Living :(
I quite liked this overall: there were some weaker clues but also quite a few that I really loved. 6ac is really good, as were 4dn and 5dn. This was also a puzzle wherein a … Read more “Times 28,391: Now NOBODY In A Times Crossword Is Still Living :(“