Elegant is the first word that springs to mind to describe this appealing Jumbo, which I rattled through inside of a quarter hour, that is to say about 1.5 Jasons. First-Ones-In 16ac and 17ac in … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1314 (24/3/18): You’re The One For Me, Tbilisi”
Author: Verlaine
Times 27,005: Murder Blackmail Temptation Redemption – It’s Been A Busy Week
A puzzle that could turn out to be a bit Marmitey I suspect – there is some truly audacious and ingenious cluing in here, but full enjoyment may depend on tolerance for quirky homophones, slightly … Read more “Times 27,005: Murder Blackmail Temptation Redemption – It’s Been A Busy Week”
Monthly Club Special 20,210: When Irish Clues Are Smiling
A sad DNF from me on this one – the entire top row being way too sporty for my blood, I failed to register the full import of “hitting canvas” in 1ac and though TAKENOMA … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,210: When Irish Clues Are Smiling”
Times 26,999: Je suis venu, calme orphelin
Well, I thought this was a wonderful puzzle, best of the year so far etc etc, but then it’s just possible I might be biased. Certainly I don’t think I can recall a Times crossword … Read more “Times 26,999: Je suis venu, calme orphelin”
Times 26,993: Guess Who’s Back, Friday’s Back
Be careful what you wish for, eh? I think, pending horryd‘s verification of course, that this was the long-awaited stinker. I was very grateful to have tackled this on paper because it wouldn’t have done … Read more “Times 26,993: Guess Who’s Back, Friday’s Back”
Times 26,987: Not To Be Confused With Neville Shunte
Now as you may well have realised by this time my tastes in crossword puzzles run a bit more rococo than this one, but: if as a setter you are going to do something fairly … Read more “Times 26,987: Not To Be Confused With Neville Shunte”
Times 26,981: Priests and Cannibals, Prehistoric Animals
I’m going to say this *wasn’t* the long-awaited pure stinker, but looking at the current state of the leaderboard, it does appear to have met the requisite level of difficulty for a Friday, and the … Read more “Times 26,981: Priests and Cannibals, Prehistoric Animals”
Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1309 (Saturday, 17 February 2018): Something For The Weekend… Ish
Well none of you seems to have noticed that this didn’t get posted in a timely manner on Saturday – it’s like nobody cares very much or something, sob! A shame really as this was … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo No 1309 (Saturday, 17 February 2018): Something For The Weekend… Ish”
Times 26,975: Mr Clues Goes To Town
Well, horryd certainly called it yesterday: after a week of fairly gentle 15x15s we were due for a stinker. Doing this first thing in the morning on a snow day, with the kids blasting out … Read more “Times 26,975: Mr Clues Goes To Town”
Monthly Club Special No 20209: Return of the Pregnancy Frogs
For some reason there was 50 minutes plus on the clock already when I started this one, which was good really as it meant any sense of time pressure was off and I could just … Read more “Monthly Club Special No 20209: Return of the Pregnancy Frogs”