A clear maker of the Friday grade, in my book, with every clue being slightly more than minimum-effort. Even the “simple anagrams” are quite fun: who could fail to smile at a moose-ling? Harum-scarum gave … Read more “Times 28,307: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, En-14ac”
Author: Verlaine
Monthly Club Special 20,260: Surprisingly Chaste Lord Archer Vegetating
The usual cavalcade of extreme ingenuity, with not a duffer among these clues. COD has got to be the truly exceptional 20ac, managing to seamlessly mesh Australian avifauna with the old vicarage in Grantchester. But … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,260: Surprisingly Chaste Lord Archer Vegetating”
Times 28,301: Dismissable Solvers of Hiphoprisy
This was a more than acceptable Friday challenge, where I started off very fast (6ac and 9ac falling straight in) but ended up really bogged down at the end. Not necessarily for all the right reasons, … Read more “Times 28,301: Dismissable Solvers of Hiphoprisy”
Times 28,295: All Blogs Fed And Ready To Fly
This was quite good, quite good. I got off to a quick enough start but then took an inordinately long time to see the likes of 12ac and 5dn. Lots of fun &lits and high … Read more “Times 28,295: All Blogs Fed And Ready To Fly”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1554: Vrooooooooom!
Just a mad dash for the finish line this one – I did it in under 8 minutes but the mighty Magoo was close to 7. Which is maybe what you want for a Monday … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1554: Vrooooooooom!”
Times 28,289: Friday the Sans Teeth
Well, if you can’t count on an absolute stinker of a tough Friday puzzle on Friday 13th, when can you count on one, I ask you? This was all pretty gentle stuff, add or insert a letter into something and match to a not-remotely-deceitful synonym of the desired answer at the clue’s beginning or end. More Man Friday than Freddy Krueger, really.
Times 28,283: Sorted for E’s and Pot
I liked this a lot, with its very correct quotas of interesting vocabulary, artsy GK, and humorous constructions. COD to 12ac as the idea of a boatload of Father Christmases very much appealed. Thank you setter!
Monthly Club Special 20,259: Anais, Zaha and Ella Walk Into A Bar…
It seems this got lost in the shuffle of the site move, but very unjustly, since it contains many many moments of pure cryptic artistry. Nothing pushes the envelope further (and better!) than these MCS … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,259: Anais, Zaha and Ella Walk Into A Bar…”
Times 28,277: Be Careful What You Wish For
Whew! Well you can’t say I didn’t ask for it. This was one of the most “interesting” puzzles in a long time, with a potential cluing error at 13ac and the pure madness that is … Read more “Times 28,277: Be Careful What You Wish For”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1549: (Butchers*) Hook
A very enjoyable jumbo indeed. I loved the TOR RENTAL and the superb reverse cryptic at 45d. Relatively fast progress except for staring at LOI 23d for an awful long time not being able to … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1549: (Butchers*) Hook”