Apologies for the somewhat delayed blog – this slipped through the net in the 19dn that was 2021’s NYE celebrations. The usual combination of excellent/unlikely-looking words and truly daredevil wordplay, needless to say I loved … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,255: Creme Brulzie”
Author: Verlaine
Times 28,175: Goodbye To All That
The very last puzzle of 2021 offers a plethora of 2022 holiday destination ideas, for when this Omishambles dies down and the world throws open its doors once more. Mexico, Andalusia, champagne in the Alps, … Read more “Times 28,175: Goodbye To All That”
Times 28,169: ‘Twas The Solve Before Christmas
A relatively zippy recording of my live solve of this puzzle (and the concise and QC) can be found here, with added heckling by vinyl1. An enjoyable holiday Friday solve with lots of fun literary/GK-type … Read more “Times 28,169: ‘Twas The Solve Before Christmas”
Times Cryptic Jumbo 1529: Was Araucaria to Urticaria what Prometheus was to Epimetheus?
A fairly zippy Jumbo but most congenial, with neat surfaces everywhere. My COD may have to be 34ac, as I used to sling D12s a lot in my youth, and the surface is obviously great, … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1529: Was Araucaria to Urticaria what Prometheus was to Epimetheus?”
Times 28,163: I Am Rubbra, You Are Glue
I can’t say I loved this particular Friday puzzle, but a lot of that was due to not one but two 15-letter “cryptic definition” across clues. This Marmitey clue type can be excellent if it … Read more “Times 28,163: I Am Rubbra, You Are Glue”
Times 28,157: Quaerere Verum, Ire XC Milia Passuum Occidens
Now this is the stuff! A really good Friday puzzle I thought, despite one piece of wilful obscurity – you know I’m usually all for wilful obscurity in everything, but one must draw the line … Read more “Times 28,157: Quaerere Verum, Ire XC Milia Passuum Occidens”
Times 28,151: My 13dn is HELLraison
This was quick for a Friday but upon parsing I see it was mostly because the answers were too darn biffable: 10ac, 25ac, 4dn for instance all going straight in before I’d needed to appreciate … Read more “Times 28,151: My 13dn is HELLraison”
Monthly Club Special 20,254: Pika Boo
Sometimes the agenda of an MCS is to throw as many truly absurd-looking words at us as possible – “THAT’S in the dictionary somewhere? REALLY?” but the order of the month this time was really … Read more “Monthly Club Special 20,254: Pika Boo”
Times 28,145: Engineers, Artillery, Academicians – The Royal Family
I am feeling under the weather and this was not a super-quick solve, so the setter’s Friday duties can be said to have been discharged; but this is not my favourite type of puzzle I … Read more “Times 28,145: Engineers, Artillery, Academicians – The Royal Family”
Times 28,139: Better Eryri than Errory
I don’t want to sound ungrateful or anything but I’d knocked this one down in 330 seconds or so which by my calculations makes it a little easy for a Friday puzzle. HAVING SAID THAT … Read more “Times 28,139: Better Eryri than Errory”