Author: william_j_s

Lured into a false sense of security by Mara today. The NW corner went in smoothly and then I had to pick them off all over the place. Good fun though. Definitions underlined. Across 1 … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2117 by Mara”

Quite tricky today. Although I managed to finish just inside my target time, Tracy has a way of making you second guess how the clue works while solving it. I did not know 3dn, 7dn, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2107 by Tracy”

After a little difficulty breaking through to the bottom half (and particularly the SW), this was polished off in less than target time. I had to take a post-solve look at 7dn to parse it, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2097 by Tracy”

Not as rare as hen’s teeth, these days, Alconiere strikes again. Thanks to jackkt for the heads-up regarding this setter’s habit of including a Nina – I wouldn’t have spotted it (have I though?) without … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2087 by Alconiere”

A bottom to top solve, in which 1ac gave me the most trouble. Definitions underlined. Across 1 Eccentric chap — Welsh (8) CAMBRIAN – CAM (eccentric) and BRIAN (chap). This was my LOI having had … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2077 by Orpheus”

A sting in the tail of this one, as I missed the enumeration of 8ac and was convinced it would end -CIAN, and was flummuxod by the parsing of 24ac. All green in the end, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2067 by Breadman”

A good tester, involving a couple of educated guesses, but which I managed to finish in average time. I suspect there will be many NHOs today with the fabric, yarn, and amphibian (as well as … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2057 by Orpheus”

I’ve been off the ball recently, with another sluggish solve today. Your comments will tell if we’re in a tough patch, or if it’s just me. I had to solve this grid in four quarters … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2047 by Wurm”

An abundance of familiar crossword vocabulary, and a couple of real chestnuts, gave me enough of a start in all corners. Only 13ac and 4dn caused any head-scratching; the former to check my spelling, and … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2037 by Trelawney”

Off to a flying start, but slowed down on the right hand side a bit. My last two in were 23ac and 21dn. The answers and clues all feel pretty fresh and fun, which is … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2027 by Oink”