Author: william_j_s

A good training ground QC with a nearly complete range of clue types and very little esoteric GK. 21ac was my LOI, having seen the legendary bird round here before, but taking a while to … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1777 by Hurley”

Well that was a struggle! I couldn’t get any of the perimeter clues at the top of the grid, nor did any of the long answers jump out. The SW proved a little more tractable, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1767 by Teazel”

A relativley rare offering from Jalna, and the first one of theirs I’ve blogged. It did feel a little different, although I don’t subscribe to the idea that a setter’s style reliably gives them away, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1757 by Jalna”

DNF after staring at 2dn for a couple of minutes then giving up. I usually talk myself out of giving up when thinking that it’s a word I just don’t know, as that’s quite unusual … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1747 by Joker”

Nice and easy. Only the SW put up a little resistance, and I had to guess the first meaning at 21dn. Definitions underlined. Across 1 Comedian in panic, I’m occasionally laid back (5) COMIC – … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1737 by Mara”

An abundance of cleverly hidden answers, great anagrams and a touch of inventiveness, so there’s lots to enjoy. I never got into the flow, however, and had to ‘start again’ with an unchecked word a … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1727 by Mara”

Not the easiest Izetti, in that I needed to look twice at several of these before cottoning on, and didn’t feel confident enough at any point to do much biffing (I did biff 12dn, though, … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1717 by Izetti”

Nice puzzle – average time. Following on from yesterday’s Japanese poetry lesson, I was forced to guess a bit more general knowledge today (18ac, 20ac), and I was slow to think of the required woman … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1707 by Orpheus”

It’s been a while since I blogged an Izetti*, and I solved this one without knowing the setter’s identity (on my phone). I should have guessed, but missed the trademark religious reference (4dn today, I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1697 by Izetti”

I raced through this one, helped by plenty of double definitions and opportunities to biff. I did pause on blogging at 16dn thinking that some double duty was afoot, and at 5dn wondering if the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1687 by Mara”