Category: Announcement

Solving time: 4:33 Generally straightforward, largely because of the transparency of the definitions. A couple of quibbles (19ac, 23ac, 22dn), one editing error (I think – 3dn) and one explanation I’m unsure about (25ac) but … Read more “ST 4215 – Stretchered-owski”

Solving time : 5m12s – I was pleased with my time here given some difficulties, with 1 across where I immediately entered –MENT for the second half, and not picking off all the long answers … Read more “Smut and haste”

Solving time: 8:52, one mistake (6 dn). I didn’t enjoy this much for several reasons, from obscure/invented phrases (11ac, 21ac) to incorrect wordplay (9ac, 18dn) to a frustrating finale when I was left with a … Read more “ST 4212 – Ewe what?”

Those who like a tough challenge might like to buy a paper copy of the Times today. It has a puzzle supplement with Times crosswords from 1996, 1976, 1956, and 1936. The oldest two will … Read more “The spirit of crosswords past”

I’ve noticed fairly slow display of the default view of the blog in the last few weeks. I’ve therefore reduced the number of entries displayed on each “page” from 20 to 10. If you notice … Read more “Speeding things up …”

Solving time : 13m23s – 3 wrong(!). Yesterday’s gloat has been fully paid for, not just by fbgp beating my time, but by a horrendous foul-up today, with eons taken to resolve 15, 18, 19, … Read more “Laugh at me, mock me, beat my score and time”

Neil Wellard’s blog for these two puzzles officially goes live tomorrow, with a team of contributors including some of us. There are test posts about recent puzzles already there and I believe most of these … Read more “Independent and Guardian crossword blog goes live”

Welcome to “Times for the Times” – a “community” version of a blog previously kept by Peter Biddlecombe. The point of this version is just the same as before – to discuss the day’s Times … Read more “A new beginning”