Category: Daily Cryptic

I think it was another case of Blogger’s nerves because I raced through most of this but was then left with several gaps in all but the NW corner which took a long time to … Read more “Times 24579 – Egg On Face”

Solving time : 19 minutes. I expect it would be shorter if I was solving it from a print-out, but I am on the road and using the online version (surprisingly good internet at this … Read more “Times 24578: Straddling the pond”

Solving time: 7:52 I’m going to begin with the premise that this reasonably easy puzzle should satisfy the sterner critics around here with its good surface readings and some good clues, and hope that doesn’t … Read more “24577”

Solving time 10 minutes A very simple, boring puzzle. The anagrams might as well have (anagram) written at the end of the clue. The word plays are simple and obvious. The definitions are clunky and … Read more “Times 24,576 A real yawn”

Solving time: 19 minutes Music: Strauss, Bax, Symphony #7, Leppard/LSO After the sequence of toughies this week, I was a little worried. What I got was a beginner’s puzzle – that is, if you are … Read more “Times 24575 – Still barking up the wrong Tree!”

Solving time: 4:52 Firstly, many thanks to Peter for standing in for me last week when my computer temporarily died. I probably ought to replace it but decided to carry out one last resurrective repair, … Read more “ST 4386 (Sat 27 Jun) – Deutschland, wir kommen”

Solving time: 20.25 I had hoped for an easy puzzle after a day that had already required considerable ingenuity, with so much sport happening all at once – Messrs. Isner and Mahut arrived back on … Read more “Times Crossword 24573”

Today’s puzzle was extremely heavy going especially in the South-east corner which took me twice the time for the rest and even then, I am a bit unsure. There are, however, plenty of very clever … Read more “Times 24572 – Birdie Birdie Num Num”

Solving time: 14:30 Quite tricky vocabulary here, one of which I zoomed ahead with, and one of which slowed me down at the end. Just completed inside the 15 minutes that Sotira once mentioned as … Read more “Times 24571 – no football in the title …”

21 minutes, and not entirely satisfactory from my perspective, I’m afraid: I don’t mind a straightforward puzzle (as long as it doesn’t contain too many chestnuts), and I like a three-pipe puzzle that requires lots … Read more “Times 24,570 – a game of two halves”