Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 4:06 This puzzle would have been improved if the setter/editor had consulted the periodic table (for WOLFRAM at 15dn). The definition of ODIN at 11ac is also extremely dubious. This blog would have … Read more “ST 4371 (Sun 7 Mar) – Tung tied”

Solving time about 45 minutes, although as usual I had to cheat to finish it. If I were to classify the solutions I’d identify three types: (K) knew the answer – this would include straight … Read more “TLS 821 (19th Feb)”

I solved this late last night. I don’t know whether I was tired and my brain was particularly slow but I found it a real slog which took me just under 90 minutes to crack. … Read more “Times 24483 – 90 Minutes Hard Labour”

Solving time : Did not finish! I am completely and utterly stuck on 3 down and I’m going to feel silly soon. This was overall a pretty frustrating experience, I got a phone call less … Read more “Times 24482 – my kingdom for a harmonica player?”

Solving time: 8:25 The great thing about this puzzle is the surface readings – consistently excellent throughout, with no trace of “could only be a crossword clue”. The top row – SET APART / PAIR … Read more “24481”

Solving time 25 minutes An enjoyable puzzle of about average level of difficulty. An even worse homophone than yesterday. Surely FIGARO lends itself to a rather better clue. Some obscurities as well but all derivable … Read more “Times 24,480 Virgil and The Day of Madness”

Solving time: 39 minutes Music: Strauss, Don Quixote, Karajan/Fournier/BPO I was a bit worried about this one for a while. The bottom was not too difficult, but the top offered a lot of resistance. I … Read more “Times 24479 – Gotcha!”

Solving time: can’t remember, but I think I had to have a sanity break halfway through. Dreadful, again. There was a definite mistake in the clue to ATHENS at 22dn (in the online version, at … Read more “ST 4370 (Sun 28 Feb) – 8dn to the 4dn”

Solving time: 30:00 (1 wrong, 4 unsolved), but all correct in around 35 minutes I made the mistake of starting this puzzle when I was feeling rather tired. I’d hoped that it might wake me … Read more “TLS Puzzle No. 820 (and an unresolved clue from No. 812)”

To the great disappointment of you all, who were expecting a witty and cultivated blog from Sabine, you have me instead, or rather mctext and I, who have cobbled something together. Sabine was last seen … Read more “Times 24477 – We’re not who we pretend to be”