Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 20 minutes There’s not much to say about this – it’s essentially very straightforward. The Editor clearly thinks we’re all hung over. I have one query at 20D where I can’t parse the … Read more “Times 24,420 Pall’s Balistic Missal in Salem”

Solving time: 37 minutes Music: Brahms, Cello Sonatas, Starker/Sybok I felt kind of dull as I did this – couldn’t invoke the solver’s spark. After 22 minutes, I had only about a third done. Then … Read more “Times 24419 – Reckless driver placed in isolation cell!”

dd = double definitioncd = cryptic definitionrev = reversed or reversalins = insertioncha = charadeha = hidden answer*(fodder) = anagram I stared dazed for five full minutes until I saw the two biggie down clues … Read more “Times 24417 – Hamlet Finished Me”

Solving time: 11:17, one mistake Quite a tricky puzzle, which I made a hash of through carelessness which could have been anticipated, at 20D. Answers written without full wordplay understood: 10, 11, 18, 2, 19, … Read more “24416”

Sorry for delay – I’d forgotten to get a sub for today and the effect was cmpounded by a power cut here which has just ended. I’ll get a report up as soon as I … Read more “24415”

Solving time: 105 mins As I write this I’m sitting high above Augusta on the Leeuwin ridge with a goodly part of South West Australia and the Southern Ocean stretched out before me. Wedge Tail … Read more “Times 24414 – Season’s Greetings from Augusta”

Solving time: 4:08 Better from me this week after some poor recent efforts, and a better crossword too; 16ac is terrible, 15dn needs some work and 4dn is dubious but otherwise the clues are pretty … Read more “ST 4359 (Sun 13 Dec) – Doctor No-no”

Time taken to solve: 55 minutes. I didn’t find this easy by any means and there are one or two explanations I am not completely sure of. Once again I was hampered by not being … Read more “Times 24412 – A bridge too far”

Solving time : 32 minutes, but a few interruptions. Not having a great brain day, because in hindsight, there’s not a lot that should be too difficult here but I made heavy weather of it. … Read more “Times 24411: homophony!”

Solving time: 20:42 I’m starting to type this just before 12, and have read the comments made so far. Solved without understanding full wordplay: 12, 27, 7, 22 – solving by the seat of my … Read more “24,410 – a cheeky puzzle?”