Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 15:30 Fairly slow with this one – 30A was my last answer and should probably not have been such a struggle. Others I found hard were 21D, 27, 20, 18. Only 6D went … Read more “Times 24224”

An interesting 30 minutes. Lots of space filled in very quickly, but a dreadfully drawn-out death thanks in large part to a couple of words with checking letters that weren’t giving too much away. One … Read more “Times 24,223 – Dammit, Jim, I’m a doctor, not a lexicographer”

Solving time: Beyond recordable Actually, solving time was about 30 minutes and then another similar length of time to get 23 & 13, which were readily obtained once I undid the damage at 21. There’s … Read more “Times 24222 – I am but mad NNW: when the wind is southerly I can tell a hawk from a handgun”

Solving time: 2:56, one mistake A very careless error at 26ac notwithstanding, this was mostly very straightforward although several clues were dubious. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW; (SUTHERLAND + … Read more “ST 4327 (Sun 3 May) – More haste”

This took me about 45 minutes in two sessions because having completed the LH and most of the SE my mind went blank and I couldn’t get started in the NE so I took a break. … Read more “Times 24220”

Solving time : 12 minutes, so I expect there’ll be a few blinders. There seemed to be a lot of answers in this one to do with the performing arts, as there are in the … Read more “Times 24219: stage or screen?”

Solving time: 8:35 Easyish but well-made puzzle – I can’t see anything for anyone to argue about today. Clues completed without full wordplay understanding were 14, 22, 6, 9. The Times Crossword Club website was … Read more “Times 24218”

Solving time : 30 minutes For the most part, an enjoyable puzzle with a smattering of good surface readings and one or two quite complex wordplays. I had no particular hold-ups and went from top … Read more “Times 24,217 Do You Come Here Orphan?”

Solving time: 50 mins Music: Vaughn Williams, Sinfonia Antartica, Boult/LSO While I finished, I am not too certain of two of the answers. In fact, one seems quite unlikely, but there is nothing else that … Read more “Times 24216 – Do not disturb the mole station!”

Solving time: 8:20 This puzzle had a hard act to follow after last week’s excellence, but it stepped up to the plate – generally accurate, albeit with a few ST-isms, some good clues and no … Read more “ST 4326 (Sun 26th April) – Attention: theca”