Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: 28 minutes I found this quite straightforward. SYBARITISM and EDENTATE were new to me but both were gettable by the wordplay. I also didn’t know the abbreviation sc. SCREECH OWL was vaguely familiar, … Read more “The Times Cryptic Crossword Number: 24043”

Solving time: Gave up after 10 mins with 2 missing (4dn and 11ac) A late blog tonight as I’ve only just got back from Cheltenham. Congratulations to Mark on his victory, to Peter on his … Read more “ST 4297 (Sun 5 Oct)”

Time taken to solve: An hour before I resorted to help on 15ac to kickstart the SE corner where I was well and truly stuck. Then it took me another 10 minutes. I found this … Read more “24041 Infuriating”

Solving time : 13 minutes. I liked this puzzle a lot, there were some clever usages of the unfamiliar meanings of words, backed up with some very fair wordplay. I thought this was going to … Read more “Times 24040. Oh, so that means that!”

I found this quite an easy puzzle, solving time 22 mins, with the lower half trickier than the top half with the SW corner the last I finished. * = anagram < = reversed ACROSS5 … Read more “Times 24,039”

Solving time : 40 minutes I struggled with this at times and never felt I was really on the setter’s wavelength. I was put off right at the start by 1A, a clue I didn’t … Read more “Times 24038 Garrulous Gyrfalcons”

Solving time: 42 minutes Quite a few new words today. There are a couple where I am not sure about the wordplay. Normally I get them just after hitting POST, but any help is welcome. … Read more “Oct. 6th, 2008”

Solving time: 16.09 I found this the toughest puzzle for a couple of weeks – since the last one I blogged, actually. And as on that occasion it was difficult to find clues to leave … Read more “Times Crossword 24035”

Solving time: 14:15 Lots of interesting clues. In fact I could only identify one that didn’t seem to need including in the analysis. So apologies to anyone puzzled by 15A. I got a bit stuck … Read more “Times 23,034”

Solving time 11:08 I enjoyed this puzzle for some original and well-chosen wordplay. This is my last blog before the Championships, so good luck to all bloggers and commenters past and present who are subjecting … Read more “24033”