Category: Daily Cryptic

Solving time: not sure, I did most last night in about 45 minutes and finished this morning in a further 10 minutes. Last to go in were 7,8, and 12. Across 1 TAKE SOME BEATING … Read more “Times 23875 – Placeholder”

Solving time: 7:33 I enjoyed this more than usual – some good clues and no major quibbles. Should probably have been faster but I was slow to spot a few fairly standard devices, especially ‘score’ … Read more “ST 4269 (Sun 23 Mar) – Score draw”

Fairly straightforward today but still tricky enough in places with the NE corner (as yesterday) putting up most resistance. I expect to see some very quick times from the hares today. This tortoise managed it … Read more “Times 23873”

Solving time : 32 minutes, and one naughty peek in the dictionary I found this one to be a real challenge, and expected it after three pretty easy puzzles this week. Some clues were very … Read more “Times 23872 – a tale of two halves”

 http://www.bestfreeforums.com/forums/timescod.html New DIY COW / Clues in Blue contests will go online very shortly; the brief hiatus was just me using the Easter break to have a few days away with only occasional access to the … Read more “Times 23,872 – Poll”

Solving time 9:55 A definite puzzle of two halves – the top was quite a struggle but the bottom was straightforward. Last few solved were 9, 11, 12, 5, 6. There are a fair few … Read more “23871 – one for the vicarage breakfast table”

Solving time : 25 minutes An interesting puzzle requiring a range of Trivial Pursuit knowledge to complete but nothing too difficult. One obscure type of fabric that I had come across before in crosswords. A … Read more “Times 23870 The Duke of Yolk meets Herbert Pocket”

Quite an easy one, I thought, and lots of fun. Nothing particularly obscure, although I learnt that French-polish is a verb! I did this in 27 minutes. 14A made me smile as I finished reading … Read more “23869 – quite an easy one”

I found this very straightforward. Solving time: 16 mins < = reversal * = anagramACROSS1 BREADTH D in BREATH5 CLOT HE’S I thought first of ‘his’10 NERVE (gall) CENTRE (heart)12 PLAICE hidden <16 AD EQUATE … Read more “Times Crossword 23867”

Solving time: 11:17 Good puzzle. Again I found it a struggle to choose a couple of token clues not to include in the analysis. I am sure no-one needs to be told there is a … Read more “Times 23,866”