Solving time of 36:19 Pretty straightforward overall, although some wordplay to think about.I got the two long ones quickly and finished off the LHS fairly quickly – last to go in were 20D and 28A. … Read more “23678 – pons pontis”
Category: Daily Cryptic
ST 4236 (Sun 5 Aug) – Miskicks
Solving time: 10:15 Very ‘Sunday Timesey’ this week, with a few quibbles: 5ac, 13ac and 1dn are probably the main ones. A few difficult words – 24ac, 20dn and 13ac were all new to me. … Read more “ST 4236 (Sun 5 Aug) – Miskicks”
Times 23,676 – Fast Friday
Friday puzzles seem to be a bit easier than the rest of the week these days. I thought Monday was supposed to be the easiest day. Time taken: 9m 25s ACROSS 1 HIGH – double … Read more “Times 23,676 – Fast Friday”
23,675 – tricky
Solving time : 29:59 I found this very difficult, mainly because I was slow on all the long clues. 11D took ages, and left with 15A, I decided I had to finish within 30 minutes … Read more “23,675 – tricky”
23674 – twenty again
Solving time 5:58 Mostly straightforward, but included a reminder of my recent disaster with VIGESIMAL at 2D, where I waited for checking letters before putting anything in the grid. Across 1 COVEN=witches,TRY=go into (the investigative … Read more “23674 – twenty again”
23,673 – Mind games
Mostly straightforward but 28A,29A and 17D provided something of a sting in the tail and cost me an irksome couple of minutes. The sort of puzzle that I look at after solving and ask myself … Read more “23,673 – Mind games”
23672 – truly old-fashioned
Solving time of 48:24 A slow start at the top – finished the bottom fairly quickly and then went back to fill in the gaps.I don’t know enough Shakespearean words. I also need to know … Read more “23672 – truly old-fashioned”
Times 23,670 – I take issue with ATISHOO
The easiest puzzle of the week so far. Took me only 6:23. ACROSS 1 LEFT BACK – a defender in football and a reference to the return to power of the Labour Party in 1997. … Read more “Times 23,670 – I take issue with ATISHOO”
23,669 – semiprecious haggis
Solving time : 10:50 Fairly striaghtforward for the most part, but I got a bit stuck at the end on 25A and 22D. For 22D I was unable to think of the courtier and worried … Read more “23,669 – semiprecious haggis”
23668 – were you enlightened?
Solving time 9:58 A slow start, with 12A the first clue solved, and a slowish finish in the NW corner. Annoying old chestnut of the day was 16D, which should have taken no time at … Read more “23668 – were you enlightened?”