Category: Jumbo Cryptic

This entertaining Jumbo is the work of our Crossword Editor, Richard Rogan. If he hadn’t told me it was his I think I might have guessed from the characteristic style. A little trickier than your usual Jumbo, it took me, I think, about an hour. With an abundance of wry definitions and clever wordplay, I had plenty of approving ticks on my paper copy.

This was certainly on the tougher side, for me at least.  I made reasonable progress on most of it but the last dozen or so clues, mostly in the bottom half of the grid, took my total time past the hour.

Hi all.  No time for this as I was on holiday, panting in the shade.  It didn’t strike me as too difficult, just a few things to verify when writing up the blog.  I’m in need of convincing that 23d works but found lots to enjoy including 24a, 35d and 44d.  Thanks setter!

I found this quite easy for the most part and completed it in a single session but there are a couple of answers I haven’t been able to explain to my own satisfaction so I’d welcome your suggestions.

Hello again. This Jumbo I thought fair, but a bit harder than average. I did think there was a strong “deja vu” feel about it, too. I wonder if the combination of using the same … Read more “Times Bank Holiday Cryptic Jumbo 1618 – 29 May 2023”

My turn to blog the Jumbo again already? With three bank holidays this month they’ve come thick and fast! I found this one relatively 1A but fun, finishing in an sub-average time of just over 35 minutes. Thank-you setter. How did you all get on?

Another gentler Jumbo offering this week, keeping me busy for no more than 40 minutes including working out all the parsings. 

Hello everyone. After a good start I tired a little and had to take a break. A bit more than an hour in total, but probably technically a DNF anyway: I had a typo, but while I was searching for the mistake I tested alternate spellings for the unknown impresario at 7d, and didn’t recall whether my original arrangement of vowels had been right. There were a few NHOs in the mix, so I was happy enough with that.

I didn’t have any standout favourite clues but noted some clever anagrams and various other nice touches. Thanks setter!

I have no solving time for this as I did it over more than one session, but I found it quite easy.

Hello again. This Jumbo I thought was somewhat easier than average, solved in one session of around 50 minutes, which is about as fast as I bother to get with jumbos.. no point in rushing, … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1613 – 6 May 2023”