Category: Jumbo Cryptic

A Very Happy Christmas to you all, whether you are celebrating that, something else or nothing.  (For me it’s Catmas, natch, or rather the great Boxing Day Eve.)  I hope that you are safe, well, … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1530 – 11th December 2021. Sloop John B”

A fairly zippy Jumbo but most congenial, with neat surfaces everywhere. My COD may have to be 34ac, as I used to sling D12s a lot in my youth, and the surface is obviously great, … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1529: Was Araucaria to Urticaria what Prometheus was to Epimetheus?”

Hello again. I don’t really have a time for this crossword for two reasons, the first of which is that I tend to do jumbos in several short sessions, as and when time permits. The … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1528 – 27 November 2021”

I found this Jumbo very straightforward, taking only 24 1/2 minutes, which is possibly my fastest, maybe because, for once, there was nothing unknown. But it was no less fun for that. Clues that got … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1527 – 20th November”

Pretty much a 60-minute puzzle so arguably a bit harder than average for a jumbo.  There were several clues of a particular type I’ve struggled to categorise which are neither nowt nor summat as they … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1526 – Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky?”

Hi all.  A little bird told me that this was a piece of cake eaten on a picnic during a walk in the park.  Or words to that effect.  Consequently I decided to tackle it … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1525 – 6th November 2021. With well-upholstered seating”

After getting locked out of my apartment the other day and missing my regular Friday blogslot I was determined to at least get the Jumbo done on time, but it was touch and go – … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1524: Till A’ The Cellars Gang Dry, My Dear”

Hello again. This Jumbo I thought was middle-of-the-road, in terms of difficulty, though there are one or two clues I have still to parse… What did you think? Please, do feel free to ask questions … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1523 – Saturday 23rd October 2021”

I found this an entertaining Jumbo of about average diffculty; (almost) nothing to frighten the horses and a number of clues that had me smiling. I was finished all bar 1 in about 37 minutes, … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1522 – 16th October”

I did this puzzle across a few sessions, probably just over an hour in all.  It was easier during the sessions when I hadn’t had a drink than during those when I had. First in … Read more “Times Cryptic Jumbo 1521 – The one with three reverse cryptics”