Category: Weekend Cryptic

Solving time: About 24 minutes I found this the complete opposite end of the difficulty spectrum to last week’s fiendish Dean Mayer offering. I rattled through this one very quickly (for me). That’s not to … Read more “Sunday Times 4564 (17 Nov 2013) by Tim Moorey”

A mini cricket theme in some of the clues and solutions of this one, appropriately as the first test in Brisbane is under way now. Solving time was about 18 minutes, on the train on … Read more “Saturday Times 25634 (16th Nov)”

Solving time: I have no idea, but probably over two hours all told. I printed it off at the start of the week, and had to keep coming back to it on my many train … Read more “Sunday Times 4563 (10 Nov 2013) by Dean Mayer”

Solving time 15:38, so about average difficulty but a very enjoyable puzzle with good surface readings thoughout and some cracking definitions, e.g. “number one fan” for EGOTIST, “one up in good time” for EARLY BIRD, … Read more “Saturday Times 25628 (9th Nov)”

Solving time: About 45 minutes. It took me quite a long time to unscramble the wordplay in 10a, a common problem according to the forum. The only reference that I didn’t know was to the … Read more “Sunday Times 4562 (3 Nov 2013) by Jeff Pearce”

9:38, so one of the easiest Saturday puzzles for a while, but also very enjoyable. Good surfaces throughout, witty definitions, precise wordplay on a couple of the trickier words – what’s not to like! Well, … Read more “Saturday Times 25622 (2nd Nov)”

Solving time: About 35 minutes I found this a pretty straightforward solve. There were one or two I wasn’t overly keen on. I didn’t understand the relevance of Peebles in 1a, other than that it’s … Read more “Sunday Times 4561 (27 Oct 2013) by Tim Moorey”

Sorry about the delay getting this one up – my weekends are getting as busy as my weekdays lately! Anyway, a fairly steady solve in around 15 minutes. Getting the four 14-letter ones in early … Read more “Saturday Times 25616 (26th Oct)”

Solving time: I can’t really give a solving time for this one as I did it in bits and pieces while doing other things. I did find it one of Dean’s trickier ones, though, and … Read more “Sunday Times 4560 (20 Oct 2013) by Dean Mayer – One for the thrill-seekers!”

Solved in about 15 minutes on the train on the way down to London for the Times Crossword Championships last Saturday. Unlike some former years, this wasn’t a beast that wouldn’t have been out of … Read more “Saturday Times 25610 (19th Oct) – Championship day breakfast treat”