Category: Weekend Cryptic

Solving time: I did this on paper amid interruptions, so it’s hard to give any kind of accurate time. I’d reckon about 40-45 minutes at a guess. It’s an excellent crossword, a typical example from … Read more “Sunday Times 4530 (24 Mar 2013) by Dean Mayer”

Fairly straightforward, most of it – I had it all finished except for 18ac in about 16 minutes, then took another 10 to get that one. No idea why I went blank for that, it … Read more “Saturday Times 25430 (23rd March)”

Solving time: I can’t give any kind of time, I’m afraid. I’m currently visiting my parents in Portugal, and my Dad had this half done when I arrived. It doesn’t seem too tricky looking back … Read more “Sunday Times 4529 (17 Mar 2013) by Jeff Pearce”

Sorry, PC problems have prevented me posting today. Following a hasty rebuild I should have it up later tonight. Well, that was the plan anyway, but I also managed to break my keyboard (and the … Read more “Saturday Times 25424 (16th March)”

Solving time: About 30 minutes offline. Not a particularly imaginative puzzle, this one. There were three hidden words, and five single letter removals. I noticed someone on the forum querying the practice of using references … Read more “Sunday Times 4528 (10 Mar 2013) by Tim Moorey”

Solving time 16:16, figuring-out-all-the-wordplay time much longer! This was a really good puzzle, not too tricky but a few answers went in without full understanding. The setter hit a purple patch in the Downs, with … Read more “Saturday Times 25418 (9th March)”

I thought I might be under 30 minutes again, but there were three stubborn ones at the end that took a few extra minutes. 16, 25 & 26 were the culprits. Dean mentioned on his … Read more “Sunday Times 4527 (3 Mar 2013) by Dean Mayer”

Easiest Saturday puzzle for a long time, solved in 10:30. Would have been sub-ten too, but for 21dn (my COD), which I knew had to be DEFEND but took ages to see how it worked! … Read more “Saturday Times 25388 (2nd Feb)”

Solving time – off the scale, and I made a mistake with 24ac. Probably around 45 minutes, but I’d stopped counting by then. I actually noticed the C-Nina after the first half-dozen clues went in … Read more “Saturday Times 25412 (2nd March) – C-C-C-Crikey!”

Solving time: 28:12 That’s two sub-30 minute times on the trot for me, so I’m to get worried about what Dean might have in store for next week! I started with 1a, but I quickly … Read more “Sunday Times 4526 (25 Feb 2013) by Jeff Pearce”