Category: Weekend Cryptic

Solving time – not recorded for some reason. I normally note it down next to the grid, but I obviously forgot. I recall it being quite tricky though, maybe >20 minutes. Across 1 MATTER OF … Read more “Saturday Times 24317 (Aug 29)”

Normally, the puzzles I tackle from the daily broadsheets will require at least a couple of references to Chambers, thesaurus and sometimes even to other sources like Wikipedia; perhaps to check spelling or a new … Read more “Sunday Times 4,343 – Light & Easy”

Solving time 17:05, which makes it above average in difficulty for me, but not a real stinker. Actually I was probably just off form, as it doesn’t seem all that difficult in hindsight now. Mind … Read more “Saturday Times 24311 (Aug 22nd)”

I won’t be able to post until this evening, but feel free to comment.

21:08 – this wasn’t especially hard, with some helpful checking letters rendering a good deal of the wordplay less than critical. But pretty entertaining stuff, with a couple of very interesting clues. I can’t fully … Read more “Times Saturday 24,299 (Aug. 8th 2009)”

Solving time 13:45, so a bit easier than the previous two weeks. A fairly steady solve, no major sticking points, just a few places where I had to go back for another look when there … Read more “Saturday Times 24293 (1st Aug)”

Solving time 21:18, which felt quite fast for this tricky puzzle. I had a slight advantage in that someone mentioned in a comment on last week’s blog that it was a stinker, so I was … Read more “Saturday Times 24287 (25th July)”

27:38 for this masterpiece of cruciverbalism. It’s going to take a while to write this blog because there’s a discussion point in nearly every clue. I just hope I can remember how all the wordplay … Read more “Saturday Times 24281 (18th July)”

Solving time 6:59 – I wish! I was solving this from the paper while enjoying a pint last Saturday, and stopped the clock to refresh my glass. When I got back I forgot to restart … Read more “Saturday Times 24275 (11th July)”

Solving time 26:03. This was a game of two halves for sure, with some really intricate wordplay and unfamiliar definitions of familiar words sprinkled in among some fairly easy and straightforward clues. The NE corner … Read more “Saturday Times 24269 (4th July)”