Category: Weekend Cryptic

My favorite puzzles are always those that educate me at least a little bit, along with drawing on knowledge you already possess (though it may be on the verge of being forgotten).

In Australia, the ’Pies are the Australian Football 2023 Premiers. Their supporters will be delighted to see them featured in 1ac!

15:22. I found this puzzle enjoyably tricky. There are a couple of rather modern references in here (1dn, 5dn) which I know isn’t to everyone’s taste but I really like it when these puzzles reflect … Read more “Sunday Times 5084 by David McLean – not so bad”

This felt harder than recent Saturdays.

None of these clues are ultimately complicated nor is any of the vocabulary obscure. But the setter artfully, magically, with nearly imperceptible sleights of hand, and oft-amusing surface distraction, keeps the answer hidden until it comes as a surprise.

It wasn’t all R’n’R; with my LOI (26ac) I wasted time vainly trying to construct a classical Italian musical instruction.

13:43. Another really excellent puzzle from Dean. Top notch stuff.

Solved offline, in free moments. Time and difficulty not registered. You’ll have to tell me!

I knew this was going to be fun when I had 1A to start and soon acquired 1D, much to my delight.

Some answers were obvious (once I had the helpers), but the wordplay was obscure. All clear now!