This felt harder than recent Saturdays.
Category: Weekend Cryptic
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5083, by Robert Price — exotic hybrids
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.
Times Cryptic 28746 – Sat, 28 Oct 2023. Old Time Rock and Roll.
It wasn’t all R’n’R; with my LOI (26ac) I wasted time vainly trying to construct a classical Italian musical instruction.
Sunday Times 5082 by Dean Mayer
13:43. Another really excellent puzzle from Dean. Top notch stuff.
Times Cryptic 28740 – Sat, 21 Oct 2023. Eyes off the ball.
Solved offline, in free moments. Time and difficulty not registered. You’ll have to tell me!
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5081 by David McLean — downright hedonistic
I knew this was going to be fun when I had 1A to start and soon acquired 1D, much to my delight.
Times Cryptic 28734 – Sat, 14 Oct 2023. Easy timer.
Some answers were obvious (once I had the helpers), but the wordplay was obscure. All clear now!
Sunday Times 5080 by Robert Price
23:41. I found this very hard indeed, for reasons I can’t now remember.
Times Cryptic 28728 – Sat, 7 Oct 2023. Eat, drink and BIFF many
It was possible for several answers to be biffed, only to find I raised a smile when I understood their wordplay.
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5079 — Anchors aweigh!
At first, I stared blankly at this for some time. I didn’t much mind, as it augured an interesting outing (as this proved to be). Finished in one go after all, refreshed and with no complaints.