I needed some helpers to g-g-get the stuttering clue at 14dn. That in turn gave me enough helpers to finally smell the flowers in the Greek clue at 20ac. The definition at 8dn was a mystery!
Category: Weekend Cryptic
Sunday Times No 5063 by David McLean — What it’s all about
Most of this, by far, was very zingy, and more than one clue was spiced with an allusion to… country matters.
Times Cryptic No 28626 – Saturday, 10 June 2023. Wizard prang, wot?
The World War II reference at 22 down evoked nostalgia for stories I read as a boy. Nostalgia at 1ac too, which made me think of that song recorded by many people – from the 1950s onward.
Sunday Times 5062 by Robert Price
13:38. A moderately tricky one from Robert this week, up to the usual elegant and entertaining standard.
Times Cryptic No 28620 – Saturday, 3 June 2023. Big sky country?
I’ve heard Montana called Big Sky Country. I suspect the same could apply to Arizona, but I’m not aware of any major observatories there, despite the reference in 12 across.
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5061 by Dean Mayer — the duck, though…
This was just delightful, a tasty dish that I virtually inhaled.
Times Cryptic No 28614 – Saturday, 27 May 2023. Easing toward Summer.
I found this easy for a Saturday, although there were a few pieces of wordplay I put aside to think about while writing this blog.
Sunday Times 5060 by David McLean
12:23. I made a complete mess of this.
Times Cryptic No 28608 – Saturday, 20 May 2023. The Bells are Ringing
There are some delightful definitions today! 1, 16, 18, 20 and 27 across, and 5 and 12 down all made me smile. The wordplay in 13ac also stood out.
Sunday Times Cryptic No 5059 by Robert Price — Ha Ha Harare! (Formerly known as ‘To Havre and Havre Not’)
Is this as hard as it seemed? Or should I have simply replaced the videos with some (instrumental) music and focused exclusively on this excellent puzzle?