Category: Weekend Cryptic

Almost Easter. Guess that’s why. When I solved 17, some time before seeing what was behind the seemingly anodyne 19 that appropriately crosses it, I was flooded with my eternal revulsion at the atavistic notion … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 5001, by Dean Mayer — Nailed it!”

Well done, setter! Clue after clue made me smile. My eye fell first on 20A, which set the tone! Things flowed enjoyably through the SW corner, then the rest of the bottom half. LOI was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28254 – Saturday, 4 April 2022. Impeccable performance.”

23:36. A suitably chewy puzzle for a remarkable 9ac. Not as hard as ‘Sunday Times Cross-Word Puzzle No 1’ though, which appeared on the same day and left me with the impression that if I … Read more “Sunday Times 5000 – mmmmm”

This got off to a good start, but the north-west corner brought me to a standstill. The setter got one up on me at one down, by getting me thinking about law enforcement, not opera. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28248 – Saturday, 26 March 2022. Names Were the Nemeses Weighing on the NW.”

Ingenious and entertaining, with vivid surfaces hiding a variety of devious devices. I first thought of headlining this “the pusher is in.” One would expect a 5 to do more than sell medication, but of … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4999, by David McLean — and very him”

Lots of familiar words as answers, with challenging wordplay to untangle. I enjoyed it! Thanks to the setter for a very enjoyable puzzle. How did you all get on? Notes for newcomers: The Times offers … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28242 – Saturday, 19 March 2022. Wordplay’s the game.”

11:04. Another lovely puzzle from Mr Price. Not too difficult, but beautifully put together. The next puzzle I blog will be number 5,000. I wonder if Peter B has something special planned for us. Definitions … Read more “Sunday Times 4998 by Robert Price”

I thought I detected more humour than usual in this offering. 17ac made me smile, and 15dn had a light touch. New setter, or just a sunny day? We’ve finally had some sunshine in these … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28236 – Saturday, 12 March 2022. No lack of spirit here.”

Anything here to effrayer les équidés? Worked this at a leisurely pace, as usual, taking plenty of time to think, and I found it rather educational. I learned, or at least solidified my knowledge of, … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic 4997, by Dean Mayer — all in the family”

Far and away my favourite clue here was 1ac. The answer took me totally by surprise, obvious though it may have been to some. Overall, a fun outing. Thanks to the setter for a very … Read more “Times Cryptic No 28230 – Saturday, 5 March 2022. A horse, my blogdom for a horse.”