Category: Weekend Cryptic

Rather than quote Jesus Christ in reference to my FOI, 13, I prefer to evoke the Rolling Stones, especially since the track in question is one of the few where a lead vocal is sung … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4881, 15 XII 2019, by Robert Price — Let’s drink to the hard-working people…”

I found this easy for a Saturday. FOI 6ac, LOI 26ac. Some answers I’ll need to check in the dictionary for this blog. The clever wordplay at 14ac made that my clue of the day. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27534 – Saturday, 14 December 2019. Piano forte!”

11:59. A very straightforward one from Harry this week. I had a few queries while solving which I’ve highlighted in the blog but I managed to work everything out after the fact. Since this is … Read more “Sunday Times 4880 by David McLean”

What a delight. No obscure general knowledge except perhaps 12 or 20ac, but much to puzzle and surprise the solver. My LOI was 21dn, after an alphabet trawl and some subsequent head scratching. My clue … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27528 – Saturday, 07 December 2019. Three’s a crowd.”

A fine puzzle, and what a neat grid, with two little knots of four letters cross-referenced both ways! That may have made this one of Dean’s easier ones, though it’s hard for me to say, … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4879, 1 XII 2019, by Dean Mayer — Whelp,…”

A straightforward Saturday puzzle. I didn’t need vinyl to hear the raw voice of Mick Jagger after I cracked 19dn. My clue of the day was 6dn. Well done them in the World Cup! Thanks … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27522 – Saturday, 30 November 2019. Playing with Fire.”

14:29. Nothing too difficult here, but there’s a smattering of unusual words and tricky wordplay that slowed me down a bit but also made for a fun and interesting solve. I also caused a bit … Read more “Sunday Times 4878 by Robert Price”

This was in the Goldilocks zone for me – not too hard, not too easy, and with much to enjoy. I smiled at the cunning definitions of 16 and 26ac, and admired the unusual wordplay … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27516 – Saturday, 23 November 2019. Goldilocks!”

A good assortment of varied clues here, from hidden word to &lit, but only one involving reversal, which seems slightly unusual. Probably a pretty easy outing for most of the regulars. I do (ragnasam)* like … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4877, 17 XI 2019, by David McLean — Zing!”

I went through this at a brisk clip over lunch and had the blog finished over coffee, but there was lots to enjoy. My last two in were 19dn and 25ac, both of which made … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27510 – Saturday, 16 November 2019. Done like a dinner (or lunch).”