Category: Weekend Cryptic

As usual, a most enjoyable puzzle from Dean, which thankfully (from my blogger’s perspective) was significantly less challenging than his last offering.  It’s always encouraging when 1a is a write-in, and the grid started to … Read more “Sunday Times 4791 by Dean Mayer”

This was probably middle of the road in difficulty – easier than last week, for sure. I did it on paper in about an hour. Only one obscure answer, with a clue that left the … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26994 – Saturday, 24 March 2018. Are you sitting comfortably beslippered?”

21:48. I’m afraid I can’t remember much about this. I do remember that I found it mostly very straightforward apart from a small number of stubborn clues at the end of the solve, but I … Read more “Sunday Times 4790 by Jeff Pearce”

Another fine puzzle, but for me much harder than last week. I did about a quarter, and then came to a dead stop, before inching through the SW, SE, NW and finally NE. LOI was … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26988 – Saturday, 17 March 2018. Another good workout.”

An unusually straightforward anagram at 1ac right across the grid got me off to a most encouraging start, and with the well-read earl, the heavy rock and several others on the first quick read through … Read more “Sunday Times 4789 by David McLean”

Much easier than last week. All done, checked and submitted in 33:16. LOI was 11ac, for no good reason – the concept came to mind quickly, but the answer hid itself in the recesses of … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26982 – Saturday, 10 March 2018. A tasty number.”

59:50. Well that was an absolute stinker, the hardest Times or Sunday Times puzzle for a very long time, for me at least. I came close to giving up, but the fact I was due … Read more “Sunday Times 4788 by Dean Mayer – ça va pas, non?”

Setter, take a bow … what a delight! At first pass, I could barely see how to pass a single clue, far less see any answers. All up it took me over two hours – … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26976 – Saturday, 03 March 2018. Happiness is a hard crossword.”

A gentle puzzle this week which I suspect may have left some of the old hands wondering what to do with the rest of their Sunday morning, but which equally will have been encouraging for … Read more “Sunday Times 4787 by Jeff Pearce”

In the middle of another hectic weekend this took me 35-40 minutes, so fairly easy, I think. Interestingly, as I now start the blog, I can identify all but two of the definitions at a … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26970 – Saturday, 24 February 2018. Up the river without a paddle?”