Category: Weekend Cryptic

13:49. Not too many problems with this: a relatively straightforward solve by Dean’s standards. Some interesting and unusual usages though – ‘function’ for CUBIC, ‘pie’ as an anagram indicator – and a couple of unusual … Read more “Sunday Times 4776 by Dean Mayer”

Times Cryptic No 26904 – Saturday, 09 December 2017. Diamonds are forever. I struggled with this crossword at the end of a long hard week. Others may have found it easier. Lots of general knowledge … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26904 – Saturday, 09 December 2017. Diamonds are forever.”

An enjoyable puzzle from Jeff which I suspect the speedsters will have knocked over pretty quickly. That said, whilst some generous definitions would have enabled biffers to rampage their way through much of the puzzle, … Read more “Sunday Times 4775 by Jeff Pearce”

Easier than last week I thought, and again with the admirable quality that one could write answers in with the confidence that yes, that must be it … although I had to look twice at … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26898 – Saturday, 02 December 2017. A sunny spot in my day.”

9:27. Straightforward stuff from Harry here. I have been very busy this week, so didn’t get to the blog until yesterday. When this happens I can seldom remember anything about the solve, and so it … Read more “Sunday Times 4774 by David McLean”

Harder than last week for me, but very enjoyable. Every clue was solvable, even the beast at 18ac, and every answer went in with that satisfying feeling, “yes, clearly that’s it”. I didn’t know a … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26892 – Saturday, 25 November 2017. Give it to me straight, doctor!”

The recent run of (relatively speaking) gentle ST puzzles continued with this enjoyable offering from Dean. The trademark concise and elegant cluing was there as always, but for once your ‘umble blogger was able to … Read more “Sunday Times 4773 by Dean Mayer”

A bit harder than last week I thought, and more exotica, but I got there without ever being driven to desperation. There were lots of clues I liked, but my clue of the day is … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26886 – Saturday, 18 November 2017. It’s an Enigma.”

10:15. I always used to find Jeff Pearce’s puzzles the easiest of the Sunday cryptic setters, but of late he seems to have upped his game and produced some very fine and difficult puzzles. This … Read more “Sunday Times 4772 by Jeff Pearce”

This was my idea of a perfect crossword! I am a big fan of puzzles that use familiar words in unfamiliar ways, rather than obscurities from foreign places and times, and/or plant and animal names. … Read more “Times Cryptic No 26880 – Saturday, 11 November 2017. Nice clues if you can get them.”