A straightforward 15 minute solve for me, with some nice touches. Q0-E7-D4 Across 1 SHOPPING – S(ales) + HOP(P)ING. 6 ABJECT – AB + (C)irca in JET. 9 WARDOUR STREET – (DRAW)*+ OUR + (SETTER)*; … Read more “Times 24,259 – He’s Not the Messiah, He’s a Very Naughty Boy”
Times 24258 – There be pirates.
Solving time: Don’t ask embarrassing questions Saturday’s events presaged disaster for me on this one. I was wondering how I would know if this were really Monday’s puzzle and not Saturday’s finally appearing online on … Read more “Times 24258 – There be pirates.”
ST 4333 (Sun 14 Jun) – Infra digs
Solving time: 4:19 Nothing too difficult here but some very good clues – one of the best puzzles for a while, I thought, the error at 21ac excepted. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like … Read more “ST 4333 (Sun 14 Jun) – Infra digs”
Mephisto 2546 – Tim Moorey
Solving time: 58 minutes A quite tricky puzzle where Chambers was needed after something like half the time spent. For all but a couple of clues (2, 23), I managed to record the solving order: … Read more “Mephisto 2546 – Tim Moorey”
Saturday Times 24251 (Jun 13)
Solving time 14:38 – back to normal fare again after the brilliant D-Day puzzle. Nothing too striking about this one at all, and going through it again now I can’t see why it took me … Read more “Saturday Times 24251 (Jun 13)”
Wrong puzzle online for Saturday’s cryptic
The Current online version of 24257 is identical to 24247, printed on Tues 9th June. I don’t know yet whether the dead tree version is correct. I’ve e-mailed the appropriate people and will let you … Read more “Wrong puzzle online for Saturday’s cryptic”
Times 24256 – Not A Stinker
This puzzle had some cracking surfaces but in other respects it was a fairly routine offering that delayed me longer than it should have. I felt sure that I was going to finish well within my personal … Read more “Times 24256 – Not A Stinker”
Jumbo 819 (6th June 2009)
32:20 with help needed for my final two. (8 and 10 dn). I enjoyed this when I solved it, but having analysed it for this blog it seems a little lacklustre with nothing really outstanding. … Read more “Jumbo 819 (6th June 2009)”
Times 24255: going round in circles twice
Solving time : 23 minutes, which is on the slow side for me, I’m not sure if this is a difficult crossword or just one of those days where I’m not on the same wavelength … Read more “Times 24255: going round in circles twice”
Times 24254
Solving time: 19:00 A good tough puzzle. Assuming others find it equally tough, there was some good judgement from the setter/editor combo here, as a sprinkling of easy clues gave you enough to keep going … Read more “Times 24254”