Solving time: 10:38 Held up for a while at the end by 29, where was looking for ‘construction kit’ wordplay rather than a second def., and 5A which I’ve only just understood after much fruitless … Read more “Times 24188 – if in doubt, think cricket!”
Times 24187 – A Low Blow?
Twenty minutes, with the longer answers giving most trouble for some reason. Q0-E6-D6 Across 1 SAGA – Francoise Sagan without the ‘n’. 9 ROTTWEILER – ROTTER around Kurt WEIL. 10 ODER – gOoDyEaRs. 11 UTMOST … Read more “Times 24187 – A Low Blow?”
Times 24,186 (Mar 30th) – Kingdom for a Norse
25:44 .. Quite tricky in parts, but plenty of satisfying moments. I only realised after agreeing to step in and blog this that I couldn’t untangle the wordplay for 5 down. Answers on a postcard, … Read more “Times 24,186 (Mar 30th) – Kingdom for a Norse”
ST 4321 (Sun 22 Mar) – Metre reading
Solving time: 5:43 This would have been quicker if I’d known the name at 1/29/19dn instead of having to work it out from the crossing letters! Whether Mr Hopkins’ output was any good or not … Read more “ST 4321 (Sun 22 Mar) – Metre reading”
Mephisto 2534 – Tim Moorey
This is an interesting crossword, I did a lot of this on a plane with no access to dictionaries (believe it or not, I don’t take Chambers travelling, though I’ve been known to slip Bradfords … Read more “Mephisto 2534 – Tim Moorey”
Saturday Times 24179 (Mar 21)
A gentle 12:22 for this, one of the easier Saturday puzzles (although I found today’s even easier – maybe we should expect a real stinker next week). One dodgy definition (13D), a brilliant anagram (2D), … Read more “Saturday Times 24179 (Mar 21)”
Times 24184 – Phew!
I was surprised this took me nearly an hour. I started off very confidently in the SW corner having noted there were lots of multi-word answers elsewhere which I thought would fall into place quickly … Read more “Times 24184 – Phew!”
Jumbo 804 – 14 March 2009
This was my first crossword solve after a week’s break. Quite a lot of really easy clues, a few good ones but very few smiles and far too much obscurity for my liking. Others will … Read more “Jumbo 804 – 14 March 2009”
We’re official now…
Today’s paper contains a grand total of three four cryptic crosswords (if we count the umpteenth reprint of No. 1), and other cryptic xwd material. The most significant is a two-page “how to solve it” … Read more “We’re official now…”
Times 24183 – souped-up ptarmigan
Solving time : Didn’t get a chance to do this in one sitting, 30 minutes of real time with about four short solving spurts. I did find this difficult to get a run of clues … Read more “Times 24183 – souped-up ptarmigan”