Solving time 31:08 Toughest one of the year for me so far, but maybe I was just totally out of form last week. I remember going through all the acrosses and all the downs without … Read more “Times Saturday 23958 (5th July)”
Times Crossword 23963
Solving time: 12.31 I suspect I made heavy weather of this. Probably lost a minute to pre-blog-debut nerves and another as a result of scribbling the first answer I saw, INSOMNIA, at such speed … Read more “Times Crossword 23963”
23,962
Solving time: 12:41 I took far too long to solve the lovely climate change clue at 5D, and so I was working in from the corners. I finished with a number I still needed to … Read more “23,962”
23961
Solving time 9:46 I made steady progress with this one until I had 5, 24 and 3 left to deal with. At 24 I’d missed the old ‘de-creased’ trick – nearly as old as distressed … Read more “23961”
Mephisto 2496 – Paul McKenna
Solving time: about 40 minutes in two sessions, no books. I solved this one yesterday after finding that the expected blogger was too busy and seeing that … “Jeff”, the setter of the same day’s … Read more “Mephisto 2496 – Paul McKenna”
Times 23,960
Solving time : 15 minutes. Very similar to last Tuesday’s: straightforward without ever being insultingly easy. I’d imagine the sort of puzzle that is good for newer solvers without surrendering too easily to older hands. … Read more “Times 23,960”
Monday 7 July Times Crossword
Found this a bit of a struggle. Did in fits and spurts throughout the day, so no time to report. Came across the same stumbling blocks as most of the commenters below. Across 1 CO(M(MISS)ARIA)T … Read more “Monday 7 July Times Crossword”
Jumbo 763 – June 21 2008 – Much marvelousness
Over the last few months the Saturday Jumbos having been absolute crackers and this was no exception. I can heartily recommend them to anyone who hasn’t really given them a good go. They take a … Read more “Jumbo 763 – June 21 2008 – Much marvelousness”
Times Saturday 23952 (June 28)
Solving time 13:10 – should have been quicker but it took me a couple of minutes to get TIPCAT at the end. Some bits of obscure knowledge may be required, but I don’t think there’s … Read more “Times Saturday 23952 (June 28)”
Times Championship Qualifier No 4
I still remember my student days in the early 70’s when a Times qualifier would be nigh to insoluble and today, I am blogging one. It shows that I do indeed have a positive learning … Read more “Times Championship Qualifier No 4”