I didn’t time myself on this one, I think if I solved it under usual conditions, it would be a 20-25 minuter. Clues were good, some nice wordplay, I solved this one in front of … Read more “Times 23932 – Phwoar indeed!”
Free book in Sunday Independent (UK)
Apparently this Sunday’s edition (8th June) will include a shortened version of Don Manley’s “Chambers Crossword Manual”. For UK solvers who don’t yet have a “how to solve cryptics” book and think it might help, … Read more “Free book in Sunday Independent (UK)”
23931 – Gateway and cocker shocker
Solving time 9:43, two mistakes I got to the end of this with 21D left to solve. ?O?K?R for “Fishing boat, one that heels”. I inked in an E to make ?O?KER and then, lacking … Read more “23931 – Gateway and cocker shocker”
Times 23,930 Your Diligence Awaits
Solving time : 35 minutes I couldn’t access the Times on-line this morning so had to go rushing off to Tesco to get the paper. A truely extraordinary website. This is a fun puzzle, not … Read more “Times 23,930 Your Diligence Awaits”
23929 – moving fast?
I did this in 31 minutes. A few I wasn’t sure about when solving – still not entirely sure about everything! I don’t have time for the pie chart, so if someone would like to … Read more “23929 – moving fast?”
ST 4278 (Sun 25 May) – Doctor, doctor
Solving time: 11:06, one mistake (2dn) Reasonably accurate clues this week, once you ignore the multitude of superfluous words and dubious link phrases. Some of the clues are a bit strange, though (e.g. 22ac), and … Read more “ST 4278 (Sun 25 May) – Doctor, doctor”
Mephisto 2491 – Mike Laws
I found this one mostly straightforward, but Mike Laws has a habit of slipping in a word that completely eludes me (including last time I blogged one of his puzzles), and he’s gone and done … Read more “Mephisto 2491 – Mike Laws”
Jumbo 757 (May 17) – Mine’s a double, sport
Inspired by Peter’s full blog of Jumbo 749, I thought I’d put myself through the same torture and explain every answer on this one. Well, “Britain’s Got Talent” has finished, the kids are in bed … Read more “Jumbo 757 (May 17) – Mine’s a double, sport”
Times Saturday 23922
I was away on a walking weekend in the Malverns last week, but had a gout attack and had to sit out the 9½-mile walk the rest of them suffered through, which meant I was … Read more “Times Saturday 23922”
Times Championship Qualifier No. 3
Judging by my time, this continues a trend of gradually increasing difficulty for the qualifier puzzles, though I was fairly slow on a couple of points. Mainly 14 where I lost time by failing to … Read more “Times Championship Qualifier No. 3”