Solving time: 10:22 A bit slow on this, especially in the bottom left. A mixture of good clues and bad, and a couple of synonyms I’m not convinced by, but no outright mistakes that I … Read more “ST 4270 (Sun 30 Mar) – Diplomatic immunity”
Times Saturday 23874 (Mar 29) – placeholder
Parents visiting from Cyprus this weekend, so I don’t know whether I’ll find time to do the blog today. Can’t even find last week’s solution grid at the moment, may have to re-solve it! It … Read more “Times Saturday 23874 (Mar 29) – placeholder”
23879
Solving time – 11:13 Did the bulk of this in about 7 minutes but the NE corner proved something of a stumbling block. Eventually got 1d and the others followed fairly quickly after that. 1a … Read more “23879”
Jumbo 747 – a REAL Jumbo puzzle!
Solving time: 30:32 Unbelievably I spotted a few of the thematic answers as I worked through the puzzle, but it was not until completion that I sat back and noticed the number of the puzzle! … Read more “Jumbo 747 – a REAL Jumbo puzzle!”
Times 23878 – don’t forget your toothbrush
Solving time : Egads! with a few frustration breaks and a search for coffee, 95 whopping minutes, and that includes using some google and Bradfords This is the most difficult crossword I’ve encountered in the … Read more “Times 23878 – don’t forget your toothbrush”
Championships – closing dates and more …
Dates given in the championship entry details today: Puzzle Published Entries postmarked no later than Solution published Qualifier 1 Thu April 3 Thu April 10 Fri April 11 Qualifier 2 Thu May 1 Thu May … Read more “Championships – closing dates and more …”
23,877 – a bit easier than I expected
Solving time 9:43 After putting up the placeholder, I forgot that my e-mail inbox would still receive the comments. So from subject lines, I got the idea that this had been a struggle for some. … Read more “23,877 – a bit easier than I expected”
Championship qualifiers
Thursday’s puzzle is the first qualifier for this year’s Times Crossword Championship. We won’t of course have reports on these until after entries have closed. We’ll say whether the blogger thought the puzzle was easy … Read more “Championship qualifiers”
Times 23,876 – X marks the spot
I had one major difficulty here, as will become apparent. 17 minutes of which the last five were spent inwardly debating, and then externally checking, 9 across. Across 5 BRAHMS – as in half of … Read more “Times 23,876 – X marks the spot”
Times 23875 – Placeholder
Solving time: not sure, I did most last night in about 45 minutes and finished this morning in a further 10 minutes. Last to go in were 7,8, and 12. Across 1 TAKE SOME BEATING … Read more “Times 23875 – Placeholder”