Solving time: 27:40 An enjoyable puzzle, mostly quite easy, with a few educated guesses where I wasn’t entirely sure. I sussed out all the wordplay before I wrote in the answers.I didn’t know Esk, choriamb … Read more “23714 – easy start to the week”
Mephisto 2455, Mike Laws – a puzzle of two halves
Solving time: 42 minutes Half of this time was spent strolling through what seemed a very easy puzzle, with at least a dozen clues that wouldn’t be out of place in a daily puzzle. The … Read more “Mephisto 2455, Mike Laws – a puzzle of two halves”
ST 4242 (Sun 16 Sep) – Sticky tape
Solving time: Gave up on 20ac after 20 mins, with 17dn also wrong. My main quibble today is with the non-dictionary phrases at 1ac and 18dn. On the other hand, a couple of the (many) … Read more “ST 4242 (Sun 16 Sep) – Sticky tape”
Times Saturday 23707 (15 Sept)
Solving time 16:36, which felt slow for a pretty straightforward puzzle. I can’t remember what slowed me up now – probably just my brain not firing on all cylinders on a Saturday morning. Across 4 … Read more “Times Saturday 23707 (15 Sept)”
Jumbo 717 (8th Sept)
Solving time 28:04 I don’t often finish the Jumbo in under half an hour, so this was a quickish time for me. I was probably helped by the 22 multi-word answers. I don’t know if … Read more “Jumbo 717 (8th Sept)”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 10 – your times please
This is a weekly unofficial contest based on your times for the Times cryptic crossword from Saturday to Friday. In July 2007, someone commenting on Tony Sever’s Times 2 RTC blog suggested a competition like … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 10 – your times please”
23,712 – deSPICAble
I really struggled with this one, and eventually had to revert to a solver for the last clue – 11 across. I’d be interested to know how many average commuters solved this one on the … Read more “23,712 – deSPICAble”
23,711 – no bad for a scunner
Solving time: 18:33 I found this pretty tough-going. Some very good and witty clues, but not enough easy ones for me. And I was worried about 10A until I found that an oxer really is … Read more “23,711 – no bad for a scunner”
23,7010 – a bit of a struggle
Solving time 16:10 On first look, I got to 16A before writing anything, but then did quite well with the bottom half and worked back into the NE corner. But the top left took ages, … Read more “23,7010 – a bit of a struggle”
Times 23709/only one trouble spot
Solving time: 35’ I think the Tuesday curse has been lifted. I got about half of the clues in my first “cold solve” sweep which is a very high percentage for me. Heraldry not being … Read more “Times 23709/only one trouble spot”