Solving time: 1h10 I seem to have got myself into a series of hard Tuesdays. Had to resort to online help for a couple here – partly because I made a couple of bad initial … Read more “Times 23703/if it’s Tuesday, it must be hard”
23702 – red is blue
Solving time 41:50 Quite enjoyable, some fun clues and interesting wordplay. A few new words for me: I had to look up beech mast and twenty-fourmo, but they were quite gettable from the wordplay. And … Read more “23702 – red is blue”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – results
A surprisingly low entry for this week, considering that everyone who was all-correct had their quickest time for six puzzles since we started. Maybe MONTAGU’S HARRIER on Tuesday had more victims than we know about … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – results”
Sunday Times 4240 – STill the same
Solving time: about 9 mins This is another puzzle I had to re-solve after losing last week’s copy – hence the approximate time. There are old-fashioned aspects of the ST puzzle that take a bit … Read more “Sunday Times 4240 – STill the same”
Times Saturday 23695 (Sep 1)
Solving time 13:48 No real problems with this fairly straightforward puzzle, just slow thinking on my part giving me a below-par (or should that be above-par?) time. Even so, that’s still much better than average … Read more “Times Saturday 23695 (Sep 1)”
Jumbo 714 – Herod, Henry and George
Original copy lost, so I solved this again. I think it took me the usual 15-20 minutes for an easyish jumbo. Just explaining what I think are the toughest few clues here – ask in … Read more “Jumbo 714 – Herod, Henry and George”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC No. 8 – 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. 8 – your times please”
23,700 – The Cat’s Pyjamas
A relatively quick solve – and I learned a new word – Newfie. Solving time – 7m32s ACROSS 3 CARPET MOTH – Axminster was a giveaway, making this an easy first answer to enter into … Read more “23,700 – The Cat’s Pyjamas”
23,699 – talking points
Solving time: 15:36 Two more composers, Charpentier and Barber, whose names I know, but I would have difficulty telling you any more about them beyond reasonably confident stabs at their nationalities. Still, knowing names is … Read more “23,699 – talking points”
23698 – prickly flowers
After yesterday’s fairly difficult vocabulary and music and lit. references, a puzzle where there’s little knowledge needed except for some food and drink and one bit of gardening. Not as easy as Monday’s, but there … Read more “23698 – prickly flowers”