Solving time: 10:33 Quick start with 1A and the two long down ones going in straight away (even if I only worked out why it was SQUARE THE CIRCLE afterwards). Then quite a lot of … Read more “23651 – Look sharp and blurred”
23650 – a couple of minutes slow
Solving muscles are fairly well back in trim after doing most of the Times puzzles from my holiday last night, but I was still rather slow on 4,14,18,28 and 13. And turned out to have … Read more “23650 – a couple of minutes slow”
Times 23649/what about Whitby?
Solving time: 37’ Was going pretty fast and I had deluded myself into thinking I could join the illustrious crowd who solved Friday, Sunday and Monday in record times… until I hit the NE corner … Read more “Times 23649/what about Whitby?”
ST 4231 (Sun 1 Jul) – Easy as Phi
Solving time: 2:41 Wow, where did that come from? 2:41 is a PB for me for this puzzle, and my best time ever for a 15×15 blocked crossword. A little wasted time on 9ac, which … Read more “ST 4231 (Sun 1 Jul) – Easy as Phi”
Times 23,646 – sorry for the delay
Apologies for the (very) late blog, but I can’t post from my workplace, and I normally send my blog to Peter and he kindly posts on my behalf. I forgot he was on holiday, and … Read more “Times 23,646 – sorry for the delay”
Times 23,648 – over in a flash
Solving time: 23 minutes – I think my best time ever. This was really easy – nothing to hold me up at all. EILAT at 24A was the only new word here, but wordplay was … Read more “Times 23,648 – over in a flash”
Times Saturday 23641 (June 30)
Solving time 15:25 Just a quick report this week – I’ve had ADSL problems (again!) and the hard disk of my main PC died too, so it’s been a busy and frustrating weekend. Across 1 … Read more “Times Saturday 23641 (June 30)”
Times Jumbo 705
Brought this to solve on a long train journey. Made fairly good progress before getting stuck on 4 across and words crossing it. In normal circs would probably have gone to dicts then, but persisted … Read more “Times Jumbo 705”
Times 23645
Solving time: 15:27 No real hold-ups here. I put in AEGEAN SEA at 26A, only worrying if it could really be so straightforward. Happily the next clue I looked at was the straightforward anagram at … Read more “Times 23645”
Times 23644 – A little light LEGWORK
Solving time: 20’ Just a couple of visits to Google today – 17D (PELISSE) and part of the construction of 18D (IRMA La Douce) – other than that everything fell nicely, finishing up in the … Read more “Times 23644 – A little light LEGWORK”