Solving time : 43 mins – one missing Not too bad today – did just over half at breakfast and finished off at lunch – with the exception of 28A which I just couldn’t fathom. … Read more “Times 23642 – Dormer”
ST 4230 (Sun 23 Jun) – Divine comedy
Solving time: Didn’t record, but took ages to get CALIPASH and DIVINE in the top left, and resorted to references to get FIG-LEAF. The preamble to this puzzle should have read: In two clues the … Read more “ST 4230 (Sun 23 Jun) – Divine comedy”
Mephisto 2443 – Mike Laws – who he?
Not terribly difficult by Mephisto standards, I solved most of this within 40 minutes without resorting to dictionaries. After Chambers was called on, the rest fell into place, although the wordplay has me beat on … Read more “Mephisto 2443 – Mike Laws – who he?”
Times Saturday 23635 (23 June)
Solving time: > 1 hour! Wow, I found this really difficult! I printed it off on Monday to solve at work, and got about half done in the time I had to look at it. … Read more “Times Saturday 23635 (23 June)”
Jumbo 704 – Theod in bellicose mood!
Solving time: 36:35 This time was around my median for a Jumbo. I hope I am not being too harsh if I say that I would not champion this puzzle as a shining example of … Read more “Jumbo 704 – Theod in bellicose mood!”
23640 – Keep ireless
Despite some of the tricky clues, this wasn’t overly difficult – once I had some answers in, many of the others jumped out at me and it was a simple matter of checking that the … Read more “23640 – Keep ireless”
Times 23639
Solving time: 14:58 Pretty straightforward for the most part, if not as easy as yesterday’s. But then I came to a dead halt on 10A and 22A. Perhaps my mental filing system is less good … Read more “Times 23639”
Mephisto 2442 report is now up
(don’t comment on this – it’s just a pointer that will be deleted in a day or two).
23638 – “Very easy today”, said Peter Cartwright
Solving time 4:30 I think that’s the appropriate quote from Reggie Perrin after ripping through this one on the train – personal best material for someone, perhaps. And nice for me to know after a … Read more “23638 – “Very easy today”, said Peter Cartwright”
Times 23637/cute
Solving time: 45’ Looks like a pangram — given the presence of the uncommon z, q, x, k, j – I haven’t checked the other letters. In fact, there are three checked q’s here which … Read more “Times 23637/cute”