Solving time: 55’ The last 7 or 8 clues (2 in each quadrant basically) slowed me down considerably: in particular, RECLAME, POTTER (oddly enough), HIERATIC (quite hard), CASINO, DISMAY, AIT. I did spot a slight … Read more “Times 23607/wizardry”
23,606 – good fun, average difficulty
Solving time: about an hour (average for me these days) I enjoyed this – nothing too tricky but lots of places to get side-tracked.NE corner held me up – came back to after a break … Read more “23,606 – good fun, average difficulty”
Mephisto 2437
Solving time approx. 40 mins (without Chambers) I solved this at work last Monday actually, although I did check a couple of answers online (3dn, 12dn). Across 6 SI,ROC (“cor is” rev) – I didn’t … Read more “Mephisto 2437”
Times Saturday 23599
Solving time 13:10 An average time for an average crossword I suppose – no particularly tricky clues and no obscure vocabulary required. Not that many clues to write about really. Across 1 FELL,DOWN – interesting … Read more “Times Saturday 23599”
ST 4224 (Sun 13 May) – Peaky
Solving time: 6:18 Oh dear, another Sunday shocker I’m afraid. I may be wrong, but I’m pretty sure 20dn has incorrect wordplay, while 10ac, 23ac and 28ac are all questionable. Clarifications or corrections welcome. * … Read more “ST 4224 (Sun 13 May) – Peaky”
Jumbo 696 – medium difficulty
Solving time 25:43 Quite a few clues to explain here. Grid is pangrammatic, but for a jumbo that should almost be compulsory… Across 1 UPKEEP = (peek,pu(t))<= 5 CU(e)S HI(d) ON(e) – deleted letters being … Read more “Jumbo 696 – medium difficulty”
Championship qualifier 3
Solving time : 12:44 A very enjoyable puzzle with lots of fun clues and smooth surfaces. And there were a couple I felt smug about getting quickly. Overall I was feeling reasonably pleased when I … Read more “Championship qualifier 3”
23,604 – easy except for two
I don’t have a lot to say about this puzzle. It was generally fair, had a good mix of clues and clean surfaces, a couple of words that were unfamiliar to me, but it wasn’t … Read more “23,604 – easy except for two”
23603 – all very well off
Solving time: 11:15 No major hold-ups, but I found the long answers less tractable than the short ones, and that slowed up filling the grid. Strange to see pen meaning contain appearing in the clue … Read more “23603 – all very well off”
23602 – we’re in the wordplay
Solving time 12:25 Seems like quite a tricky puzzle judging from the number of clues I decided to write about, though two blind alleys followed at 14 and 17 made it slower than it should … Read more “23602 – we’re in the wordplay”