Solving time: 58:12 with one mistake Pleased to get under an hour – it felt a bit longer. I was very slow to get started, but gradually worked my way though – the SW and … Read more “23666 – fat chance”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 2 – results
In a week when even some of the most hardened competitors made mistakes, Jason kept his head to win the mini-championship despite spending close to half of the total time on one puzzle. the_od was … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 2 – results”
Times Saturday 23659 (July 21)
Solving time – 14:08 Sorry about the briefness of today’s post, but I haven’t got much time, so just brief clue explanations I’m afraid. Across 1 M,IS,MAT,CH – CH = “Companion of Honour” 5 NIPPER … Read more “Times Saturday 23659 (July 21)”
Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 2 – your solving times please
Special information for this week: 5D in 23663: On the basis of Google searches, if you had GARBAGE BAG instead of GARBAGE CAN, you can count it as a right answer for this competition. I’m … Read more “Unofficial Times cryptic RTC contest No. 2 – your solving times please”
23664 – A Dickens of a puzzle
A fairly straightforward Friday puzzle, with a couple of unusual words thrown in to make it a bit of a challenge. Took me just under ten minutes – 9:53 Across 1 UP-STICK-S 9 ANTI-GONE – … Read more “23664 – A Dickens of a puzzle”
23663 – No time Toulouse
Solving time: 14:38 A fast start with the two easy 15-letter downs. Then I slowed myself up pursuing red herrings that probably existed only in my mind. Four easy but good cryptic definitions at 4, … Read more “23663 – No time Toulouse”
23,662 – fiendish
Solving time 25:46 As tough for me as for some others…. Across 5 BABYSAT – I nearly slipped into the wrong ‘babysit’ but then saw the significance of ‘minded’, past tense. 9 ELMER GANTRY – … Read more “23,662 – fiendish”
Times 23631/needed an eolith
Solving time: 28:30 Needed an eolith to crack a few of these: in particular, I’m not convinced I understand 10A for which I’ve guessed OUTLAWRY. I’ve started sort of recording my times to include seconds … Read more “Times 23631/needed an eolith”
Mephisto 2446
Solving time: about 2 hours with C used from the start This will teach me to leave Mephistos unstarted on the Sunday! It turned out to be very tough, with lots of stuff that was … Read more “Mephisto 2446”
23660 – Our Father’s Lift
Solving time: 33:40 (recording seconds as well now!) I found this pretty straightforward – lots of fun clues and interesting wordplay, but nothing too difficult.New things: marge=margin, ‘Beau’ Nash; lift=paternosterFavourite clue: 16D, the clue made … Read more “23660 – Our Father’s Lift”