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”
Times 23643/tangled mop
Solving time: 35’ Had to use Chambers to work out 19D (ELF-LOCKS) and for 11A (CHASUBLE) – I’ve already mentioned that ecclesiastical clues aren’t my forte. No long multi-word phrases this time which is usually … Read more “Times 23643/tangled mop”
Times 23642 – Dormer
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!”