Solving time: about 9 mins, one mistake (18dn) I thought this was better than some ST puzzles but not as good as last week’s. Most clues were fair, if a little verbose in places, with … Read more “ST 4214 (4th March) – Chewed up”
Times Saturday 23539
Solving time 13:22 I found this a lot easier than the last few weeks’ Saturday puzzles – should really have been under 10 minutes but I got stuck on a couple at the end. I … Read more “Times Saturday 23539”
Smut and haste
Solving time : 5m12s – I was pleased with my time here given some difficulties, with 1 across where I immediately entered –MENT for the second half, and not picking off all the long answers … Read more “Smut and haste”
23543 – there was no Adèle Forsyte
Solving time : 12:13 The top half went fairly quickly, with only a couple of gaps, but then I couldn’t see SHARPSHOOTER, and despite the easy anagram for OUTER MONGOLIA the bottom half dragged a … Read more “23543 – there was no Adèle Forsyte”
23542 – Swift? Yes and No – I took a knock
Solving time 11:08 – with one crass error I started out with hopes of a third sub-5 on the trot, but these soon evaporated. Eventually I was left with 2 and 9. I gradually found … Read more “23542 – Swift? Yes and No – I took a knock”
Times 23541/nOt sOlved at full tilt
Solving time: 40’ I did this on and off between interruptions in an hour and a bit but don’t understand two wordplays – probably a net of 40’. Lots of words starting with O (seven) … Read more “Times 23541/nOt sOlved at full tilt”
23,540 – Guys and Dolls
Solving time: 42 minutes, but with a mistake I made a flying start and began to think that I’d break the half-hour mark for only the third time in my Times Crosswording life. Then I … Read more “23,540 – Guys and Dolls”
Mephisto 2426/Tim Moorey – A Capital Puzzle
Solving time: 37:33 None too easy again this week. No major problems, just a fair deal of devious wordplay to unravel. An unusual Amount of “misleading” capitalization Too – no less than 6 counts, 3 … Read more “Mephisto 2426/Tim Moorey – A Capital Puzzle”
ST 4213 (25 Feb) – Beetle mania
Solving time: 3:49 I have no idea who’s on the Sunday Times setting panel, but whoever set this one – more please! A vast improvement over recent weeks with some really excellent clues, 21ac being … Read more “ST 4213 (25 Feb) – Beetle mania”
Times Saturday 23533
Solving time 21:46 Are Saturday’s puzzles getting harder or am I getting worse? I haven’t gone under 20 minutes for weeks, whereas my weekday averages are around 13 mins, with the occasional sub-10 minute time. … Read more “Times Saturday 23533”