TLS Crossword 1174 by Myrtilus - May 5, 2017 Nothing Daunted
Expecting the trademark pun across the top line is just beginning to be helpful: if you can get one or other, it becomes a significant extra bit of information for solving the associated clue. But...
View ArticleClub Monthly 20200 May 2017 - failed again..
Solving Time: Well the good news is that this is well up to the usual high standard, and it took me about the usual length of time, around the 50 minute mark in two sessions. The bad news is that I...
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Times 26,735: Careful What You Wish For
I'm always saying that I think the Friday puzzle should stop pulling its punches and be a proper end-of-week challenge, but either my best solving days are already behind me or this was a bloody tough...
View ArticleTimes Saturday 26730 - May 20, 2017. And it's goodbye from me for the while
No exotica here, but everything was challenging. Several clues where I made a note to myself to check later that some word really can mean what the clue suggests! My COD was 4dn. I also enjoyed 3dn....
View ArticleJumbo 1265
A puzzle that I thought was easier than average, with only one unknown (albeit clearly clued) word.Definitions are underlined, * = anagram, {} = omission, dd = double definition, cd = cryptic...
View ArticleSunday Times 4747 by David McLean
By Harry's exacting standards, I found this one to be at the (relatively) less demanding end of the spectrum, albeit some of the detailed parsing proved quite tricky.2d requires some lateral thinking,...
View ArticleMephisto 2960 - Tim Moorey - no great sheeks
Three clues only partially parsed at 12A, 11D and 23D and a homophone at 26A that has two common rather different pronunciations. An old film star and two long gone Prime Ministers feature. About...
View ArticleTimes Quick Cryptic 840 by Flamande
I needed 11 minutes for this one, missing my target time by 1. If I'm looking for an excuse when so much of it is really straightforward I would put it down to a raised eyebrow or two along the way at...
View ArticleTimes 26737 - "A hundred miles from nowhere...
Solving time: 33 minutesMusic: Thelonius Monk Quartet - Thelonius in ActionHello, I am back, and I'm at the beginning a four-week run as the Monday blogger. Due to a complicated series of swaps between...
View ArticleTimes 26738
If I said this took me an hour because I am still not back on my best solving form it would be making excuses because on reflection I have always had ups and downs with good, bad and mediocre days....
View ArticleQuick Cryptic 841 by Rongo
I'm going through a disappointing run of falling at final hurdles - today's were 3dn (and therefore 8ac), 4dn and 19ac. This is reflected in my time of 14 minutes. I may try to slow down in order to...
View ArticleQuick Cryptic 842 by Howzat
An enjoyable puzzle from Howzat (with, ironically, not a cricket reference in sight) featuring a nice variety of clue types. Not too tricky, but not a pushover either - "just about right", I...
View ArticleTimes 26739 - Pennies dropping
This was one of those puzzles which involved a little head-scratching at times followed by penny-dropping moments when an answer, or the reason why, suddenly became apparent and the beauty of the...
View ArticleTimes 26740 - a little one'll do you
Solving time : 40:40 - I think that's about the longest it has ever taken me to complete one of these, and at least half of it was on the last two answers, both of which I was on edge about.Excuses?...
View ArticleQuick cryptic No 843 by Orpheus
Just seconds outside my target 15 minutes this morning, although I have to say, I wasn’t feeling too bright after a disturbed night. A generous smattering of double definitions, a little General...
View ArticleQuick Cryptic 844 by Tracy
Typical Friday offering I think, gently pushing the Quicky solver towards a higher level of solving difficulty. Or not, as the case may be. Plenty of room in the comments to let us know how you found...
View ArticleTLS Crossword 1175 by Broteas - May 12, 2017 - Picked A Peck Of Pickled Peppers
I'm off on a plane to Barcelona in a couple of hours; if all goes well this will appear as if by magic on the morning of next Friday, if not I'm in trouble I suppose! Broteas usually supplies a tough...
View ArticleTimes 26741 - well past my prime
As Verlaine observed last week, you had a choice; go on holiday next week and suffer me twice this week, or go this week and enjoy his insightful ramblings next Wednesday and Friday. By gracing...
View ArticleTimes Saturday 26736 — May 27, 2017. You say goodbye, I say hello
Coming off the subs bench, replacing Bruce who’s no doubt enjoying a bridge tournment somewhere. Hope he gets some good deals. My old bridge partner, Henry Cabot, was once dealt 13 clubs and promptly...
View ArticleJUMBO 1266
Hello, me again. I'd categorise this puzzle as being on the easier side of average, taking 35 minutes including all parsings and some on-the-spot research. My first and last in were the diagonally...
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