i Cryptic Crossword 851 Math

The grid screamed out Nina, and it didn’t take long to spot the message appearing around the edge. This speeded up things considerably. 🙂 For the most part fairly straightforward, and lots of lovely clues. Helpfully, Fifteensquared have omitted the few clues I did struggle with, if anyone can help.

COD? 13ac. ‘Bound to have a row after father took refusal the wrong way (8)’.

Here’s a link to the 2008 blog, and clues missed.

Across

15 L.A.S – Not sure of this one, if anyone can help? Leads? Leaks? Why?
23 FAWN – I can see where the NW comes from (new wife), but don’t understand the FA bit.

Down

6 SINCE RE<-
8 LARGE – (regal)*
20 aTRAPS <-

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/07/independent-6884math-now-we-are-two/

i Cryptic Crossword 850 Dac

A little more difficult than usual, but always fair and doable. Lots of fantastic clues, with ticks beside 15ac, 6d, 11d, 14d and 19d. But my COD is 17d. ‘ChildLine fighters? (8)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/05/independent-6882dac/

i Cryptic Crossword 849 Virgilius

A lovely, straightforward crossword from Virgilius this morning. The long phrases were obvious enough that they went in on first sight, and the rest fell into place from there.

COD? 10ac. ‘It’s being drunk (5)’.

The 2008 blog is missing only 19d – DERANGE (enraged)*.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/21/independent-6891virgilius-prize-puzzle-15-11-08/

i Cryptic Crossword 848 Quixote

A nice, straightforward puzzle to start the week. Couple of new words learnt. I’ll risk Cornick’s wrath by revealing that my time, for once, wasn’t that far off nmsindy’s. 😉

COD? 14ac. ‘Tom can never be getting very cross (6,7)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/13/independent-on-sunday-978-by-quixote-9-nov-2008/

i Cryptic Crossword 841 Phi

October 19th, 2013

For those who want to check the answers to last Saturday’s puzzle there’s a blog written on the fifteen squared website with all the answers here: http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/10/24/independent-6872-by-phi/ but there’s a kick in the teeth when you visit it, because nmsindy states a solving time of ten blooming minutes!  I do wish he wouldn’t.  The rationale, I suppose, is that if someone was paying attention to all of one particular blogger’s solving times, then comparison’s between puzzles could be made.  But really, I ask you, does anyone really do that? 

All such bloggers invariably play down the times it takes them stating something like ‘it’s not the time it takes but the enjoyment.. blah, blah’ but then they go and post their times anyhow!  Imho a) it’s showing off b) it puts off precisely those strugglers who visit such sites by demoralizing them, saying in effect ‘Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah’ and c) it trivializes the noble art of the crossword which is anything but trivial, whatever my wife says!!

Enough of the rant.  COD  6d.  Oh, and yes I do know there are some who object to bloggers implying that there is only one best clue!

i Cryptic Crossword 846 Nestor

Solid puzzle from Nestor, neither too easy nor too hard though I had a little trouble in the SW corner. Nothing really leaps out as a clue of the day but I’m a sucker for a neat anagram so I’ll go for 10d: “Anonymous twins’ dynamic range (5,9)”. The original blog is complete apart from one light:

23d. POWER: d.d.

i Cryptic Crossword 845 Morph

Until I twigged the theme, I was busy staring at an empty grid. Once the penny dropped, everything fell into place very quickly.

Lovely, inventive clues as ever from Morph. COD? 5d. ‘Ruler in denial (4)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/10/14/independent-6862morph-little-pigs/

i Cryptic Crossword 844 Dac

I found this quite a bit harder than usual for Dac, but extremely satisfying to finish. Lots of lovely clues, as ever, but my COD is 5d. ‘Pop hit inspired by Mahler? (6,7)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/10/29/independent-6876-by-dac/

i Cryptic Crossword 843 Merlin

Well, I completely missed the Nina, and struggled throughout. More relieved than anything to eventually finish. More suited for a weekend puzzle, again, I think.

COD? 3d. ‘Reason to limit intake of drink (9)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/14/independent-6885merlin-prize-puzzle-08-11-08/

i Cryptic Crossword 842 Quixote

I didn’t find this quite as straightforward as nmsindy, struggling at the end with 2d and 20ac, after whipping through the rest. A few devils and demons about the place, giving a vaguely seasonal flavour.

COD? 8d. ‘Particular gremlin infiltrating criminals and maniacs (7)’.

The 2008 blog is complete.

http://www.fifteensquared.net/2008/11/06/independent-on-sunday-977-by-quixote/