Fiendish for Yule

Usual rules apply. Solution in January ACROSS1 Alpha male’s wake-up call? (4-1-6-3)7 Play about a broken King Coal (4,4,2,5)8 Female veneer (5)9 Exotic tailpipe in regular use (5)12 Bachelor with …

Avant-garde a clue

ACROSS9 Ghastly old queen gets to do little – primarily breed, eat, thieve and hunt (9)10 Creep’s typical behaviour? (5)11 Boy, I set extraordinary weight! (7)12 Protection is worn out …

Back by popular demand

ACROSS 1 You’re looking at it: the first hybrid of 17 (6) 5 Vroom! Fiat’s uneven heave (5) 9 Time with a batty gnat such as Ann Widdecombe? (9) 10 …

Summer puzzle

Usual prize for first solution received. Answers in August. Give it a try! ACROSS 9 Try to allocate fair shares in rota (6,3) 10 Try empty Welsh home (5) 11 Try, …

Coffee break puzzle

First correct solution received by the end of November wins the usual prize. ACROSS 1 You Welsh on Sunday: into S&M and cleavage! (6) 5 Bloodsuckers’ marks (5) 9 Worth …

Xmas x-word

Some are elementary ACROSS 1 Senior number 29 in 2 17? (14) 7 Lady PM: “EU PR!” (grouped together in 2 17) (4,5,6) 8 Sarcasm sounds somewhat like number 26 in 2 …

Christmas Crossword

As is traditional at this time of year (ie: I’ve done it once before),  here’s a cryptic crossword for readers’ amusement. Solutions to dicmortimer@btinternet.com. ACROSS 1 County set are in …

Puzzle time

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 8 solutions are Cardiff 12, and are not further defined ACROSS 1 Allied in velvet revolution: “tolerate!” (4,3,3,4) 7 Against the odds Pearl Bunker receives punishment for lesbian …

Yet another one

Can’t go out (too cold), can’t do gardening work (too cold), can’t blog (too cold) – but I can rustle up another fiendish crossword in my mittens.  I promise it will …