After seeing the apparent popularity of my two amateur Quick Crosswords,
A Lockdown Diversion and
The Eccentric Horticulturalist, my fellow TimeforTheTimes regular commenter and expert solver of both the QC and 15x15,
Phil Jordan, has risen to the challenge and created one himself.
You can try and solve it interactively
here or download a PDF to print
here. Alternatively you can copy and print the image below.
To see the solution, see my blog post
here.
Update from Phil:
"Just to say that if anybody has queries or comments on my weekend
puzzle, I've set up a special email address where I can field them and
respond : 1147philjordan@gmail.com"
To Phil, Yes I think this was pitched about right for a QC! I completed it in just under 10mins. FOI 9a IDIOMS and LOI 12a FORESEEN....I had the FORE but not the SEEN. I solved roughly in a clockwise direction from the NE corner to the NW. NHO of FULMAR but fortunately it was an anagram. Well done Phil and of course John for starting the ball rolling. Janet West (Desdeeloeste)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Phil. That was set at just the right level for a QC.... for me anyway. My target time is 20 minutes and it took me EXACTLY 20 minutes!! I really enjoyed the challenge and the joy of a weekend crossword. I rarely manage to comment in the week because I am always playing catch-up and am therefore too late to join in the fun although I always read the blog albeit a day or two late. MM
ReplyDeleteFOI 10a OPIATE
LOI 21a LIVERY
COD 14d EXPERTLY
Many thanks Phil! That was fun, with lots of cracking surfaces. I particularly liked 13d. It took me about 11:30, which is just about par for me. I think the Times setters had better watch out, what with you and John snapping at their heels! More please 😊 Penny B
ReplyDeleteThank you Phil - that very nicely filled the QC-shaped hole in my weekend! I found it tougher than the average Times QC (I got really stuck on the seabird because I'd misparsed the clue, looking for word that meant "harmful" if one removed its first letter - straight into the setter's trap!) and it took me 15:40 (or an estimated 3K). But I also thought it was one of the most enjoyable puzzles of 2020 to date. My habit while solving is to put a ring round any clue that is a COD contender - the result today was no fewer than 11 ringed clues, which I think is a record.
ReplyDeleteFOI SALT, LOI USEFULLY, COD (impossible to pick from such a large selection) ... BREATHES, so clever.
Thanks to you for setting and to John for starting this off and hosting this site!
Templar
Thanks for your feedback. It's always good to know that one's efforts have been appreciated. I think I may need to dumb down just a touch next time as I'm used to writing 15x15 clues. I don't want to scare anybody off !
DeleteThank you so much for this crossword- really enjoyed it. I especially liked 22A and 13D. I had sirens for 19A (they can be rung, can't they?) which led me astray but soon back on track. Thanks again LaurieLee
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil (and John)
ReplyDeleteI almost completed a clean sweep (a rare achievement) on the acrosses but had FOREGONE instead of FORESEEN
Maybe next time
JABCHE