Crosswords
Setting
Find my crosswords on MyCrossword
Solving
Abbreviations:
- PDM: Penny-drop moment
- WP: Wordplay
- LOI: Last one in
- NHO: Not heard of
- DNF: Did not finish
2024.11.19 Tuesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,544 by Fed
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: A little input from wife
Dictionary used: Once
Favourite clue: Do jeer British over practical joke BOOBY TRAP
Notes: Marvellous from Fed. As I have said before, sometimes I click with Fed, sometimes not. This time I certainly clicked, and was only held up by a few NHOs. Great fun, very witty
2024.11.10 Sunday
**The Guardian quiptic 1,303 by Picaroon **
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Solved with my mother
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Suave Republican graduate in a French café lately (6) URBANE
Notes:
2024.11.07 Thursday
MyCrossword Jumbo 16 by Cigogne
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: A little help from wife
Dictionary used: Yes, quite a lot
Favourite clue: Porn demand just tripled, surprising the leader of the free world (9,6,1,5)PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP
Notes: A big, fun election-themed crossword. Several thematic clues, a few I really struggled on, and a couple of quibbles which I detailed in my comments to Cignogne.
2024.10.27 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,301 by Picaroon
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Bishop always conceals untruth for person with faith (8) Believer
Notes:
2024.10.22 Tuesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,520 by Anto
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes, for the opera reference
Favourite clue: Conservative members of parliament are hoods (5) COWLS
Notes: Anto is usually a challenge, but I didn’t find this one too bad. What is it with puzzles demanding Gilbert and Sullivan knowledge these days?
2024.10.21 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,519 by Vulcan
Solved: No (reveal 27a)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes, for the opera reference
Favourite clue: Substitute at the altar has nowhere to sit (8,4)STANDING ROOM
Notes: Did not know the Gilbert and Sullivan reference, especially with such an indirect and cryptic definition.
2024.10.20 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,300 by Picaroon
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Conservative interrupting small bank clerk, one providing an account (11) STORYTELLER
Notes: I love Picaroon’s Quiptics, generally very well-pitched.
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Had to look up 7d
Favourite clue: Sufferer sedated, calm (10) OUTPATIENT
Notes: 16a … not a fair clue at all, in my opinion.
2024.10.15 Tuesday
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Seaman perhaps on leave, a rest (6) GOALIE
Notes: I don’t usually do the Everyman but I found this entertaining
2024.10.14 Monday
Solved: No (2 left)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Producer of type of food following guide (8)KEYBOARD
Notes: Not done a PostMark for a while. A marvellous puzzle, defeated only by one instance of tricky WP (12) and a NHO.
2024.10.13 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,299 by Chandler
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: A secondary thoroughfare overseas? ABROAD
Notes: As a quiptic should be
2024.10.11 Friday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,511 by Qaos
Solved: Yes
Checks: 1 (23d NHO))
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Clue for a simpleton? (7) AIRHEAD
Notes: A themed crossword, but I didn’t spot it
2024.10.09 Wednesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,509 by Anto
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Rough up Nigel for example MANHANDLE
Notes: Usually I struggle with Anto but this one was fine
2024.10.08 Tuesday
Solved: Not quite
Checks: 0
Co-op?: A few students saw me doing it and chipped in ideas
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Agent making viewers stream Zoom chat? (4,3) TEAR GAS
Notes: That clue is so good.
MyCrossword 2016 by VictoryPointGaming
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Lo, they’re uneaten! (9)LEFTOVERS
Notes: A fantastic constrained puzzle by a new setter
2024.09.29 Sunday
Solved: No (failed on 6d)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Misguidedly abstain, apt for member of a Protestant sect (10)ANABAPTIST
Notes:
2024.09.23 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,297 by Picaroon
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Empty duke swallowing rum and large piece of cake (6) DODDLE
Notes: A nice easy Quiptic from the prolific Picaroon
2024.09.23 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,495 by Vulcan
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: A consequence of bad hearing? (7) RETRIAL
Notes: Breezy
2024.09.22 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,296 by Pasquale
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: A collection of people in court for a crime (7) PERJURY
Notes: Easiest quiptic we’ve had in weeks
2024.09.21 Saturday
MyCrossword Cryptic 1,984 by Henri
Solved: No (about 5 left)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Chomping pills in the dark, listening to repetitive music - what are you playing at? (3-3) PAC-MAN
Notes: Nice offering from Henri, gutted I didn’t quite finish it
2024.09.17 Tuesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,490 by Matilda
Solved: No
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Secure? To some extent, quite the reverse! (6) TETHER
Notes: Tricky, several I couldn’t get.
2024.09.16 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,489 by Dynamo
Solved: No (2 left)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Run through outskirts of Rochdale on black car (8) REHEARSE
Notes: A fun puzzle. I hadn’t heard of one of the defs in 9a, which was one of my did-not-solves
2024.09.12 Thursday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,486 by Fed
Solved: No (5ish left)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Put hours in right away and slowly develop residential area (7,6) HOUSING ESTATE
Notes: Sometimes I’m on Fed’s wavelength, but not today. I found this very tough and was quite a way from finishing. Some good clues, some very tricky in my opinion.
2024.09.11 Wednesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,485 by Philistine
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: End of story after philosopher captured by rogue Roman general (4,6) MARK ANTONY
Notes: Some disagreement on fifteensquared over the correct parsing of 2d. NHO 17a, 25. 18 very hard. Very fun puzzle though, great defs!
2024.09.09 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,483 by Vulcan
Solved: No (1 letter wrong)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Block of prime importance, but not central (11) CORNERSTONE
Notes: It was a tough Monday, and I got all except a stupid error on 7d. I blame that I’m doing these in the wee small hours when feeding my baby!
2024.09.08 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,294 by Kite
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Contest has excellent finish (6) DEFEND
Notes: A Quiptic made rather tricky by some tricky definitions and words that were (for me) obscurities. Wordplay mostly straightforward. The “favourite” clue here is for the required knowledge of a kind of slang that is relatively rare in crosswords (originating in hip-hop culture). Crosswords are a very middle-class white hobby (in Britain, at least), and the expected knowledge is of things like chess, cricket, abbreviations for various diplomas and orders of chivalry, so seeing this kind of reference is a welcome change (I needed the dictionary to solve this one though!). NHO 2d. 4a is dubious as a clue as pad seems to be doing double duty.
2024.09.06 Friday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,481 by Pasquale
Solved: No (2 away)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: A duo… 18. Rome is transformed with introduction of a dictator? (7) EMPEROR and 21. 18? Peace truncated by one that’s sacked Gaul (8) CALIGULA
Notes: I failed to get (and did not like the definition of) 4a. Used a dictionary to check a couple of the NHOs. Not bad for a Friday though.
2024.09.02 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,477 by Maskarade
Solved: No (3 away)
Checks: 1
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Raving Jesuit and patron of lost causes (5,4) SAINT JUDE\
Notes: 27a was a strange and clunky construction which I didn’t get. 14d was genuinely ambiguous; two very similar and equally plausible solutions. I guessed wrong. Also didn’t get 13d, but no excuses there, just could not recall the term! Other than that a very enjoyable puzzle
2024.08.25 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,292 by Pasquale
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: With my mother
Dictionary used: Yes, for 18a
Favourite clue: Notice servant making gradual escape (8) SEEPAGE
Notes: Had not heard of 18a. LOI 8d.
2024.08.22 Thursday
The Independent Cryptic Thursday 21st August 2024 by Amoeba
Solved: No (3 missing entries)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: A little input from wife
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: One wiped out from parenting, struggling with child (8) PREGNANT
Notes: Amoeba is a regular on MyCrossword but this is the first time I’ve seen him (?) set in a national commercial publication like the Independent. My favourite clue is one I noticed he had used before over a year ago, but it’s such a good clue I don’t blame him a bit. Brilliant cluing all round, with very strong surfaces. I am annoyed I didn’t get 3d, and also I’d NHO 8a and 17d.
2024.08.20 Tuesday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,465 by Dynamo
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Perhaps Freud regularly haggled for a reduction (9) SHRINKAGE
Notes: An easy Monday puzzle from a new setter on the Guardian’s roster. Nothing particularly standout, though this would make a great puzzle for a beginner.
2024.08.19 Monday
MyCrossword Cryptic 1923 by Shane
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: ermm
Notes: A beginner setter who still needs to master the basics
MyCrossword Cryptic 1922 by Skirwingle
Solved: No (couldn’t get 26a)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Yes, with wife
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: Hooter goes at end of US sporting event – great! (6) SUPERB
Notes: Couldn’t get 26a even though I have seen the word before and understood the WP! Good fun though, interesting grid symmetries.
2024.08.18 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,291 by Chandler
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: North agonises about having hardly any money (2,1,10) ON A SHOESTRING
Notes: I found the charades/containers and double defs fairly challenging for a quiptic, but the hiddens and anagrams were quite generous.
2024.08.16 Friday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,463 by Jack
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: One solution each contributed by my parents and wife (22d, 26a, 11a)
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Supporter impedes talkshow hosts (8) PEDESTAL
Notes: In my opinion approachable for a Friday puzzle. Some fun clues and a range of difficulties. A Nina. Some quibbles with a couple of the clues.
2024.08.15 Thursday
MyCrossword Cryptic 1911 by Dave
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Yes, with wife
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Molybdenum among others (5) METAL
Notes: Interesting grid with many short solutions. 30a LOI. A few good &lits
2024.08.13 Tuesday
MyCrossword Cryptic 1895 by Henri
Solved: Yes
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Yes, with wife
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Researched globe, possibly to get qualification (9,6) BACHELORS DEGREE
Notes: Interesting grid with many long solutions. 7d LOI
The Guardian Cryptic 29,460 by Paul
Solved: Not even close
Checks: 0
Co-op?: No
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Carthaginian related to wordplay? (5) PUNIC
Notes: As usual with Paul, very tricky but some lovely constructions
2024.08.12 Monday
The Guardian Cryptic 29,459 by Vulcan
Solved: No (1 reveal)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Yes, with wife
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Children’s game lost by the witless (7) MARBLES
Notes: Mostly fine but 10a or 15a NHO (the latter was doable from the WP)
2024.08.11 Sunday
The Guardian Quiptic 1,290 by Picaroon
Solved: Yes
Checks: 1
Co-op?: Minor input from wife
Dictionary used: No
Favourite clue: City with famous tower — Paris strangely not right (4) PISA
Notes: Ideal difficulty for a quiptic
One woman returns by The Void
Solved: No (1 reveal)
Checks: 0
Co-op?: Yes, with wife
Dictionary used: Yes
Favourite clue: Shit! Long time in prison (7) DUNGEON
Notes: Revealed 16a. 11a NHO