PHSSTHPOK kicks off the week…
Day: 16 February 2026
Independent 12,280/Hippogryph
A fine crossword from Hippogryph to start the puzzling week in the Independent.
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 29,931 by Vulcan
It’s my turn to cover for Eileen today, and my first time blogging a Guardian puzzle.
Financial Times 18,294 by ROSA KLEBB
Pete is on holiday and I’m stepping in for him this week. I last blogged an FT in around 2008, but this was very pleasant, nice surfaces and although at times the answer didn’t come immediately it did eventually. Perhaps one could criticise Rosa for having so many clues where letters have to be omitted but this is minor I think.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*.