Andrew

I started off on Everyman in The Observer, and began solving Azed while I was a student at Cambridge (reading maths) shortly after it started. I do the Guardian puzzle most days and others sporadically. In real life I work as a software developer (still in Cambridge), and for non-crossword recreation play the piano and am involved in amateur theatre.

Guardian 27,789 – Pan

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A very suitable puzzle for the Monday slot – not difficult, but not a complete walkover, and some nice surfaces. A couple of bits of UK-specific general knowledge might cause trouble to some. … Read more >>

Azed 2441

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I’m afraid left too long between solving the puzzle and writing the blog to remember how I found it at the time (and didn’t make any notes). I think it probably counts as … Read more >>

Guardian 27,773 – Tramp

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A very enjoyable puzzle from Tramp which has one of his characteristic themes running through some of the clues, albeit less all-pervasively than he sometimes manages (I may have missed some references). I … Read more >>

Guardian 27,766 – Brummie

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A gentle workout from Brummie today, with quite a few rather obvious clues. No (obvious) theme that I can see, though I’m ready to be enlightened… Thanks to Brummie. And indeed there is … Read more >>

Guardian 27,757 – Maskarade

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I was confidently expecting a Paul puzzle this morning, so it was a surprise to see Maskarade, who appears only rarely outside the bank holiday specials. In general I found this one pretty … Read more >>

Azed 2435

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A moderately tricky Azed this week, and one where I often had the experience of constructing a possible answer from the wordplay and then confirming with Chambers that it really was a word … Read more >>

Guardian 27,743 – Picaroon

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A typically enjoyable Picaroon puzzle, with a few tricky moments, but in general fairly straightforward. Thanks to Picaroon             Across 9. CHIPOLATA Dash at a clip round horse, … Read more >>

Guardian 27,729 – Vulcan

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A typical Vulcan puzzle, with a lot of easy clues and some less-than-inspiring cryptic puzzles. As you might guess from that faint praise, it’s not greatly to my taste, but those who like … Read more >>

Guardian 27,727 – Chifonie

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Chifonie seems to have given up his regular Monday appearances, but even so it’s a surprise to see him on a Friday. Lots of very straightforward clues here, as usual, but there were … Read more >>