flashling

Reincarnated blogger. I’m now 62 and sadly recently made redundant. Started doing cryptics whilst living in Oxford (despite being a Cambridge man) in about 1988 when I started buying the Independent which I’ve done pretty much every day since. Flirted with the Guardian and Times but prefer the Indy. I’m not an overly fast solver, preferring to savour rather rush through it. Away from crosswords I used to do professional firework displays as a part time job/hobby but it's best left now to younger fitter folks.

Guardian 26,074 by Paul

Wed October 9, 2013 at 11:24 amWed October 9, 2013 at 9:27 am by flashling

Many thanks to Gaufrid for covering for me last week, Paul presents a bit of a “marmite” puzzle I expect. Football haters will not be impressed by all the football grounds spread around … Read more >>

Guardian 26,060 by Rufus

Mon September 23, 2013 at 9:40 am by flashling

Rufus back after his return to the Guinness book of records. The most prolific setter was dropped from the book for a while. Not as many CDs and DDs as we often get … Read more >>

Independent 8,394 by Quixote

Mon September 9, 2013 at 8:58 am by flashling

Back home in the Indy with regular Monday man Quixote, feels rather like Autumn this morning. Some nice long anagrams in a generally accessable crossword. Across 1 HEADSMAN Fellow to give others the … Read more >>

Guardian 26044 by Qaos

Wed September 4, 2013 at 10:08 amWed September 4, 2013 at 9:26 am by flashling

Gosh is it my turn already? Doing the Guardian blog still feels a little strange. Not done many if any Qaos crosswords before and found most of this quite easy but there’s a … Read more >>

Guardian 26037 by Gordius

Tue August 27, 2013 at 10:20 amTue August 27, 2013 at 9:12 am by flashling

Back after the Bank holiday sunshine and an 8 hour trip to Felixstowe (don’t ask). Not sure how many Gordius puzzles I’ve done let alone blogged, there’s one or two clues where I’m … Read more >>

Guardian 26,030 by Rufus

Mon August 19, 2013 at 3:52 pmMon August 19, 2013 at 9:29 am by flashling

It’s monday, it’s Rufus, you know what you’re getting. Usual mix of mostly double and cryptic definitions with the odd googly thrown in, this took me longer than eXternal in the Indy. Across … Read more >>

Independent 8376 by eXternal

Mon August 19, 2013 at 3:19 pmMon August 19, 2013 at 9:10 am by flashling

Back after a week away for a firework competition in Plymouth, this is a personal milestone of my 100th blog. Not eXternal at his hardest I thought, but need a little help on … Read more >>

Guardian 26,018 by Rufus

Mon August 5, 2013 at 12:17 pmMon August 5, 2013 at 9:16 am by flashling

Taking over a new blogging slot is always a little daunting but tempered by the fact it was almost certain to be Rufus today, with any luck I’ve not given too much info … Read more >>

Independent no. 8358 by Quixote

Mon July 29, 2013 at 3:09 pmMon July 29, 2013 at 9:48 am by flashling

The usual friendly Monday crossword from Quixote. Not much to add really except for a comment by Quixote himself. Across 1 SENTENCE Part of a message maybe despatched from ‘ere (8) SENT … Read more >>

Independent no 8340 by Donk.

Mon July 8, 2013 at 12:18 pmMon July 8, 2013 at 9:36 am by flashling

Before I begin, a spot of self indulgence I’m getting married on Thursday to Cath and here’s a little extra puzzle from Anax http://crossword.info/anaxcrosswords/flashling . A right Celebration Cracker with a hint of my … Read more >>

Independent 8322 by Quixote

Mon June 17, 2013 at 12:18 pmMon June 17, 2013 at 9:17 am by flashling

I was slightly surprised to see Quixote when I got the paper this morning, I thought he did alternate weeks and he did last Monday, something special planned for next week perhaps? Back to … Read more >>

Independent no. 8304 by Quixote

Mon May 27, 2013 at 9:59 amMon May 27, 2013 at 9:26 am by flashling

Another Bank Holiday and it’s not raining, cold wind again today. As expected it’s Quixote in his every other week slot, relatively easy I felt with more cryptic defs than I would normally … Read more >>

Independent 8286 by Klingsor

Mon May 6, 2013 at 7:05 pmMon May 6, 2013 at 10:15 am by flashling

Klingsor starts the week, he seems to have gone for a &lit record attempt it felt like today. Can’t see any theme or Nina beyond that however. Second time lucky my first attempt … Read more >>

Independent no. 8268 by Quixote

Mon April 15, 2013 at 9:25 am by flashling

So we start the week with Quixote, slightly odd looking grid I thought when I opened the paper. Can’t see anything other than a good easyish start to the week, but then I … Read more >>

Independent 8250 by Donk

Mon March 25, 2013 at 9:49 am by flashling

A rather rude awakening here from Donk in places, I found this rather tricky and can’t explain 17ac. Seems ages since I last wrote a blog here, with Uncle Yap kindly taking over … Read more >>