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.

Independent 8214 by Punk

Mon February 11, 2013 at 10:43 amMon February 11, 2013 at 9:33 am by flashling

Monday and it’s Punk to start our week. Punk and his alter egos can be quite rude but not so today. We have a theme of the various Miller’s Tales Don’t really get 14a … Read more >>

Guardian no. 25862 by Rufus

Mon February 4, 2013 at 10:55 amMon February 4, 2013 at 9:23 am by flashling

Pretty typical Rufus I felt this morning, shed loads of double definitions which aren’t really my favourite clue type. Andrew is away, so I’m standing in, AMP and BROAD appear twice in the … Read more >>

Independent 8196 by Quixote

Mon January 21, 2013 at 1:09 pmMon January 21, 2013 at 10:47 am by flashling

It’s that Monday morning feeling again today, slightly delayed as I’d forgotten it was my turn….. The usual fine sound stuff from Quixote but I just don’t get 9dn Across: 1 DISTRICT D … Read more >>

Independent 8178 by Alchemi

Mon December 31, 2012 at 4:14 pmMon December 31, 2012 at 10:04 am by flashling

So it’s my privilege to wrap up 2012 with Indy new boy Alchemi on yet another wild and wet morning to end the year. As far as I can tell there’s no nina … Read more >>

Guardian 25,816 by Brendan

Tue December 11, 2012 at 9:55 am by flashling

Uncle Yap is away, so it’s my pleasure to do a Guardian blog of a Brendan crossword. Brendan has been reading his horoscope it appears, the signs of the Zodiac appear thoughout as … Read more >>

Independent no. 8161 by Quixote

Mon December 10, 2012 at 9:21 am by flashling

Welcome to our new improved site, Quixote for us today. Mostly fine stuff from Don, 22d had me for a while but can’t see 3d so help would be appreciated. Across: 1 MORATORIUM … Read more >>

Independent 8,143 by Raich

Mon November 19, 2012 at 2:55 pmMon November 19, 2012 at 8:46 am by flashling

NMSIndy has given up his blogging spot to concentrate on his other existence as Raich (and Gurney) however he appears re-bjorn today as Raich for the Monday slot. NMSIndy was one of the … Read more >>

Guardian 25,739 by Paul

Wed September 12, 2012 at 4:12 pmWed September 12, 2012 at 1:09 am by flashling

Paul isn’t suffering from writer’s block today… Not Paul’s hardest or rudest but I can’t suss out 18 properly so suggestions welcome. [Note the clue was changed later to be: Attendants semi-dressed, including … Read more >>

Guardian 25,711 by Araucaria

Fri August 10, 2012 at 2:27 amFri August 10, 2012 at 1:37 am by flashling

You may have noticed that Eileen has been a bit quiet recently, she’s away and asked me to stand in for her, I half expected an Enigmatist… Actually I’ve never completed … Read more >>

Financial Times 14072 by Orense

Sat August 4, 2012 at 12:50 amFri August 3, 2012 at 11:11 am by flashling

Don’t know what’s happened to the expected blogger yesterday, but seeing as it still hasn’t appeared today, as I’m often in as the standby blogger, here’s my take on it. Nothing overly tricky … Read more >>

Guardian 25,686 by Gordius

Thu July 12, 2012 at 1:14 am by flashling

Your regular blogger Andrew is away on his holidays and has asked me to stand in for you all. After yesterday’s comments I won’t say how easy I found it 🙂 Actually not … Read more >>

Financial Times Prize 14, 039 by Crux

Thu July 5, 2012 at 1:59 amThu July 5, 2012 at 12:05 am by flashling

Monday Prize Crossword number 14,039 by Crux I found this considerably trickier than my previous Crux for some reason. My last FT blog for now as Sil has now returned and I now return … Read more >>

Financial Times Prize no.14033 by Dante

Thu June 28, 2012 at 12:05 am by flashling

Sil is still out of the country and back in the Netherlands having his plumbing sorted out, so I’m again standing in for him. The puzzle is from Monday 18th June. As ever … Read more >>

Financial Times Prize 14,027 by Dante

Thu June 21, 2012 at 1:12 amThu June 21, 2012 at 12:05 am by flashling

Dante today as is often the case on a Monday, prize puzzle 14027 from 11th June can be found here. As usual it’s a lot of cryptic and double definitions. People generally find … Read more >>

Financial Times Prize Crossword 14,021 by Crux

Thu June 14, 2012 at 12:05 am by flashling

Sil’s away with no or limited access to the internet, so you’ve got me again – I doubt he’s gone to watch the football somehow, so I return with a Crux crossword, FT Monday crosswords … Read more >>