mhl

Although I had some early attempts to solve cryptic crosswords as a teenager, it was only in my late 20s (and mostly thanks to fifteensquared!) that I became reasonably competent as a solver. However, despite being a slow solver I found that I had a knack for parsing clues, and volunteered to do a weekly blog post on the Guardian crossword. After a few years, I had to drop down to being on the Guardian Prize rota, but eventually found that with two young children to look after, I didn't have time even for that. I'm still hoping to resume blogging more regularly when they're a little older!

Guardian 24984 / Araucaria

by

A fair but rather tricky puzzle for a week day, largely due to a few obscure or archaic words. There’s a nice set of “reversed clues” where the answer might clue some words … Read more >>

Guardian 24974 / Chifonie

by

An enjoyable puzzle, with an easy ways in through some obvious anagrams. I have a few quibbles or questions, mentioned below, however. (Apologies for the late post – I’d forgotten I was meant … Read more >>

Guardian 24964 / Rufus

by

A quick solve for me, but with lots of smiles along the way, as usual with Rufus’s puzzles. Across 1. REFUSAL (FARULES)* 5. ANAEMIA Cryptic definition 9. NATAL Double definition 10. PATRIOTIC Cryptic … Read more >>

Guardian 24,960 / Araucaria

by

Lots of ducks in today’s crossword – yet another rushed post from me in rather awkward circumstances, and I’m afraid I don’t get 12 across or 7 down Across 1. SCALE UP LE[vel] … Read more >>

Guardian 24,955 / Brummie

by

A rather rushed post, I’m afraid, so apologies for errors and omissions, which I probably won’t be able to fix until much later. Overall, an enjoyable puzzle, with the odd bit of tough … Read more >>

Guardian 24,950 / Arachne

by

Lots to enjoy in this crossword, I thought – in particular some good anagrams. I think it should have all been pretty straightforward, except for perhaps 19 across (which I really liked, though) … Read more >>

Guardian 24940 / Rufus

by

A fun puzzle from Rufus – I had a bit of trouble with the bottom-left corner (21a and 24a) but otherwise this was pretty easy and satisfying to solve. Across 1. ORCHESTRA OR … Read more >>

Guardian 24,936 / Brummie

by

We get roughly a puzzle a month from Brummie in the Guardian, so I think I end up doing more of his Private Eye puzzles (as Cyclops) overall and it’s good fortune to … Read more >>

Guardian 24931 / Paul

by

A very enjoyable crossword from Paul, with nothing too tricky, I think, unless the few themed answers were unfamiliar to you. (They helped a lot in our case.) Across 1. CHOWDER CHOW = … Read more >>

Guardian 24926 / Rover

by

A quick solve for us apart from 12 across, which I don’t understand. Across 7. DANSEUSE Cryptic definition; “Nice girl” is meant to be read as “A girl from Nice”, along with “corps … Read more >>

Guardian 24916 / Brendan

by

A very quick post today, so please accept my apologies for any errors or omissions. It probably goes without saying, given the setter, but this is great stuff – lovely surface readings, fair … Read more >>

Guardian 24914 / Araucaria

by

A mostly very enjoyable puzzle, with a nicely done theme. Across 1. CALIFORNIUM Two subsidiary indicators here: (a) A Latinist might say Californium is the singular of California (“state”) (b) CALIF = “leader … Read more >>

Guardian 24907 / Chifonie

by

A typically enjoyable Chifonie, I think – some tricky clues sprinkled among the easier ones [Links to the puzzle as HTML, PDF and Java Applet] Across 7. MISSPENT MISS = “girl” + PENT … Read more >>

Guardian 24902 / Bonxie

by

A mixed puzzle, which unfortunately exemplifies why recently I’ve only been doing puzzles from my favourite setters when they come up in the Guardian – there are some excellent clues, but enough dodgy … Read more >>