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 28,799 / Paul

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Apologies for the late post – I wrote half of this earlier in the week and then forgot that I hadn’t finished and scheduled the post. As ever with Paul, this was a … Read more >>

Guardian 28,775 / Philistine

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Apologies for the late and hurried post – I was stumped by a few of these, frustratingly, while most of the answers went in very fast. Thanks for the puzzle, Philistine! Unfortunately, I … Read more >>

Guardian 28,751 / Vlad

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I really struggled with this one – just not on Vlad’s wavelength, I suppose! Thanks to the setter, as usual Across 1. Darn! Accepting credit leading to ruin (5,2) SCREW UP SEW UP … Read more >>

Guardian 28,727 / Crucible

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A fun but pretty straightforward prize puzzle from Crucible. I enjoyed this one – thanks, Crucible! Across 9. Make good magazine earlier (2,3,4) AT ONE TIME ATONE = “Make good” + TIME = … Read more >>

Guardian 28,703 / Paul

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I haven’t blogged about a Paul in a little while, so this was a nice treat! Particularly notable for me was the number of very nice double definitions here. Thanks, Paul! Across 5. … Read more >>

Guardian 28,679 / Picaroon

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I really struggled with this one, but I think it has some really marvellous clues. Thanks, Picaroon! In particular, I liked HAND-ME-DOWN and MELONS, but there were lots of great clues here. Across … Read more >>

Guardian 28,632 / Maskarade

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This is the bumper Guardian Christmas crossword from Maskarade, which did provide us a good few days of various family members poring over it and suggesting answers, so definitely ticked the “fun holiday … Read more >>

Guardian 28,608 / Paul

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A typically fun and enjoyable prize puzzle from Paul – thanks! Across 7. Mushroom bake’s filling consumed by Muslim (8) SHIITAKE [b]AK[e] = “bake’s filling” in SHIITE = “Muslim” Definition: “Mushroom” 9. Quiet … Read more >>

Guardian 28,560 / Qaos

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Many apologies for the late post about this puzzle: time completely got away with me this week. I thought this was a fun puzzle from Qaos – a mix of rather easy clues, … Read more >>

Guardian 28,536 / Maskarade

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This was a good challenge for the Bank Holiday weekend from Maskarade, with an impressively constructed grid The theme of the puzzle is RING CYCLE, referring to Wagner’s four opera cycle, Der Ring … Read more >>

Guardian 28,512 / Picaroon

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A typically enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon, with plenty of witty touches There’s a nice theme here of rock singers and rocks – see below… Across 7. Fool in underwear during time inside home … Read more >>

Guardian 28,488 / Brummie

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I found I was very much on Brummie’s wavelength, so romped through this one. (I do the Private Eye crossword, so I’m used to his style from his other incarnation as Cyclops there, … Read more >>