NealH

I've been doing crosswords off and on since university back in the 1980s. I used to do the Guardian, but defected to the Independent a year ago. My solving standard is still not what I'd like. I'd love to be able to knock off a crossword in 10 minutes, but find I'm still getting stuck for long periods when the inspiration doesn't quite arrive. I once had a go at compiling crosswords but, after a very rude rejection for the editor of the Telegraph, I didn't bother any further.

Independent 6922 by Dac

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A gentle start to Christmas week from Dac with some well-written and enjoyable clues. Across 1 Aer Lingus: (singlur + E[ire])*. 6 Scrub: First letters of spring cleaning + … Read more >>

Independent 6916 by Tees

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this a little easier than some Tees puzzles, but one or two left me a bit bewildered (especially 19 across). The three clues linked by pillow talk … Read more >>

Independent 6910 by Math

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone It was good value today, with a lot of clues. Most were fairly straightforward, with many easy-to-spot anagrams, but there were a few harder clues sprinkled in. It took … Read more >>

Independent 6904 / Glowworm

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A Christmas list themed puzzle that had some well-constructed clues, but a little too much obscure stuff (e.g. abolla, ibo) for my liking. There were a couple I didn’t … Read more >>

Independent 6898 by Radian

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone This was mostly fairly easy, but had a couple of clues that I struggled to understand even after I’d got the answer. My only criticism would be that there … Read more >>

Independent 6892 by Punk

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A good variety of clues with some excellent surface readings.  There were just a couple that I thought were a little questionable. Across 1 Miaow: (I am)* + ow. 4 … Read more >>

Independent 6886 by Morph

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After my abject failure with last Monday’s puzzle, I got up half an hour earlier to give myself extra time to complete this one. I needn’t have worried, since … Read more >>

Independent 6880 by Nimrod

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone Apologies for the late posting. I was too busy at work today to give this the two or three hours of attention I would have needed to get through … Read more >>

Independent 6874 by Hypnos

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone An enjoyable puzzle with nothing very controversial. Only one clue I didn’t entirely follow (19 down). Across 1 Toll: To L[iverpoo]l. 3 Able Seaman: (Same banal)* around e. 9 … Read more >>

Independent 6868 by Glow-worm

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone A fairly straightforward puzzle with just one I didn’t entirely follow (17 down) and one I thought seemed a bit weak (19 across). Across 1 Caterpillar: Cater + pillar … Read more >>

Independent 6862 by Mordred

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone After last week’s debacle, the crossword returned to the printed version in its usual spot inside the back cover. An added benefit to any sports-hating solvers is that it … Read more >>

Independent 6850 by Math

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed A neat, not too difficult puzzle by Math with some good surface meanings. The borders of the grid were formed by 4 fifteen letter anagrams, which is quite an impressive … Read more >>