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 6766 by Punk

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed An excellent mix of clues from Punk as usual, with some relatively easy and some quite difficult.   I had a couple of goes at completing it – got most of … Read more >>

Independent 6754 by Monk

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed I haven’t done a lot of Monk puzzles but those I have done I found relatively straightforward. This was no exception and I completed it fairly quickly (about half an … Read more >>

Independent 6718 by Scorpion

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=rev. Very tough puzzle by Scorpion, I thought.   There were three I didn’t fully understand. Across 7  Mincer:  cryptic definition. 8  Heighten:  he + (the gin)* 9  Leo Minor:  Odd letters … Read more >>

Independent No 6712 by Radian

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed The Independent continued its trend of trying out less well-known compilers for the Monday puzzle. Radian was another new compiler for me, although I don’t know if it’s actually a … Read more >>

Independent 6706 by Tees

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*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed The nuclear accident theme of some of the clues helping me to get off to a flying start on this, but then I started to struggle, with my lack of … Read more >>

Crossword No 6700 by Al

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*=anag, <=reversed, [] =dropped I’ve not come across this compiler before, so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a good, although not horrendously difficult puzzle with some excellent attempts at deception. The … Read more >>