Financial Times 15,315 by MONK

I always enjoy Monk puzzles, varied and entertaining.  They are not as intimidating as they used to be, I no longer have any fear of failing to complete the puzzle in time for the blog (now only Io occupies this territory).  Thanks Monk for another fun puzzle.

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Guardian Prize 26,944 by Paul

Some of these clues were pretty damn tricky I thought.  Good fun all the way through, tricky or not.  Thanks Paul.

Note: I will on holiday riding along the South Downs way when this blog is published.  Hopefully I will be able to reply to comments on my phone. Please be patient as I hate typing on tiny screens with software that tries to change everything I write into something else. Update: Holiday departure is is now delayed until tomorrow evening.

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Financial Times 15,303 by SLEUTH

I enjoyed this very much.  In the Goldilocks zone for me: neither too easy nor hard; inventive but not flashy; general knowledge but not a quiz; generally just right for a morning coffee solve.  Thanks Sleuth.

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Financial Times 15,297 by JULIUS

I enjoyed this, but there is one I can’t get and one not fully explained.   I am away from home writing this from a hotel room.  I have to leave soon and I am not sure if I will be able to update the blog again today.  Please add your own explanations on the comments section.  Thank you Julius.

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Financial Times 15,291 by JASON

I thought this a good straightforward puzzle.  Often when one reads ‘straightforward’ in an introduction it is a eupemism for either ‘too easy’ or ‘dull’ – in this case not so.  I didn’t coast though this nor did I find it boring.  In the race to provide ever more new and innovative clues I think good straightforward puzzles sometimes get overlooked.  Thank you Jason.

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Financial Times 15,279 by IO

For me Io is by far and away the most problematic of the FT setters.  Here is another puzzle where I have filled the grid but can’t explain all of my answers.  Thanks Io for an intriguing puzzle and it is a great shame that I have no more time to ferret out the remaining explanations.  Any help would be appreciated.

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AZED 2,297

I enjoyed this very much.  Not too hard but with plenty of opportunity to browse through Chambers looking for interesting words.  Thank you AZED.

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