Financial Times 15,261 by AARDVARK

I made heavy work of this.  I’m not sure if this is down to the level of difficulty of the puzzle or just that I’m feeling very sleepy this morning and have not had enough coffee to get me going yet.  Anyway, thank you Aardvark for an enjoyable tussle.

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Guardian Prize 26,896 by Paul

I find Paul’s crosswords more varied than most of his contemporaries, one is never sure what one is going to get.  It might be an easy-peasy puzzle or it might be a stinker; it could be serious or it could be puerile and frivolous.  Today Paul is in fairly subdued mood, nothing outrageous but not completely serious either.  Thanks Paul, please keep them coming.

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Financial Times 15,255 by IO

Difficult to solve and difficult to blog.  Just plain difficult really.  There are a couple of solutions that I still can’t explain even after a protracted search.  Thank you Io for the mental workout and another chastening experience!

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Independent 1,368 by Kairos

Sorry this is late, I’m still forgetting that the IoS is no longer a prize puzzle and is now blogged on the day of publication.

I found this tricky until I got into Kairos’s mindset and stopped looking for the obvious definitions.  Very nice puzzle, though I have to admit to a little cheating at the end to get the blog out quickly.  Thank you Kairos.

There is an unusual Nina in the grid – see Kairos’s comment – number 6.

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Financial Times 15,219 by AARDVARK

A good puzzle from Aardvark, I think.  I crashed my bike yesterday evening and everything is still a bit hazy, I think I might still be a little concussed.  I also have to type one handed as I can’t move my right arm much.  Off to see the doctor now so no idea when I’ll be back.

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