Guardian Prize 26,681 by Paul

A most entertaining crossword that I found very difficult.  Usually I solve Paul’s puzzles much more quickly than I did this one.  Was it just me having a bad day or did other people think this was hard too?

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Financial Times 15,025 by REDSHANK

I seem to be fortunate in the Wednesday FT slot to get a seemingly endless sequence of great puzzles to blog.  This week’s puzzle is no exception, and long may it continue.  Thanks to Redhsank and all at the FT for making this happen!

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AZED 2,255

I always enjoy blogging AZED puzzles, all those new words that I would otherwise never have known.  Thank you AZED.

Independent on Sunday 1,328 by Poins

A very enjoyable puzzle following the Independent on Sunday tradition, which seems to be for straightforward and fair clueing at a moderate level of difficulty.   Thank you Poins.

I would be interested to know if the IoS regulars (Poins, Hypnos et al) produce radically different puzzles in other publications or if they are chosen by the IoS editor because this is their natural style.

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Guardian Prize 26,633 by Picaroon

I enjoyed this one, thanks Picaroon.

I will be on holiday cycling up the Western Isles by the time this post is published. I will probably be able to read the comments and maybe even reply, but corrections to the blog will have to wait until I get home.

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Financial Times 14,995 by MONK

I started off quite easily in the top-left, which made me double check that it was actually by Monk.  Things soon got back to normal and there followed a satisfying struggle to finish.  My apologies for the late posting, the morning has been an endless sequence of interruptions.  There is certainly a Nina in here somewhere, I will start hunting for it now and update the post when I find it.   Thank you Monk, excellent as always.

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