Phi has provided our Friday puzzle this week, bringing the first suite of working week puzzles in 2026 to an end.
RatkojaRiku
Independent 12,239 / Kairos
Today sees me posting my last blog of 2025 rather later than expected, but here it is. This Tuesday sees the latest puzzle by Kairos, whose work I have rarely blogged as it has tended to appear at the beginning of the week.
Independent 12,234 / eimi
Our Christmas Eve cryptic challenge has been set by eimi, perhaps better known to many for his general knowledge puzzles in the i at the weekend. It has been a while since I have solved one of his cryptics, and I am wondering if there is any significance in his name being spelt with a lower-case “e”, both alongside the puzzle and in the clue at 6.
Independent 12,229 / Coot
Coot has provided this Thursday’s teaser. I haven’t blogged many of his puzzles, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect today.
Independent 12,224 / Phi
Phi’s latest puzzle marks the transition from working week into weekend for many of us solvers and bloggers.
Independent 12,215 / Amoeba
An entertaining puzzle from Amoeba today to help me at least through a cold, grey day.
Independent 12,210 / Lark
Wednesday’s puzzle has been provided by Lark, a compiler whose work I am not that familiar with. I certainly enjoyed becoming a bit more familiar with it today.
Independent 12,205 / Madcap
I was curious to find out what would lie in store for me this morning, as I tackled a puzzle by a compiler whose work I very much enjoy solving but have rarely had an opportunity to blog.
Independent 12,200 / Phi
Phi brings another suite of mid-week puzzles to an end in fine style.
Independent 12,191 / Bluebird
There was a lot of fun to be had in this puzzle by Bluebird, set on a grid that accommodates a lot of shorter entries.
Independent 12,186 / Eccles
Another puzzle of the calibre we expect from Eccles, although a bit tougher for me than some of his recent offerings, to finish at least.
Independent 12,181 / Tees
My apologies for the very late posting of the blog on what was a crazy day at work.
Independent 12,176 / Phi
A fairly challenging Friday puzzle by Phi today, on a grid accommodating a good few longer entries.
Independent 12,167 / Atrica
Atrica has provided our Tuesday puzzle today on what is our known theme day. This time, I managed to get through to the end of the puzzle, and I finally managed to parse everything to my satisfaction. However, I still had no idea as to the theme of the puzzle! When did the penny drop for you, I wonder?
Independent 12,162 / Eccles
Plenty to get one’s teeth into today with Eccles’ latest puzzle, produced on a grid that accommodates a large number of clues.