mhl

Although I had some early attempts to solve cryptic crosswords as a teenager, it was only in my late 20s (and mostly thanks to fifteensquared!) that I became reasonably competent as a solver. However, despite being a slow solver I found that I had a knack for parsing clues, and volunteered to do a weekly blog post on the Guardian crossword. After a few years, I had to drop down to being on the Guardian Prize rota, but eventually found that with two young children to look after, I didn't have time even for that. I'm still hoping to resume blogging more regularly when they're a little older!

Guardian Prize 29,231 / Vlad

by

I found this quite a tough solve, although maybe that’s just decriptude (plus a few bits of unfamiliar vocabulary). Thanks, Vlad! As bridgesong mentioned in the comments, after 315 posts since 2008 this … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 29,183 / Picaroon

by

A delightful, satisfying puzzle – thank you, Picaroon! The theme was FLOWER BORDER across the middle, and there were flowers spelt out around the edges of the puzzle: IBERI, PINK, SEDUM, ROSE, PEONY. … Read more >>

Guardian 29,039 / Maskarade

by

Sorry, I scheduled this post but it was still a draft so didn’t auto-publish! This was definitely challenge worthy of a long weekend – thanks, Maskarade! There was no real guesswork to the … Read more >>

Guardian 29,015 / Paul

by

A great fun solve with lots of references to Paul’s fellow Guardian setters in the surface readings. Thank you, Paul! Across 1. Marked on the surface, Puck going in to work … (6) … Read more >>

Guardian 28,991 / Paul

by

I found this trickier than a typical Paul, I think, not because there was anything obscure, but there were lots of clues with very good misdirection. Anyway, a very high standard of clues, … Read more >>

Guardian 28,967 / Picaroon

by

I thought this was a witty and very enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon. Many thanks to the setter! Across 1. After palaver, bets a rogue is to avoid dismissal (5,4,3) CARRY ONE’S BAT CARRY … Read more >>

Guardian 28,919 / Tramp

by

An excellent prize puzzle from Tramp: lots of amusingly misleading definitions and one stand-out brilliant clue for me. Thank you, Tramp! (The stand-out clue for me was YELLOW GARDEN SPIDER – see below.) … Read more >>

Guardian 28,895 / Vlad

by

I’m more used to seeing Vlad in the easier Monday slot, which we often do in our work crossword club, so it’s interesting to try a tougher challenge from this setter. As several … Read more >>

Guardian 28,871 / Brendan

by

I was lucky to get one of my favourite setters, Brendan, this week – this was an excellent puzzle with a really interesting theme worked throughout almost all the clues The theme here … Read more >>

Guardian 28,847 / Maskarade

by

I enjoyed the theme for this bumper double-grid bank holiday alphabetical jigsaw puzzle from Maskarade, and it’s another impressive bit of grid construction. The theme was given names: one of each pair of … Read more >>