Andrew

I started off on Everyman in The Observer, and began solving Azed while I was a student at Cambridge (reading maths) shortly after it started. I do the Guardian puzzle most days and others sporadically. In real life I work as a software developer (still in Cambridge), and for non-crossword recreation play the piano and am involved in amateur theatre.

Guardian 26420 – Puck

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It’s been a while since we saw Puck on a weekday, though he has done a couple of prize puzzles since. This was a welcome return, with a fairly tricky puzzle that kept … Read more >>

Azed 2214 – Jigsaw

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Azed gives us a jigsaw about every two years, and by the luck of the draw I also blogged the last one. As I said then, my first step with these is to … Read more >>

Guardian 26,413 – Rufus

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I found this very much on the easy side, even by Rufus’s standards, with many clues being immediate write-ins, and no serious hold-ups. Thanks to the setter. Across 1. CLASSIC Form gets 99 … Read more >>

Guardian 26.411 – Imogen

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A good Friday challenge from Imogen, with some interesting clue constructions. Only two anagrams (and no partial anags) and no hidden clues, which perhaps explains my initial progress was slow. I thought the … Read more >>

Guardian 26,404 – Paul

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After yesterday’s strenuous tussle with Enigmatist, this was relatively a walk in the park, but with lots to enjoy, including several nice bits of &littish-ness. Thanks to Paul for the entertainment.     … Read more >>

Guardian 26,397 – Chifonie

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As usual with Chifonie, very straightforward clueing, with lots of charades; a good puzzle for beginners that would fit well (and better than some) in the Quiptic spot. Thanks to the setter.   … Read more >>

Guardian 26,390 – Qaos

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Another puzzle where I made a slow start, but then steady progress to the end. Looking back there’s nothing too difficult here, but a nice variety of clues. Thanks to the setter. I’m … Read more >>

Guardian 26,383 – Rufus

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Only two cryptic definitions today, but seven doubles (though in several of those the two definitions are very closely related), together with mostly very straightforward clues of other types, suitable for those who … Read more >>

Azed 2208

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I thought I was off to a good start with this when I got all four of the long answers around the edges (including 34a by some inspired guesswork). I then polished off … Read more >>

Guardian 26,374 – Chifonie

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A typically straightforward puzzle from Chifone, with the usual preponderance of charades. Perhaps a couple of slightly obscure answers, but nothing to delay regular solvers for long.             … Read more >>

Guardian 26,360 – Nutmeg

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This was another of those looks-hard-at-first-but-comes-out-nicely-once-you-get-going puzzles, which is just the kind I like, so thanks to Nutmeg for the entertainment. For those who missed it, Nutmeg (Margaret Irvine) appeared on Woman’s Hour … Read more >>