Site Feedback

This page is where you can provide feedback relating to Fifteensquared or raise issues regarding the website itself. Comments posted before 29/12/18 can be found here. This post is now closed. New comments … Read more >>

General Discussion

This page is for the discussion of general crossword related matters and other topics of interest. Comments posted before 29/12/18 can be found here. This post is now closed. New comments can be … Read more >>

Our Twelfth Anniversary

I am reluctant to post this because I don’t want to detract from the sad announcement regarding the passing of David Crossland (Dac) and it doesn’t seem right to celebrate after such unwelcome … Read more >>

David Crossland (Dac) – RIP

Update: Eimi has added a link to the Independent obituary in comment #43.

A message from Mike Hutchinson (Eimi), the Independent’s crossword editor:

It is with great sadness that I have to pass on the news that the great Dac is no longer with us. He lost his battle with cancer at the weekend. I’m sure many people will have noticed that he hasn’t appeared in the Indy for the last two months, but he had asked me not to mention his illness here.

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Financial Times PDF

Update: A direct link to the relevant pdf file will now be included immediately under the image of each day’s puzzle. A pdf version of the cryptic is still available (at least for … Read more >>

Clueing Technique

A message from Dean Mayer (Anax etc)

I’m running another live stream this Wednesday 17th October, from 4pm UK time. We won’t be building a crossword this time. Instead, it’s a chance to discuss and work on clueing technique. So if you have a clue or clues you’ve been working on and feel unsure about, this might be a good opportunity to get the thoughts of the cryptic-loving community.

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YORK S&B weekend 26-28th October 2018 – New Posting

Edit: Please see comment #50 for details of the Friday evening Ale Trail.

An update from John Henderson:

Here’s my end-of-summer update and request for details; comments posted here will form the basis for catering numbers at the Friday and Saturday events. Even if you have previously indicated attendance or accommodation requirements, please would you do the following and give your A-E attendance details in a post hereinunder.

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Live Crossword Setting

A message from Dean Mayer (Anax, Loroso etc)

Hello everyone.

Early next week – Tuesday 11th September, 4pm UK time to be precise – I’m going to try something new. I really don’t know if it has been attempted before.

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Spam Control

I have installed another WordPress plugin to help control spam. You shouldn’t notice any changes unless Akismet, the site’s primary spam filter, considers your comment to be spam. If it does, you will … Read more >>

York S&B 2018

An update from John Henderson regarding accommodation at York Racecourse:   I’m led to believe that non-S&B bookings are coming up fast on the rails – and if people want a cheap weekend … Read more >>

Cryptic Crosswords – the ‘PDM’

A message from Kathryn Friedlander:

Philip Fine and I have just published a second article on cryptic crosswords – this time on the ‘PDM’, and how cryptics might help us, as psychologists, to understand the processes behind insight moments. The article is free to read on-line, or to download as a pdf, and can be found here.

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Captcha

Due to the number of times during recent months that a valid entry has been rejected, I have disabled the Captcha plugin, so you will no longer need to complete a Captcha when … Read more >>

Site Policy / Off-topic Comments

Update

My thanks to those who have taken the time to add a comment to this post for your useful feedback. On re-reading the comments, my impression is that the majority are in favour of maintaining the status quo (not that I had any intention of changing anything significantly unless it was absolutely necessary).

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Independent 9857

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the blog of this puzzle will not be posted until early this evening.