Andrew's avatarAndrew

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 28,924 – Philistine

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I made rather heavy weather of this, probably not helped by having a head full of cold, but it all seems perfectly reasonable in retrospect. Thanks to Philistine.   Across 1 JUST SO … Read more >>

Guardian 28,917 – Picaroon

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Picaroon never disappoints, and here’s another great example of his work. There are several well-concealed definitions, which I particularly liked. Thanks to Picaroon (whose alter ego Buccaneer is today’s FT setter).   Across … Read more >>

Guardian 28,910 – Pasquale

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Quite a tricky one from Pasquale today, with a few obscurities and some tricky parsings. Thanks to Pasquale for the chewy challenge.   Across 9 ELAN VITAL Supposed creative force that could make … Read more >>

Azed 2627

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A reasonably testing Azed, though sound and clear in retrospect as usual. I have a minor quibble about the definition in 24d, but that might be my ignorance. Thanks to Azed.   Across … Read more >>

Guardian 28,896 – Vulcan

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Mostly straightforward Monday fare, with one or two trickier moments, and a couple of words that might be unfamiliar to some. Thanks to Vulcan.   Across 1 FLIPPED ONE’S LID Got enraged by … Read more >>

Guardian 28,887 – Philistine

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I was a little slow to get started on this, but then everything started slipping nicely into place. Thanks to Philistine. We have a mini-theme of words derived from the names of planets, … Read more >>

Guardian 28,873 – Brummie

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I seemed to be very much on Brummie’s wavelength this morning and got through this pretty quickly. No theme that I can see, but you never know… Thanks to Brummie.   Across 1 … Read more >>

Guardian 28,866 – Soup

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This is Soup’s first (solo) appearance in the Cryptic slot, though we have seen him a few times in the Genius. This was quite tricky, with some rather unusual constructions, including a couple … Read more >>

Guardian 28,861/Anto

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Eileen has been having some IT problems that have prevented her publishing her blog today, so I’m doing so on her behalf. As perhaps wasn’t clear from my wording, the blog is written … Read more >>

Azed 2621

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Quite a few non-English words (only some of which are Scottish) in this one, but not too high up the hardness scale, as far as I remember. Thanks to Azed.   Across 1 … Read more >>

Guardian 28,858 – Vlad

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I’ve just come back from a holiday in the Highlands, and as expected have to thank Eileen and Manehi for standing in for me. What I didn’t expect was to be blogging on … Read more >>