John's avatarJohn

Born 1946. Since retiring (maths teacher) have spent an increasing amount of time on crosswords, something that was impossible before – am not in the sub-ten minutes league and probably never will be. Do The Times every day (more often than not in over half an hour), also an assortment of other puzzles. Have been doing Azed monthly for some years and entering his clue-setting competitions, occasionally with some success (I even won once, have had 36 VHCs and 138 HCs — yes, I keep a record, sad isn't it) but not enough for my liking. I've set a few crosswords: five in Oxford Today, a few on Derek Harrison's website, and five in The Independent, under the name Vernon. Also play a lot of chess and golf, although as I age I'm getting weaker at both.

AZED 2,173

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As always, a pleasant wade through a whole lot of words that one has never heard of. If I explained them all this blog would take ages to read and write, so I … Read more >>

Independent 8,509 by Dac

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What more can we say? Actually, although this contains many of Dac’s trademark felicities, there are a couple of clues that struck me as just a little below the standard we have come … Read more >>

Independent 8,499 by Phi

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As always, Phi has given us a pleasant and sound crossword. He usually has a Nina of some sort, but his Ninas are nearly always too obscure for me and they make no difference … Read more >>

Independent 8,490 by Hob

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Yesterday in a private email someone told me that this might be up my street. I still don’t know what he meant, for this is a pleasant crossword from Hob which runs close … Read more >>

Azed 2167

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What we get every time with Azed — sound clues and a lot of wading through Chambers. They are always soluble in the end, although 1dn defeats me. I’m sure if this was a competition … Read more >>

Independent 8,481 by Anax

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Another outstanding crossword from Anax — difficult of course and if I hadn’t been doing the blog and had been struggling on paper, without the kick start provided by the cheating buttons online, … Read more >>

Independent 8,476 by Phi

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A typically pleasant crossword from Phi on a Friday. There is no doubt some subtle Nina, but, as usual with me and Phi (actually most other people as well), I can’t see it. … Read more >>

Independent 8,467 by Anax

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For quite a while Anax was absent from the Indy on weekdays, but he made a welcome reappearance recently and does not seem to have lost any of his flair. There are many … Read more >>

Independent 8,457 by Nestor

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Once I must have had a bad experience with Nestor, because his crosswords always fill me with fear before I start, yet this was perfectly pleasant and accessible. There are some very nice clues … Read more >>

Independent 8,452 by Phi

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As we always get on Fridays, a nicely done crossword from Phi that is of the usual level of difficulty, contains some good clues, and doesn’t so far as I can see have any … Read more >>

AZED 2,161

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The usual very pleasant workout from Azed. I always find that I make steady progress and then reach an impasse, when I simply can’t parse one or two of the clues. But they … Read more >>

Independent 8,443 by Rorschach

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There are several clues here that proved rather difficult. Rorschach has produced a crossword that is certainly good in parts, I remain to be convinced about some of it, but that is likely … Read more >>