John

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.

Independent 8122/Tees

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Tees has produced a very good crossword today. Not always particularly easy, but utterly sound so far as I can see, sometimes very clever, and with few points that will elicit controversy. At least that’s … Read more >>

Independent 8117/Phi

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As always a nice crossword from Phi. The system of having a number of clues (the answers to which are in bold) that rely on some already-solved clues is not my favourite, but in this … Read more >>

Independent 8108/Anax

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As always from Anax a beautifully-constructed workout. My goodness it was difficult, though. I found it as hard as anything this setter has produced, although it is none the worse for that. It … Read more >>

Independent 8105 / Phi

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A typical gentle (to use a word The Times uses for some of its Sudokus) sound crossword from Phi today. Nothing very controversial I think, and the usual musical references. Surprise surprise, I … Read more >>

Independent 8098/Mordred

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A very pleasantly-constructed crossword from Mordred today. The fact that at times here I’m not quite sure doesn’t detract from what seems to be a good tight efficient display of clueing. I remarked the other … Read more >>

Independent 8093/Phi

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The usual good crossword from Phi. I am bewildered by 22dn but no doubt it will be explained. As usual I can’t see any Nina, although my search usually doesn’t go far beyond … Read more >>

Azed 2101

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As usual an efficient production from Azed. I don’t seem to have said much about a succession of clues where the words in both the clue and the answer are not, to say the least, everyday, … Read more >>

Independent 8084/Eimi

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A nice accessible crossword from Eimi today, with only one or two clues that I struggled to understand. The very strange grid, with its preponderance of three-letter answers and its unches at the … Read more >>

Independent 8074/Klingsor

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Klingsor has produced a fine crossword today. Many of the clues are quite excellent, and although one might criticise the fact that perhaps rather a lot use the device of getting one or … Read more >>

Independent 8069/Phi

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The usual pleasant solve from Phi today. I found it all fairly straightforward and have no major questions, except that the unchecked letters round the sides suggest that there is a Nina here, which … Read more >>

Independent 8055/Dac

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As usual … Does Dac ever depart from his high standards? Across 1 W AVER 4 MISS (JUL 1) E{uropean} — the play by Strindberg 9 ARNOLD BAX — {p}a{t}r{o}n old “backs” 10 … Read more >>

Azed 2095

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A fairly typical Azed plain; nothing much to say, simply sound clueing of course and one or two rather thin surfaces but many good ones. On the website at any rate (I don’t … Read more >>

Independent 8050/Monk

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A good crossword from Monk today. I don’t know if I’m getting better at his crosswords (doubtful really) or if he’s becoming a bit kinder. Certainly there used to be a time when … Read more >>