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miserableoldhack's avatarmiserableoldhack

I was brought up in the 1970s on a daily diet of The Times cryptic, which we used to attempt to solve together as a family over lunch. Families really can be very strange. I've had various jobs as a professional pedant in various publications in what used to be known as Fleet St, hence my nickname. Though honestly I'm really not very miserable at all, most of the time.

Independent 12,112 by Gila

Mon August 4, 2025 at 9:25 amMon August 4, 2025 at 7:57 am by miserableoldhack

This is only Gila’s second outing in the Indie this year.

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Categories Independent 5 Comments

Everyman No. 4110

Sun August 3, 2025 at 5:01 pmSun August 3, 2025 at 12:05 am by miserableoldhack

As it’s Everyman, you’d expect all the standard features to be present and correct.

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Categories Everyman 31 Comments

Independent on Sunday 1,847 by Filbert

Sun July 20, 2025 at 8:01 am by miserableoldhack

If it’s Sunday it must be Filbert in the Independent.

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Categories Independent 11 Comments

Independent 12,094 by Stamp

Mon July 14, 2025 at 8:09 am by miserableoldhack

A pleasant start to the puzzling week from Stamp.

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Categories Independent 18 Comments

Everyman 4,106

Mon July 7, 2025 at 1:37 pmSun July 6, 2025 at 12:02 am by miserableoldhack

Everyman, ‘the crossword world’s entry point since 1945’,

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Categories Everyman 24 Comments

Independent 12,076 by Madcap

Mon June 23, 2025 at 8:17 amMon June 23, 2025 at 7:28 am by miserableoldhack

I don’t think I’ve come across puzzles by Madcap before,

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Categories Independent 10 Comments

Independent on Sunday 1,843 by Filbert

Sun June 22, 2025 at 9:56 amSun June 22, 2025 at 8:14 am by miserableoldhack

Filbert is fast becoming one of my very favourite setters.

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Categories Independent 7 Comments

Everyman 4,102

Sun June 8, 2025 at 12:01 am by miserableoldhack

It wouldn’t be Everyman …

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Categories Everyman 14 Comments

Independent 12,058 by Italicus

Mon June 2, 2025 at 4:51 pmMon June 2, 2025 at 8:25 am by miserableoldhack

This was a slow but steady solve for me…

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Categories Independent 16 Comments

Independent on Sunday 1,839 by Filbert

Sun May 25, 2025 at 8:41 am by miserableoldhack

Another Sunday, another tough nut to crack from Filbert.

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Categories Independent 17 Comments

Independent 12,040 by Filbert

Mon May 12, 2025 at 9:38 am by miserableoldhack

I greatly admire the economy of Filbert’s cluing – there are absolutely no wasted words here –

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Categories Independent 14 Comments

Everyman 4,098

Sun May 11, 2025 at 12:01 am by miserableoldhack

This is the second appearance of Everyman in its/his new home on observer.co.uk

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Categories Everyman 29 Comments

Independent on Sunday 1,835 by Filbert

Sun April 27, 2025 at 12:48 pmSun April 27, 2025 at 9:20 am by miserableoldhack

Some really deft cluing here, with the smoothest of surfaces and some cunningly disguised definitions.

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Categories Independent 21 Comments

Independent 12,022 by Salty

Mon April 21, 2025 at 7:35 am by miserableoldhack

I found this an absolute pleasure to solve – nothing too taxing on the old grey cells, but with a really delightful economy of cluing, along with a great deal of wit.

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Categories Independent 16 Comments

Everyman 4,094 by Everyman

Sun April 13, 2025 at 9:56 amSun April 13, 2025 at 8:30 am by miserableoldhack

A pretty standard sort of Everyman, I thought …

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Categories Everyman 46 Comments
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