Well blimey it’s been an exciting few days for this puzzle. Lots of head scratches, penny drops and some brilliant feedback. Thanks indeed to everyone that’s followed me since or sent me a message about it. This crossword community is ace. www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2...

Thank you @mister-norm.bsky.social !

It’s me in the Independent today. Sample clue: Cantankerous ill youngster straddles potty (5) You can solve this cryptic crossword FOR FREE at puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent

So excited to be making my debut as Glyph in @theguardian.com Genius slot today. Cheers to @alanconnor.bsky.social for the spot, and thank you so much to the great folks that tested this puzzle. Hope you enjoy solving it as much as I enjoyed writing it! www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2...

Another one! Great to be back as Playfair in @economist.com today (subs), featuring: 🩺 Doctor’s downright intense replacement (12) 🎹 Dance music ultimately built on repetition around beginning of 90s (6) 🎬 List odd characters in Burton’s Oscar winner (6) www.economist.com/interactive/...

I’m back in the Indy today! Featuring: 🔴 Red, gold and brown a bit too much (6) 🎖️ Call it a day having received medal and diamonds (2,2,3) 🎵 Show Me Love, Spinning Around and Come What May? (7) Play for free here: puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Oh bugger off Acrobat.

Rather chuffed to report that my friendly, feathered and equally foolish alter ego Loon makes his debut in The Times Quick Cryptic series today. #cryptic #crossword

First puzzle (great stuff @guineverecryptic.bsky.social ) solved in red ink - looks very stylish @unchcrosswords.com

Squee! Been a good while since I’ve bought a hardback on day of release. I’ve read everything again in anticipation (what a joy!). Can’t wait to see how it ends… #bookofdust

New puzzle from me today in @economist.com 🥳 (Subscription required) Sample clue: One let a man in lycra out? That’s gutsy! (10,5)

This is so unbelievably basic. Degrees are not purely vocational. Careers are not linear. Interdisciplinarity is essential. My own journey is from a degree in English into marketing, into design, into science communication. My arts background is incredibly valuable to my work in science.

🥁🥁🥁 I set the October puzzle in the Guardian’s Genius series under my new setting name ‘Odo’ Ever since I started crosswording it’s been my ambition to get into the Guardian, it’s always been ‘my paper’. Many thanks to @alanconnor.bsky.social for the opportunity www.theguardian.com/crosswords/2...

Someone from my recent crossword workshop sent me this clue from a Telegraph Toughie book: Warning that 2011 might split, for example? (9,5) Crossers are R _ V _ R _ I _ G _ I _ H _ So very likely REVERSING LIGHT? Can anyone parse it?

I love this story. I love the final is in Vegas. I love spreadsheets. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Crossword folks, what do we think about multiple definitions AND wordplay in a clue? Example, Imogen 29,663: Check on a rod for fish (5) I don’t like it, but would be interested to know how others feel about it.

Pre-order done ✅

I’m headed to the wonderful Wells Maltings on November 4th for another beginners cryptic crossword workshop. This time with afternoon tea included! www.wellsmaltings.org.uk/events/a-beg...

I attended a design industry event at a big Ed tech conference not too long ago, chatted to teachers and I’m afraid this satire is too late. “To design is to think” Dieter Rams. Let’s not outsource the thinking eh? via @skirwingle.bsky.social

Just got round to watching the documentary on C4 about Norwich Castle. Highly recommend. Also highly recommend a visit to the renovated keep - I’ve been twice already. Congrats to all involved! Seen 'The Castle: Rebuilding History'? Watch it here on Channel 4: www.channel4.com/programmes/t...

My first stab at a Quiptic proved surprisingly popular. So here’s another. All the usual thanks to @mycrossword.co.uk #Quiptic #crossword www.mycrossword.co.uk/quick/280

Join me for an afternoon learning how to solve cryptic crossword puzzles in the fine city of Norwich on the 7th September. Tickets here: thehollowaynorwich.com/events/RVb6g... Shares and word of mouth appreciated!

Oooooo

No reversal indicators allowed when setting at Norwich Cathedral.

Greetings all from 5a, 1a ☀️

On the train from Norwich to Liverpool. Direct service! Longest in England? All the years I’ve lived in Norwich and made sure I was getting on the train for London Liverpool Street, and not Liverpool Lime Street by mistake! Heady days! 🛤️

Had a lovely time meeting up with attendees of my first crossword for beginners workshop on Sunday to do the Quiptic (Harpo). This clue provoked some interesting discussion. Young animal left sleeping like a baby (4) Thoughts?

FAO aspiring and emerging #crossword compilers! There's one fully funded place available on November's online Masterclass led by @boatmancryptics.co.uk. Applications particularly welcome from groups currently underrepresented in crosswords... boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-ma...

This is great. youtu.be/W0Vl9UtogGQ?...

London based crossword meet up suggestions please :) asking for a friend 👍

Props to BBC breakfast hosts this morning having to segue from Mr Boo the clown stealing the microphone from the reporter in Blackpool Tower circus to announcing the death of Pope Francis.

What a lovely time this afternoon at The Holloway in Norwich running a Cryptic Crosswords for Beginners session. Lovely people came. We solved clues and drank tea. Will definitely do this again! Great venue. If you’re about in Norwich it’s on St Benedict’s St #cryptic #crosswords

Excellent shopping work here from Reddit user u/spacecadet06. Bravo.

Remembered this incredible campfire performance of Home by Lisa Hannigan. Stunning every time. youtu.be/csaHks2gydQ?...

Still here for a couple of hours yet, but here’s the solution. 1. WENT 2. FINAL 3. GAINED Which entered into what3words will take you to the Winter Gardens, Blackpool where our son has been competing this weekend. Well we WENT, but no FINAL was GAINED. Good time had by all though!!

Still here! 1. _ E _ _ 2. _ I _ _ _ 3. _ A _ _ _ D Answers and a photo when I finally get out of here tonight 😂

Where am I? 1. Pissed newt collapses (4) 2. Going around short track provided for medal race? (5) 3. Gadabout in English made progress (6) Solve the cryptic clues and use what3words to find out! #crypticcrossword

On our way from Paddington for the Word Puzzles conference at Oxford! Looking forward to meeting many of you #cryptic #crossword people there!

I set today’s Independent crossword. Featuring: 10A. “Bard is average, limited and borders on third-rate” – that’s direct! (9) Thankfully the 15^2 comments are kinder than 10A 😂 You can solve for free here: puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti... #cryptic #crossword

My latest puzzle is in the Independent today. You can play for free here. puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti... Featuring: Do good, good dog (7) 📷 by me Modelling by Clyde. #cryptic #crossword #puzzle #dog

Lovely time training at UCL this week :) never actually made it to the famous quad before. Also saw Jeremy Bentham-bot through the window.

Delighted to make my debut in the Independent today. There’s a link below if anyone wants to have a go. Very grateful to the very many people who helped on the way! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Happy Sunday! (I think.) Last Twitch stream of 2024 for me and @wyrd.systems incoming at 12 noon, join us! We're solving the charity puzzle by @petermoorefuller.bsky.social that we didn't get to before Christmas, and one by Hasslethymi. #CrypticSunday twitch.tv/crypticsunday

One more pre-Christmas plug for my charity crossword in aid of Shelter. Delighted to have doubled the fundraising target, can we treble it?! 🎄🎄🎄 PDFs to gift from - xmas.chopinclues.co.uk Solve online on MyCrossword - mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2170 Shares appreciated! Merry Christmas!

Looking for a crossword gift for friends and family this year? 🎁 My charity #cryptic #crossword can be downloaded at xmas.chopinclues.co.uk with voluntary donation in aid of Shelter. You can also solve online at mycrossword. We've already hit our £50 target, hoping we can double it!

🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄❄️🎄 New Chopin puzzle up on MyCrossword with a festive twist! mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2170 You can also download a 'gifting' PDF of this puzzle and make a donation to Shelter. xmas.chopinclues.co.uk Deer hates appearing red-nosed at first, self-confident in the end (4) #cryptic #crossword

Thanks @flashling.bsky.social for finding an error on my new crossword - bear with me folks, will be back up shortly :)

Can a large language model solve crosswords? It might have helped the LLM solve the clue in Fig 1 if it was fairly written! #cryptic #crossword Here’s the paper, in fairness to the authors they’ve used a dataset of Guardian & Times clues arxiv.org/abs/2412.09012 Cc. @alanconnor.bsky.social

FB memory provided this gem about my home town from Paul in the Guardian in 2017. Clearly he has visited…

Sample clue from my puzzle in the FT today: Who wrote great verses in Radiohead? (5) Do it for FREE by printing it off at ft.com/crossword or find the interactive version at ft.com/crosswordapp