I only slept for 4 hours and just returned home from a stressful hour and a half trek through the snow. But there will be a stream today! Going live in about 30 minutes. twitch.tv/liari77

I'm in the Independent again! (Bluejacket #6, 12253, Thu 15th Jan 26) 1a: Toxic chemical made by strange doc yearning to inhabit evil alter ego (8,7) 6d: He said sesame and lettuce in buns are "burger amateur's toppings" (3,4) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Tomorrow may be a snow day. And I may do a bonus stream.

A new setter on MyCrossword? Not exactly. Hat tips to my co-conspirators @henriwords.com @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social @cranberryfez.bsky.social & Gennaro, and huge thanks as always to @mycrossword.co.uk #cryptic #crossword www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3028

Will be back to streaming today, probably around 2pm GMT. I would like to solve @henriwords.com’s 3000, @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social’s featured, several minis and any others recommended during. Twitch.tv/liari77

Interested in setting cryptic crosswords, or improving ... or just finding out more? Following on from Raider's excellent advice at @mycrossword.co.uk, I've started a new blog series looking at how and why cryptics work: www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/setting... Hope it's useful / interesting!

I would like to say the exact same thing. Thank you!

Get your 2026 self a little treat! Unch Issue 2 is out in January - you can ensure you don't miss out by pre-ordering a copy now... Go to unchcrosswords.com to reserve YOURS! This one has eight of our usual standard cryptics, plus a fun alphabetical *and* an exciting thematic as well!

Mah momma always said, life is like an #OffGridPod compilation episode: you never know what you're gonna get... offgrid.tlmb.net/2025/12/28/c...

A rare but fun appearance by the gaffer Eimi in the Independent today, featuring this absolute corker: Pinter play involving three people: a woman and two men (8) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Do it!

Thanks to everyone who's pre-ordered a copy of Issue 2 (out in January) - we've raised enough money to cover printing already! If you've not ordered yours yet DON'T MISS OUT - go to unchcrosswords.com and secure a copy now. #Cryptic #Crosswords #CrypticCrosswords

While you’re waiting for Unch Issue 2, please enjoy these photos of Unch Issue 1 from all over the world 😁

I'm very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2, coming out in January. Setters this time will be: ALP Gennaro Catnip The Void Heron Ruskin Umpire Crenditi Bard Henri That's 8 standard cryptics, an alphabetical jigsaw, and a barred thematic. Fun! unchcrosswords.com

🚀 New Release 🚀 www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/introdu...

After a long hiatus, I have posted something on MyCrossword. This was set in 2024 as part of the bonus puzzles for an American crossword tournament. mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2898

I plan to stream again today starting sometime between 1 and 2 pm. On the docket: MyCrossword puzzles by @pantherapuzzles.bsky.social, @matttheshirt.bsky.social, @henriwords.com and maybe more. Twitch.tv/liari77

Issue 2 available for (pre)sale now: unchcrosswords.com

Streaming shortly MyCrossword puzzles by @willsnow8.bsky.social, @tpgrammar.bsky.social, @catnipxword.bsky.social, @henriwords.com and more. twitch.tv/liari77

Probably going to be doing a stream tomorrow. Reply with those recommendations.

Highly recommended!

Honoured to be featured in @thetimes.com's regular Puzzles newsletter! Thanks @mickhodgkin.bsky.social 👍

Issue 2 is almost here! Pre-order now! Great job @wyrd.systems, @archelina.bsky.social, @henriwords.com, @amoebacrosswords.bsky.social and all the setters!

Not streaming today, but because next week is a holiday I may do so twice. Let me know any recommendations besides the usual suspects.

Thank you!

Was back in the Browser over the weekend (for the last time). Thank you @danfeyer.bsky.social for the last few years!

Umpire in the Independent today! Highly recommended! puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Puzzlers! Solve a present problem and do your bit for BBC Children in Need Day: www.fifteensquared.net/2025/11/14/3... #BBCChildrenInNeed @rnib.bsky.social

I'm in the Independent again! (Bluejacket #5, 12199, Thu 13th Nov 25) 5a: Pawn captures are the safe play against white's openings (4-3) 6d: Linking sci-fi movie up with horror movie (9) puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

I wrote a blog post for @mycrossword.co.uk about how setters can identify and calibrate how difficult (or otherwise) their own puzzles are: www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/the-dif... If you’re a setter, an aspiring setter or just curious as to how these things work - give it 4 minutes of your time! 😊

New blog post ✍️ 🧩 www.alyscummings.com/post/cryptic...

Make that 1400. Sorry.

So many MyCrossword puzzles to catch up on. Going to stream today at 1300 GMT, solving puzzles by @wyrd.systems, @henriwords.com, @pantherapuzzles.bsky.social, @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social, @clairebennie.bsky.social and maybe more. twitch.tv/liari77

Puzzle editing is all done for Issue 2. Thanks @archelina.bsky.social, @amoebacrosswords.bsky.social, @liari.bsky.social & @henriwords.com, & all the setters! Now onto the design phase... Sign up for the mailing list over at unchcrosswords.com so you'll be the first to know when we open pre-sales!

If you've enjoyed Issue #1 - and I hope you have! - please sign up for updates and order #2 when it's available

If you've already got a copy of Issue 1 of Unch, now is a good time to sign up for updates so you are ready to pre-order Issue 2. If you haven't got a copy of Issue 1 of Unch yet, now is a good time to buy one before we completely run out. Either way, the place to do that is: unchcrosswords.com

I can't be in York today but have sent a clue via the Platypus hivemind. Hope it's a good weekend. mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2788

And if you’re into – or curious to try – cryptic crosswords, grab your copy of issue one here: unchcrosswords.com

So, here’s a nice thing I’ve just designed: Unch, a new independent magazine by and for cryptic crossword setters and solvers

Umpire in the Independent today! I very much enjoyed. puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

Got yours yet? Unchcrosswords.com

More ordered and posted today!

I've now posted out all the pre-sale copies (thanks so much everyone!), and they should be arriving to UK people in the next couple of days. Sales are now open at unchcrosswords.com - while stocks last! #cryptic #crosswords

*deep breath*

Check out Umpire's new crossword on MyCrossword. mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2748

If you haven’t listened to this yet, you probably should 👍

Stream starting in less than an hour. Going to tackle some puzzles on MyCrossword by @henriwords.com, Gennaro, @mycrossword.co.uk, @bendrobinson.bsky.social and dare I say, @tpgrammar.bsky.social. twitch.tv/liari77

YAY we did it 🎉 and if you think you might have been the person who placed the fateful order, IT WAS YOU! so thank you very much, we hope you enjoy the puzzles 😁

Hey, if you haven’t yet pre-ordered your copy of issue 1 of Unch then you should do so NOW as you could be the lucky person who tips the orders over a Specific Round Number and a kind of Initial Sales Target and if you do that you get a Special Gift* * our warm thoughts unchcrosswords.com

I don't think I have ever clued this one. It's going on my list of seed birds. Look how lovely he is!