"This unique ceramic dish shows a human head composed of penises... The inscription written in Italian on the scroll should be read right to left, like Hebrew; it translates as: 'Every man looks at me as if I were a head of dicks'"

Despite a *terrible* finish on a personal level, I'm very grateful for all the good crossword stuff that happened for me in 2025. Met loads of people IRL I'd not met before (at the Oxford conference and at S&B), launched @unchcrosswords.com, and started regularly solving the IQ/Listener.

I’ve not really felt like doing crosswords the last few days, but I’m sat in a coffee shop now doing one. This made me smile >> “Slippery creeper in German city colder after opening shed (7)” [Kite, Guardian 29,834]

Visiting family again. They're doing their best to make it festive on the ward.

There will be a #CrypticSunday Replacement Stream Service, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with myself come noon, but I am nowhere near organised enough to tell you what I'll be tackling then. Anything from the past week of MyCrossword puzzles is fair game! twitch.tv/pantherapuzzles

From 'Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns': "waefu'-woodie" means "hangman's rope" www.litscape.com/author/Rober...

Hopefully we’ll be back on track next week. ❤️

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

Attempting an even more relaxing Christmas by tackling this year's Apex puzzle. Nice easy day.

I’ve spent more hours than I’d like in hospitals this week, & more to come, sadly. Not an ideal Xmas, but an honour to witness the amazing spirit and hard work of all the wonderful #NHS staff. Caring for others‘ loved ones when they could be home with their own. Words can’t express my gratitude ❤️🎄❤️

Does anyone have a timetable for when all the special bonus/big cryptic crosswords etc come out in the papers over Xmas?

Some other fun words I came across this weekend: • coup de poing: (noun) A blow or punch with the fist • gytrash: (noun) A ghost or apparition • subitise: (verb) To perceive or be capable of perceiving (the number of items in a group) at a glance without actually counting

Current #CrypticSunday plan is: - Stream a puzzle as normal at noon (UK) - Once we're done with that, jump onto our traditional festive/chaotic Zoom call to swap seasons greetings and maybe do another one together. Zoom link will be shared on the stream.

Second half was hard going *but* I got there and thankfully the endgame was gentle (if I got it right, that is... I think I did!). All very clever as ever, many thanks and Xmas greetings to Lionheart. Looking forward to your video, @michpunk.bsky.social.

If you like cryptic crosswords repost this

Usual Sunday morning of digging through Chambers to try and knock the Listener on the head, and found out that apparently "Steven" is defined as "An outcry (Spenser)". One for the Adam & Joe fans. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...

I would like Karen to win.

My 14-yo-son has recreated the climax of Back to the Future in gingerbread and I thought you should know.

@michpunk.bsky.social 😉

Listener going quite well so far… over halfway filled on the grid.

New Listener Video is out! youtu.be/8_X44nOBYhs?...

I’m thinking about setting up a regular cryptic crossword meetup in the Brighton/Lewes area, come the New Year. Just a hangout to solve together and chat (maybe even some light setting). If you‘d like to be kept in the loop contact me here or at unchcrosswords.com#contact

I'm back as Weatherman in the Toughie today, with clues including: Wrong copper parts in an old car (10) www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/puzz...

Just finished @natanlast.bsky.social’s book “Across the Universe” all about crosswords. Highly recommended - an interesting insight for me into the ‘American style’ puzzles and the culture around them. Thanks Natan!

Poor unfortunate soul, unknown (5)

Not had much time for setting recently for various reasons but prompted by a special occasion, I‘ve put one together for today… Love you, Dad xxx mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/2949

Finished the Listener in two sittings this weekend! Great fun this week 😊 Hope you enjoyed it too @michpunk.bsky.social

A busy weekend featuring two family birthdays, a West End show and a Christmas party, but in between we're looking forward to crosswords by @iguesscryptics.bsky.social and @henriwords.com. Join us at 12! #CrypticSunday twitch.tv/crypticsunday

The anagrams will continue until M. Moore prevails

Do it!

Done! Great to get that finished before the end of the weekend 💪

Blue Öyster Christmas #XmasBands

The anagrams will continue until memoirs overlap

@pantherapuzzles.bsky.social Sorry

Got the gridfill done on this week's #Listener, and I've got the theme etc. Just need to locate a few intersection bits now so I can start drawing the lines to get the endgame done...

We only have time for one crossword today on #CrypticSunday and that will be by boznut, join us at 12 to help solve! twitch.tv/crypticsunday

❤️🎄💃

“And what is the charge? Eating a seal? A succulent Chinese seal? GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY PENIS!”

@michpunk.bsky.social This just popped up in a crossword-related book I’m reading. Would’ve been helpful a few weeks ago!

New Listener video is out! www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2x... (in which I moan a bit)

Pleased to say that, after months of building my skills at solving thematics, I’ve finally finished Listener 4549 by @johnfinnemore.bsky.social. As an appreciator of his work in other media, I’ve always wanted to tackle it & have had it printed out waiting for over a year, undone. A good feeling!

Carbonari /kär-bo-näˈrē/ plural noun Members of a secret society in Italy at the beginning of the 19c, founded to help forward a republican government

humbled by magpie b-grade puzzle

When I played D&D—AS A KID IN THE 80S—we mostly used it as a vehicle to do whatever we wanted, rules be damned. Which is to say, as someone who would be slightly younger than the actual Stranger Things kids, go wild, have fun, include everyone. You’ve got my OG imprimatur.

Train announcer: “Ladies and gentleman, the first thing I should say is please don’t panic…

Completed it ✅💪

Hooray - I’ve got the theme of this week’s Listener, and almost all the solutions. Now I just need to work out how to actually do the gridfill.

I also am very excited about the excellent puzzles we've got lined up for Issue 2

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