Love Texas Paul, not least for his uncanny resemblance to MW Gatting

The full story of the Guardian Crossword's #30,000 celebration, including all the intricacies of @enigmatistelgar.bsky.social 's wonderful bonus Genius, explained here: fifteensquared.net/2026/05/31/g...

Sturgeon in philosophical mood tonight: "You Winnebago a few, and you lose a few"

Got Sinead singing this in my head now

Do they deliver to Scottish prisons?

Get an early start on the Crossword Centre June challenge, Replace by Curmudgeon. crosswordcentre.blogspot.com/2026/05/june...

Ok so don't borrow from them then, that's fine. Do it all with taxes, knock yerself out

Next she'll escape into the Los Angeles underground, and still wanted by the government, survive as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, If no one else can help and if you can find her. Maybe you can hire...

Nicola Sturgeon: I'm being punished for a crime I didn't commit. I've been banged up in the Mont Blanc Penitentiary.

Good morning, because I am working today everyone gets a present. Please enjoy @jayrayner1.bsky.social at feature length from FT Weekend's French food special still available in shops today! as.ft.com/r/3e903818-6...

I set the news-themed puzzle for today's online @financialtimes.com. Sample clue: Old people contracted case of hantavirus (5). Solve the crossword interactively or print the pdf here: www.ft.com/content/190d...

Thrilling climax from G Ramos? (6) #PSGARS

Look, plantar fascitis sucks but I think this guy has bigger issues going on

DO YOU SING?

Is that Kloppo on the bass?

You know what we don't talk enough about? Queen & Annie Lennox/David Bowie rehearsing 'Under Pressure' in 1992. So much going on! Everyone's clothes, Bowie with a lit cig throughout, where Annie PROPER GOES FOR IT, George Michael singing along in the background. The amazing vocals. Yes, please!

I set the cryptic crossword in today's edition of the @financialtimes.com. It's a reprint of a puzzle from 2023 for the retirement of long-time FT crossword editor Colin Inman, who sadly died recently. Colin and his late wife Ellen were avowed Wagnerians who spent much time here in Germany.

"They'll never shell eish creamsh going at that shpeed Arne"

"We're playing exshactly the right playersh shunshine, jusht not neshesseraly in the right posishion"

Call it Ten Slots after they wind up working the Blackpool arcardes after they both lose their jobs

New sitcom pitch: Two bald Dutch geezers move to Lancashire with hilarious results. Working title Erik & Arne. #AVLLIV

Didn't need to be Mystic Meg for this one tbf

Hey there pop pickers...all right? Not half! Here's the hot new 45 "Deceived, misled and betrayed" by Mötley Crüet, ft. Salt'n'Pepa. Stay bright!

MAGA platform or a shit cult perhaps (5,6) #cryptic #crossword

I’m back with another #cryptic #crossword in The Independent today. Solve it for free online: https://puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/cryptic-crossword-independent?puzzleDate=20260528

It’s a stupidly high bar but I believe this to be Craig Brown’s finest work

I see Sarah Brightman’s follow-up to I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper has got a really bleak, Rogue Traders vibe to it.

Sample clue from my puzzle on the back page of today's Telegraph: Introduction to steamy erotica featuring artist in fur-trimmed pouch (7)

If when questioned by police about the £102 chopsticks he bought Peter Murrell didn't reply "What is the crime here, enjoying a Chinese meal...a succulent Chinese meal" is life even worth living

Tony Blair: "Tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be Gerhard Schröder"

Presumably the NRA will tell us that only a good dog with a gun could have stopped this

Ms Sturgeon: "I'll have a glass of the Chablis Grand Cru please Jean-Pierre" "Bien sûr, madame. Et pour vous, M. Murrell?" "Aye wull I'll have the three grand cruet set mon vieux"

Peter Murrell...time inside? (4)

Trump posted the exact same (crazy) thing on Truth Social 8 days apart. The cognitive isn't cognitiving.

On the grounds that there’s no bad time to share this video of a squirrel having a jolly good go, here’s this video of a squirrel having a jolly good go

Ridiculous building

If you want to get a flavour of the madness/collective neurotic meltdown that America appears to be experiencing now, this thread, including replies, will give it to you. So, Bitcoin milkshakes on the menu, plus olive oil is out and beef tallow is in, for..."health reasons"? Apparently so.

Pick a Bond villain from the photos you already have on your phone

In Budapest for the first time since attending a reception in this building 41 years ago. Fair bit of water under the Duna/Donau/Danube bridge since then.

Absolutely everywhere in Budapest: Big Dom, the Dimple that Launched a Thousand Crisps

Obviously, climate change is being driven by Big Linen.

I set Daily Telegraph back page cryptic. Hope you enjoy it !

Chuffed as eggs (©Twm) to return as Magus in the Indy … I’ll be behind the sofa if you need me. Hellraiser Magus’s back to bewilder in drôle No. 6 for Independent cryptic (6,4) #cryptic #crossword

Spent the last 2 days determined to make this work 😂. What about Connery’s 7 inch vinyl rocks (7)

This week's topical clue for the Puzzles Edit newsletter for @theobserveruk.bsky.social: Southampton: breaking rules ain't smart! (6). Subscribe here: newsroom.observer.co.uk/cr/AQjcjBUQm...

In fact, a Mandalorian is a fast-acting highly diuretic cocktail devised by George Osborne especially for a visiting friend who has a seat in The Lords

Afternoon.

I set today’s Daily Telegraph prize crossword www.telegraph.co.uk/puzzles/ Lie with nothing on for picture (4,5) Running wildly, no hero, cat character in film (3,8,4)

Colin Inman, the @financialtimes.com writing style guru, has sadly died. Here is our obituary (gift link, 300 clicks) - & a page from the introduction to the FT Style Guide which he wrote. (No this post has not been approved by the FT style council, errors mine). as.ft.com/r/a1b1b5ca-2...