Coot
@coot.bsky.social
Cryptic crossword setter in the Independent, the Times, the Times Quick Cryptic (as Loon), Unch magazine and on MyCrossword
Very sorry to hear that Jennie. She sounds like an amazing woman.
January 21, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Very sorry to hear that Jennie. She sounds like an amazing woman.
I’d always take a hyphenated word to be one word, so first is fine second isn’t (despite my natural inclination to like the second one)
January 21, 2026 at 1:33 PM
I’d always take a hyphenated word to be one word, so first is fine second isn’t (despite my natural inclination to like the second one)
There’s nothing like incisive analysis …
January 20, 2026 at 10:17 AM
There’s nothing like incisive analysis …
13 year old Coot, during incredibly tedious dictation in a geography lesson, kept writing alfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfa until I reached the end of the line in my book.
January 17, 2026 at 6:36 PM
13 year old Coot, during incredibly tedious dictation in a geography lesson, kept writing alfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfalfa until I reached the end of the line in my book.
Enjoyed watching that back just now - thanks!
January 16, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Enjoyed watching that back just now - thanks!
Another good thing to do is to watch the Cracking the Cryptic masterclass on YouTube. They solve Friday’s Times puzzle every week and explain it as they go. The puzzles on a Friday can be brutal but they explain it carefully and it’s a great watch.
January 14, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Another good thing to do is to watch the Cracking the Cryptic masterclass on YouTube. They solve Friday’s Times puzzle every week and explain it as they go. The puzzles on a Friday can be brutal but they explain it carefully and it’s a great watch.
Fed isn’t easy at all. You are doing well if you can solve that. I certainly wouldn’t say it was a step up from Fed to Unch.
January 14, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Fed isn’t easy at all. You are doing well if you can solve that. I certainly wouldn’t say it was a step up from Fed to Unch.
Or subscribe! Times puzzle subscription is £5/month. A number of us appear there occasionally, under different pseudonyms! A subscription obviously gives access to their main cryptic and various other puzzles.
January 14, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Or subscribe! Times puzzle subscription is £5/month. A number of us appear there occasionally, under different pseudonyms! A subscription obviously gives access to their main cryptic and various other puzzles.
That sort of thing! But in that case I didn’t get as far as floating the idea with the editor, or the whole thing could have panned out completely differently!
January 13, 2026 at 2:16 PM
That sort of thing! But in that case I didn’t get as far as floating the idea with the editor, or the whole thing could have panned out completely differently!
That’s fair, but if you are aiming at a forthcoming anniversary, you might not be the only one who’s spotted it …
January 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
That’s fair, but if you are aiming at a forthcoming anniversary, you might not be the only one who’s spotted it …
True. I was making a potentially false assumption about the editor in question!
January 13, 2026 at 1:25 PM
True. I was making a potentially false assumption about the editor in question!
Brutal. I had something similar once, although the puzzle gestation was a lot shorter. Now I check out thematic ideas with the editor before getting too far into the setting process.
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Brutal. I had something similar once, although the puzzle gestation was a lot shorter. Now I check out thematic ideas with the editor before getting too far into the setting process.
Have you met her? She was at York!
January 13, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Have you met her? She was at York!
a) maybe you need help; b) yes, I do see; c) maybe I also need help
January 11, 2026 at 4:05 PM
a) maybe you need help; b) yes, I do see; c) maybe I also need help
Oh not good - hope they get her sorted quickly
January 10, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Oh not good - hope they get her sorted quickly
I’d recommend @catnipxword.bsky.social‘s
January 9, 2026 at 8:05 AM
I’d recommend @catnipxword.bsky.social‘s
The definition is just one word
January 7, 2026 at 5:21 PM
The definition is just one word
Probably this one:
Intermittently acquires birds and lets one fly for Spooner (2,4,3,6)
Intermittently acquires birds and lets one fly for Spooner (2,4,3,6)
January 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Probably this one:
Intermittently acquires birds and lets one fly for Spooner (2,4,3,6)
Intermittently acquires birds and lets one fly for Spooner (2,4,3,6)