iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 27/09/2026

Last call! I can take one more person on my autumn online masterclass for aspiring setters and advanced solvers if you reply in the next few days ... Release your inner fiendishness over two afternoons on Saturday 7 and 14 November: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-ma...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 23/09/2026

Very disappointing move by The Independent. Loss of its cryptic crossword will be felt both by readers and by the very many new setters (I’ve taught 33 of them!) for whom it’s been an essential route into professional puzzle setting. @the-independent.com please listen to your readers and reconsider!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 21/09/2026

In @theguardian.com crossword tomorrow: oarsmen going to pieces? They’re prone to complain (7)

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 03/09/2026

Behold today’s passion fruit harvest and wonder …

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Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

We can afford nationalisation if only politicians understood it youtu.be/iyz-qzmNkCE?... Our politicians claim we cannot afford nationalisation. They ignore two things. We only pay with bonds, not cash, and the interest would pay the interest cost if they go at the right price.

youtu.be

We can afford nationalisation if only politicians understood it

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 26/08/2026

… and if you want to know what that betokens, you’ll have to buy the book!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 25/08/2026

Brava to masterclass graduate @heroncrosswords.bsky.social, who takes a well-earned place in @theguardian.com daily puzzle today!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 20/08/2026

Advance warning: in @theguardian.com #crossword on Tuesday 22 September. Let's play!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 05/08/2026

This is probably the most Irish* thing that you will see this month. Unless you live in Ireland, of course, in which case this is the most Irish thing that you will see for the next 30 minutes. * As a person married to a person who is herself Irish, this is entirely a compliment

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 28/07/2026

We visited #ArundelCastle today (highly recommended and run by a trust, which may matter to you if you're concerned about giving money to the aristocracy) and Mrs B decided to play Sharon from Bootle all day. Much fun was had when one of the castle guides turned out to be from Liverpool herself.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 24/07/2026

I can't tell you how excited I am to be setting up an old laptop with a copy of Office 2021 so that I can continue to access 10 years of work and hundreds of files when @microsoft.com decides to kill MSPublisher for Office 365 users later this year!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 20/07/2026

Places on my autumn online masterclass for aspiring setters and advanced solvers are starting to fill up, so this is a good time to make sure of your place ... Release your inner fiendishness over two afternoons on Saturday 7 and 14 November: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-ma...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 15/07/2026

What Radio 4 flippancy are we indulging in tonight?

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 05/07/2026

Getting ready for our set at the Love Supreme Festival …

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I'm so proud of Yassin. He made Bristol and Britain his home. He has contributed so much as a Green Party Cllr to his city and to the community in Lawrence Hill. Solidarity in the face of this Reform fuelled racist hate. Hope always wins!

Matt Goodwin complaining about Yassun Mohamad - the law mayor of Bristol. Saying that we shouldn't have former refugees running our cities.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 01/07/2026

Don't forget your holiday reading! Two books of 50 crosswords from @theguardian.com - solve the puzzles, read the stories behind them, discover how they were created and enjoy bonus extras. From wherever you buy good books, or signed copies from boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...

Take Boatman - The First 50 to the beach: solve the puzzles and then read the stories behind them!

Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

Boatman - The Second 50 contains another 50 crosswords from The Guardian, with five bonus puzzles previously only available online and including puzzles, solutions and the ideas and stories behind them, exemplified by this image of the book opened to show one of the stories, which is accompanied by a picture of a large cow.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 13/06/2026

The last crossword championship organised by Extra-C in London was excellent and succeeded in making a spectator sport out of crossword solving! Now in a North American version and highly recommended, even if you have no realistic hope of winning the decent cash prizes on offer …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 21/05/2026

Karol’s clue deserves wider appreciation …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 13/05/2026

Starmer’s ratings are heading south …

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Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Here’s a poem called ‘Life of a Naturalist’.

Life of a Naturalist

it’s his birthday
and the sloths are up early for once
the flamingos line up in pink, long-legged salute
the birds of paradise parade in their finest
the elephants blow their trumpets
the blue whales gush with joy
the gorillas act out stories of his visits
the lions lay off the wildebeest for one day
and stand together on the Serengeti plain
the lyre birds sing his voice in tribute
the seals cannot stop clapping
and the ostriches urge us
to listen to him
and not bury our heads in the sand

Brian Bilston

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 07/05/2026

The PNG Courier on bungs, banquets and bunglers …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 02/05/2026

Worth it for the exquisite redshirt reference alone …

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Henry Morris @mrhenrymorris.substack.com · 20/04/2026

"We accidentally made an animated graphic for Reform and then did a party political broadcast for them by mistake."

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 20/04/2026

Looking forward to seeing the #isihac gang at the Brighton Dome tonight ...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 13/04/2026

Bravo to former masterclass student @catnipxword.bsky.social, who makes a well-deserved debut in @the-independent.com today ...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 08/04/2026

It’s been a good year so far for Scrabble GO …

An average word score of 34.1 in January is as much a surprise to me as it is to anyone else.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 03/04/2026

In @theguardian.com #crossword tomorrow, as false flag erupts in losing Middle Eastern shipping zone (7,4)

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 03/04/2026

On particularly good form this week, @mrhenrymorris.substack.com applies his machete of metaphor to the monster of machination ...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 31/03/2026

… and in further news of masterclass alumnae …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 31/03/2026

Brava Alys, one of last year's masterclass students, who makes a well-earned debut in @the-independent.com today ...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 28/03/2026

Advance warning ... In @theguardian.com #crossword next Saturday, 4 April - some things just have to be said.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 27/03/2026

In these awful and magnificent times, it feels wrong that I should be pondering: how did a mouse get into the bowl of our toilet?

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 23/03/2026

Thanks are due to @brianbilston.bsky.social for reminding me that today is World Meteorological Day - enjoy this from @theguardian.com's archive ... www.theguardian.com/crosswords/l...

theguardian.com

Cryptic crossword No 25,555

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Richard Murphy @richardjmurphy.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Why are UK electricity prices so high? youtu.be/F_lu4-Vdrds?...

youtu.be

Why are UK electricity prices so high?

YouTube video by Richard J Murphy

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 06/03/2026

In @theguardian.com crossword tomorrow - no hints, as prizes are at stake - enjoy!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 05/03/2026

It appears to be World Book Day, so here are two books to celebrate. Crosswords! And the stories behind them! Both available from all booksellers, or signed copies online from boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...

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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

"would otherwise receive immediate access to welfare and social housing" is BS. Correct: "after 5 years working in a care home, would be eligible to apply for welfare and social housing on the same basis as the rest of us." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... Deliberately misleading/disingenous.

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 24/02/2026

Brava to Liari, who makes a well-earned debut in @theguardian.com today in her other feathered incarnation as Pavo ...

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 23/02/2026

In or around Sussex on Friday 17 April? Come and see the mighty One World Jazz Orchestra in Ditchling! Bigger than ever, experience the power of a 16-piece big band playing jazz and funk by Mingus, Kenny Wheeler, Steely Dan, Jobim, Radiohead and many more Tickets £20, selling now from jazzetc.co.uk

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 08/02/2026

As is appropriate for Mandelson, the medium is the massage …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 02/02/2026

Excellent! @postmarkcryptic.bsky.social doubles the representation of masterclass alumni in the @economist.com crossword!

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 31/01/2026

Advance warning ... In @theguardian.com #crossword on Saturday 7 March - no hints though, as prizes are at stake

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 31/01/2026

The PNG Courier is not for wobbling …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 22/01/2026

Yes! Masterclass alumna Liari aka Apus makes a well-deserved debut in the Thunderer …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 17/01/2026

The PNG Courier’s correspondent knows something about pots and kettles when dissent and destruction are involved …

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Boatman Cryptics @boatmancryptics.co.uk · 16/01/2026

Vicky Walsh talks about the power of puzzles and the experience of learning to set cryptic crosswords in one of my masterclasses (still one place available in my March class!) here: www.pressreader.com/article/2822...

pressreader.com

PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

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