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Coot

@coot

Cryptic crossword setter in the Independent, the Times, the Times Quick Cryptic (as Loon), Unch magazine and on MyCrossword

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05.11.2023
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Latest posts by Coot @coot

Thanks - nb it was Tuesday’s

12.03.2026 07:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks!

12.03.2026 07:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Weatherman is back in the Toughie today - sample clue:

Song by The Kinks that's funny and adult (4)

Solve online, on the app, or in the paper!

11.03.2026 05:41 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Aw, thanks Will!

10.03.2026 09:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

Delighted to be back in the Independent today, with a puzzle featuring:

Professional work at the end of term (9)

Mechanical process available to repair recalled clutches (4)

#cryptic #crossword

puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

10.03.2026 07:31 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

Amoeba is back in the Independent today, with clues including:

Washington police finally arresting target involved in scandal (9)

Solve for free here: puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

I hope you enjoy it!

05.03.2026 08:11 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Congratulations!

02.03.2026 08:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

It took me a while to solve the one I wrote!

26.02.2026 08:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Many thanks to Anthony for all of the effort that he’s put into this video. Do give his puzzle a go if you haven’t already

www.mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3156

#cryptic #crossword

25.02.2026 18:43 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I like punny def. Whimsical multiple defs would work too

25.02.2026 16:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

That isn’t something I’ve ever wished existed. The tag I sometimes miss is what I’d call β€œliteral interpretation”, as in β€œBear to remove offal? (7)” for DELIVER. I tend to tag these as multiple defs but they aren’t really.

25.02.2026 15:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I saw your cri de coeur and gave it a go. Good stuff - very solid. I’ll leave a longer comment on MyC …

24.02.2026 19:27 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’d love to test solve it but unfortunately I think I will be very busy just at the point when you need it doing #shame

24.02.2026 17:02 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Congratulations! πŸ₯³

24.02.2026 08:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I hope this isn’t a subtle way of telling us that you only have 26 other problems …

24.02.2026 01:45 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Haha - no-one more surprised than me, PM!

23.02.2026 15:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Aw, stop it!

23.02.2026 14:07 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It was an absolute pleasure to do this. And I can also confirm that Anthony is a lovely guy! I’m looking forward to seeing how the puzzle turned out. #mutualadmirationsociety #getaroom

23.02.2026 14:06 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Loved it there. Enjoy the pintxos!

23.02.2026 11:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Lovely stuff! 19d my COTD

23.02.2026 10:29 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It was a lot of fun chatting with Anthony the other day …

21.02.2026 23:06 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

We have this chippy quite close by

21.02.2026 18:40 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Very kind - thanks Josh!

20.02.2026 15:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks!

20.02.2026 12:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks PM

20.02.2026 11:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t get a sense of reversal in β€œcovered again” - sorry!

20.02.2026 07:37 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I’m pleased to report that Loon, my friendly, feathered alter ego, makes another appearance in the Times Quick Cryptic slot today #cryptic #crossword

20.02.2026 07:20 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1

I’m sure we’ve all been there tpg

11.02.2026 21:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

03.02.2026 19:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Sports clichΓ© equivalent: β€œyou can only control the controllables”

03.02.2026 10:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0