John's Walks 2024 Published

I've added a new page to the site, which you can access via the menu bar at the top of the page or the  "John's Walks" section in the sidebar - John's Walks 2024 provides an index to all the walk blog posts so far this year. As usual, I'll update it periodically during the year - every couple of months on average.

Snape Walk

Today we did a varied circular walk from Snape Maltings through marsh, heathland and forest.

Weekend Quick Cryptic 97 - Solution

Although The Times has bowed to pressure and started providing a Saturday Quick Cryptic crossword, my fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Sunday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's my turn. 

You can find a link to this week's crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here. 

Weekend Quick Cryptic 97 - Down In The Woods Today

Click here to read about the origin of this series of crosswords.

A brief history of the origins of these crosswords for those who are new to them. As a blogger of the Times Quick Cryptic Crossword on Times for The Times every other Friday, I often had comments on the blog bemoaning that The Times only provides a Quick Cryptic on Mondays to Fridays. When I finally gave up work at the end of February 2020, I decided that I would try my hand at compiling crosswords. It was with some trepidation that I published, in May 2020, the first of these Weekend Quick Cryptics to fill the gap. Well it seemed to go down well so I did another. And then my fellow crossword solver and commenter on Times for the Times, Phil Jordan, volunteered to produce some too. And then, more recently, so did Sawbill. So now the three of us take turns, publishing each new crossword via my Friday Quick Crossword blog. The popularity of these has been such that The Times has bowed to pressure and started publishing a Saturday Quick Cryptic online. But there is still no Sunday Times Quick Cryptic so we will continue with these as long as there is sufficient interest.

This time it is my turn to provide the fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic crossword, Number 97 in the series, entitled "Down In The Woods Today". As usual, there is a bit of a hint in the title to some thematic answers. You may need to know the origin of this.... in a discussion on TimesforTheTimes about the vocabulary that appears in crosswords, I promised to include the OUP's Word of the Year for 2023 in my next crossword to show that setters can keep up with the times. In fact it is so new it's not yet in most of the standard dictionaries (although it is in Merriam Webster). My clue for that word gave me the idea for the theme... Enjoy!

You can try and solve the crossword interactively here on MyCrossword or here on crossword.info.  As usual you can download a PDF to print which you can find here. Alternatively you can copy and print the image below. Comments and queries are welcome with the solution post (which also gives tips on some of the clues).  I will react to any comments or queries there as soon as I can. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here. 

A Rainy Day In Cambridge

Today we had another day out with Kirsty and David, this time in Cambridge.

Saint Vigor's Fulbourn

After our visit to Anglesey Abbey yesterday, we went with Kirsty and David to have a look round Fulbourn and get a bite to eat.

Anglesey Abbey Walk

Today we met up with Kirsty and David and all joined Joyce's walks at Anglesey Abbey.

Tassel Gin #20

Time to make some more gin as, having given some away for Christmas presents we were running out and I still needed some for sisters Sue and Kirsty when we meet up with Kirsty next week.

Great Barton Snowdrop Walk

Today we had a local walk with Joyce's group... and an amazing turn out of 27 walkers!

The Stolen Lamb Chops

This was a bit of an unfortunate mix-up.

Return to The Inn at Whitewell

After Sarah's graduation in York on Thursday (see here), we came across country to Clitheroe yesterday to visit Dawn's sister Jilly and husband Ian.

Weekend Quick Cryptic 96 - Solution

Although The Times has bowed to pressure and started providing a Saturday Quick Cryptic crossword, my fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Sunday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's Sawbill's turn. 

You can find a link to this week's crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here. 

Weekend Quick Cryptic 96 - by Sawbill

Click here to read about the origin of this series of crosswords.

A brief history of the origins of these crosswords for those who are new to them. As a blogger of the Times Quick Cryptic Crossword on Times for The Times every other Friday, I often had comments on the blog bemoaning that The Times only provides a Quick Cryptic on Mondays to Fridays. When I finally gave up work at the end of February 2020, I decided that I would try my hand at compiling crosswords. It was with some trepidation that I published, in May 2020, the first of these Weekend Quick Cryptics to fill the gap. Well it seemed to go down well so I did another. And then my fellow crossword solver and commenter on Times for the Times, Phil Jordan, volunteered to produce some too. And then, more recently, so did Sawbill. So now the three of us take turns, publishing each new crossword via my Friday Quick Crossword blog. The popularity of these has been such that The Times has now bowed to pressure and started publishing a Saturday Quick Cryptic (albeit online only). But there is still no Sunday Times Quick Cryptic so we will continue with these as long as there is sufficient interest.

This time it is Sawbill's turn to provide the fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic crossword, Number 96 in the series. You can try and solve the crossword interactively here on MyCrossword or here on crossword.info.  As usual you can download a PDF to print which you can find here. Alternatively you can copy and print the image below. Comments and queries are welcome with the solution post (which also gives tips on some of the clues).  I will react to any comments or queries there as soon as I can. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here. 

Sarah Moody BSc

Today Sarah graduated as a BSc in Mathematics (with placement year) from the University of York.

Tattingstone Walk

Today I led a walk for Joyce's group from Tattingstone.

Colchester Winter Ale Festival

Dry January is finished so I thought I would have a day out at the Colchester Winter Beer Festival.

Felixstowe Sunrise Walk

We've tried this a couple of times before and found it too cloudy to see the sunrise. But not today.