We're only going as far as the semi-final on the Alderman Whatshisname playing fields tonight.

"Look not upon the blonds when they are platinum."

Enter

A platinum blond...

Bix plays the background

Currently...

"What I don't understand is this..."

Shoemakers, Trawsfynydd, north-west Wales, 1885, photo by John Thomas (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/National Library of Wales).

Waterloo Station top left.

I'm guessing upstairs on a old Routemaster bus, probably at the London Transport Museum (I really should know from the moquette...).

Enjoy!

A poster with a colorful stack of books on the left and this text on the right: “Hey, Teenagers: Pay close attention to the books people try to ban. Then, make a beeline to read those books, if you can. Find out for yourself why those people want that book banned. Find out for yourself if they can be trusted to know what’s best for you.” ~ Jeff Zentner

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

"Hey, Teenagers: Pay close attention to the books people try to ban. Then, make a beeline to read those books, if you can. Find out for yourself why those people want that book banned. Find out for yourself if they can be trusted to know what’s best for you.”
~ Jeff Zentner

LOI was the second part of 14a.

2d needed me to ask for help from my trusty (analogue) OED.

The biggest compliment I can pay the setter is that all the parsing is spot on.

There isn't a single clue which doesn't make sense ex-post.

And some lovely 'penny drops' moments

Chapeau, Amoeba!

The front cover of Unch magazine

Proud to say I have just finished the @amoebacrosswords.bsky.social cryptic crossword grid in the latest issue of @unchcrosswords.com.

That was *tough*, but tells me that my 'envelope' has got bigger.

Superb clues. 1a took me far too long to get, but unlocked the NW quadrant.

Look forward to the video, which are invariably excellent

Connections
Puzzle #1045
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟪🟦
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟪🟦🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪

Wordle 1 767 3/6

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨🟨⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Just twigged 9a, after my homework was checked and found to have one letter wrong.

Very, very good

Blocked. Ta

And the Minute Cryptic book is really good

Minute Cryptic: Tiernan, Angas, Runnalls, Liam: 9781250421517: Amazon.com: Books share.google/UiCCzD1NF17f...

I'm - err - working on 9a. I reckon I have the first part of the answer. And can see why it would bring such amusement. I just need to get a - err - handle on the second part.

5d clicked. And just got 11a

I'm concentrating on the Amoeba one first now. Just had my wife 'check my work' so far. About half done, and all good. Not done 9a so far, have the crosser from 3d.

I've already done more of this one than I managed with the previous Amoeba in @unchcrosswords.com !

I'm determined to finish it!

If you like cryptics old-school style, and like a challenge, try @unchcrosswords.com. Complements jazz well....

Inspired by @elgringofeo.bsky.social, we've just put this on (with a sneaky bit of the latest @unchcrosswords.com magazine behind!)

St Fagans does a fantastic job, and absolutely doesn't need 'telling' anything.

A picture of a rather dilapidated copy of "The picture of Dorian Gray" There is visible water damage to the cover and the plastic cover is yellowing. Obviously, not evident from the picture but there is a truly foul musty smell emanating from it!

Last week, a gentleman returned this rather dilapidated copy of this famous book to us after 50 years. He had found it in his attic!
Presumably this means there is a pristine copy somewhere in our libraries....

And that lesson should have been learnt

@amoebacrosswords.bsky.social I have an incredibly rude (but perfectly feasible) solution for 14d... I'm pretty sure it's not right...

The oldest known image of Keith Richards, published around 1140 AD ...

a cartoon of a chef with a needle in his mouth is playing at 4:32 Alt: a cartoon of a chef

@amoebacrosswords.bsky.social 3d is. Just twigged

Hello cryptic crossword fans and Unch solvers.

A favour please: if you are in touch with other solvers and cryptic people outside of Bluesky please consider spreading the word.

Thank you x