Rachel Playforth
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archelina.bsky.social
Rachel Playforth
@archelina.bsky.social
970 followers 390 following 1.9K posts
NHS librarian in Sussex UK, also crossword compiler (Angel), poet, editor, toast in the machine. Weekly crossword streams on Twitch @ crypticsunday. I like crime fiction, telly and cold water. She/her.
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Reposted by Rachel Playforth
boatmancryptics.co.uk
The Seasonal Reposting Competition is coming! Return here on Friday for a chance to win a signed copy of one of my books ...

For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 @theguardian.com #puzzles and the stories behind them:
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (the Guardian's new crossword editor) 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" and Hugh Stephenson (his predecessor) says: "This is a unique book of crosswords". Boatman - the second 50 contains another 50 puzzles 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. 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 says: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Rachel Playforth
alyseliza.bsky.social
New blog post ✍️ 🧩 www.alyscummings.com/post/cryptic...
Cryptics: a new newsletter, a new magazine
Crosswords had a real boom in the Golden Age of mystery writing in the 1920s and 30s - and it feels as if mystery novels and crosswords are in a big period of growth again, 100 years on. I am very muc...
www.alyscummings.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
archelina.bsky.social
We're spoilt for choice on MyCrossword this week! Have picked two cryptics to stream from setters we haven't attempted in a while: Fez (as Blancheflower) @cranberryfez.bsky.social and Longyfan @longyfan.bsky.social. Join us at 12 noon GMT! #CrypticSunday
twitch.tv/crypticsunday
Twitch
Twitch is the world
twitch.tv
November 9, 2025 at 10:22 AM
archelina.bsky.social
Cursed tinsel gymnastics from Amber and Nikita, not keen #scd #strictly
November 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
archelina.bsky.social
I like George but if Tess says the words 'content creator' one more time I will simply shrivel up and die, so I'm sorry, he has to go #scd #strictly
November 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Love to see more of George's completely interchangeable friends 💤 #scd #strictly
November 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
archelina.bsky.social
I feel that Julian needs to match Balvinder's style and energy better, she's just a more subtle flavour than him #strictly #scd
November 8, 2025 at 7:15 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, which is somehow also 2001.
A photo of me standing facing away from the camera looking out to sea. Short hair, a blue-grey t shirt and a grey skirt.
November 8, 2025 at 9:52 AM
archelina.bsky.social
This conclusion is the best and only conclusion imo.
perfors.net Andrew Perfors @perfors.net · 4d
Getting nervous for the talk I'm about to give at a workshop about "using AI to drive impact" which features slides such as these.
Slide is titled: You don't need to use LLMs. Science is a process of collaborative meaning making, by which we try to understand the world Even if AI were perfect, we rely on it at our peril — it is not science if we (i.e., humanity as a whole) do not understand and cannot recapitulate all parts of it I very, very rarely use LLMs myself. You can give yourself permission not to. Don’t FOMO yourself into it Conclusion: Don't rely on something you don't understand and can't control If you must use LLMS: 1. Treat them like you would an intern: only use them for things you can easily and thoroughly check 2. Make your process as robust as possible 3. Be aware of your own (human) cognitive biases
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
archelina.bsky.social
Honestly you can skip the missions and just cut straight to Nick eating mashed potatoes followed by absolute psychological warfare please #CelebrityTraitors
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Rachel Playforth
boatmancryptics.co.uk
Why are @brianbilston.bsky.social's cats so engrossed? To find out, buy my books for the #crossword addict in your life: 50 @guardian #puzzles with the stories & ideas behind them, plus extra #clues & explanations of #wordplay - all booksellers or signed copies: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
Brian Bilston's old cat with a copy of Boatman - The First 50 Brian Bilston's new cat with a copy of Boatman - The Second 50
November 6, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Rachel Playforth
unchcrosswords.com
Puzzle editing is all done for Issue 2. Thanks @archelina.bsky.social, @amoebacrosswords.bsky.social, @liari.bsky.social & @henriwords.com, & all the setters!

Now onto the design phase...

Sign up for the mailing list over at unchcrosswords.com so you'll be the first to know when we open pre-sales!
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Current streak is now 100 days, but will I ever beat my 250-day record? What a time to be alive.

Wordle 1,600 2/6

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November 5, 2025 at 6:45 AM
archelina.bsky.social
"There's a depression". Cheer up Prue, it'll soon be over. #gbbo
November 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Writing comp on the theme of bookshops 📚 www.kemptownbookshop.co.uk/writing-comp...
Writing Competition — Kemptown Bookshop
www.kemptownbookshop.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
archelina.bsky.social
It took me 38 seconds to solve the Telegraph Mini this morning which is about my average, but not great considering I *wrote* today's clues...
November 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Sharing a thing you love with lovely people who give you wine - what could be better? 😊👑🍷
emmachaplin.bsky.social Emma Chaplin🏳️‍⚧️Lewes Nibbler @emmachaplin.bsky.social · 8d
I'm part of a small, but perfectly formed, wine & cryptic crossword group for absolute beginners, led by a crossword queen. It's excellent
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Rachel Playforth
unchcrosswords.com
Coming soon
Issue 2 - UNCH (in the style of the Stranger Things logo)
November 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Rachel Playforth
whalepetunias.bsky.social
"Why," he said, "is there a sofa in that field?" "I told you!" shouted Ford, leaping to his feet. "Eddies in the space-time continuum!" "And this is his sofa, is it?" asked Arthur, struggling to his feet and, he hoped, though not very optimistically, to his senses.
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
archelina.bsky.social
Streaming crosswords in a couple of hours, join us at 12 noon GMT to help solve new cryptics by Skirwingle @skirwingle.bsky.social and LeoNessie @joeleisen.bsky.social!
#CrypticSunday
twitch.tv/crypticsunday
Twitch
Twitch is the world
twitch.tv
November 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
archelina.bsky.social
Seems like a good day not to move from the bed. I need to do some editing work, but this is exactly what laptops and big pillows are for, no? #bediting
November 2, 2025 at 7:51 AM
archelina.bsky.social
So does Alex's training room t-shirt suggest she's a crossword fan? 🧐 #scd #strictly
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
archelina.bsky.social
A rare misstep from Karen, concept wise #scd #strictly
November 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
archelina.bsky.social
Banger. But a missed opportunity to elevate that rumba beyond the mid table of doom by going full Siobhan Fahey #scd #strictly
Siobhan Fahey in the video for Stay looking deranged and gothic
November 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
archelina.bsky.social
I haven't been a fan of Lewis and Katya up to now but that was AMAZING #scd #strictly
November 1, 2025 at 7:27 PM