Matt
@wyrd.systems
📖 Publishing Unch, a cryptic crossword magazine: unchcrosswords.com
📺 Streaming on Sundays: https://twitch.tv/CrypticSunday
🪑 Sitting on benches
☕️ Drinking coffee
📺 Streaming on Sundays: https://twitch.tv/CrypticSunday
🪑 Sitting on benches
☕️ Drinking coffee
Listener defeated by 4pm 💪
January 11, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Listener defeated by 4pm 💪
Reposted by Matt
Interested in setting cryptic crosswords, or improving ... or just finding out more? Following on from Raider's excellent advice at @mycrossword.co.uk, I've started a new blog series looking at how and why cryptics work:
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/setting...
Hope it's useful / interesting!
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/setting...
Hope it's useful / interesting!
Setting Things Right: The Manifezto Pt.1 · MyCrossword
Hi all, welcome to **Setting Things Right** – aka *The Manifezto* (thanks Henri!) – a blog looking at not just *how* cryptic clues and puzzles work, but *why...
www.mycrossword.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Interested in setting cryptic crosswords, or improving ... or just finding out more? Following on from Raider's excellent advice at @mycrossword.co.uk, I've started a new blog series looking at how and why cryptics work:
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/setting...
Hope it's useful / interesting!
www.mycrossword.co.uk/blog/setting...
Hope it's useful / interesting!
www.etsy.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Halfway through the Genius and I’ve got that annoying thing that I’ve convinced myself what the theme is but the ’nine words’ it’s asking for are ten words in my head and I can’t stop thinking it’s that.
January 5, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Halfway through the Genius and I’ve got that annoying thing that I’ve convinced myself what the theme is but the ’nine words’ it’s asking for are ten words in my head and I can’t stop thinking it’s that.
Done it ✅
Honestly thought I might not be able to do any more Listener-style puzzles again, but it turns out it was just the stress and anxiety.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Done it ✅
Honestly thought I might not be able to do any more Listener-style puzzles again, but it turns out it was just the stress and anxiety.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
January 3, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Honestly thought I might not be able to do any more Listener-style puzzles again, but it turns out it was just the stress and anxiety.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
Got halfway through this week‘s in one sitting this afternoon, high hopes I can finish it off tomorrow. Or most of it anyway.
"Happy people, the kind who eat sandwiches together, are boring. They don’t buy much. Their smartphones are six versions behind and have badly cracked screens. They fix bicycles, then they talk about fixing bicycles...
January 3, 2026 at 7:30 AM
"Happy people, the kind who eat sandwiches together, are boring. They don’t buy much. Their smartphones are six versions behind and have badly cracked screens. They fix bicycles, then they talk about fixing bicycles...
"This unique ceramic dish shows a human head composed of penises... The inscription written in Italian on the scroll should be read right to left, like Hebrew; it translates as: 'Every man looks at me as if I were a head of dicks'"
December 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"This unique ceramic dish shows a human head composed of penises... The inscription written in Italian on the scroll should be read right to left, like Hebrew; it translates as: 'Every man looks at me as if I were a head of dicks'"
Despite a *terrible* finish on a personal level, I'm very grateful for all the good crossword stuff that happened for me in 2025.
Met loads of people IRL I'd not met before (at the Oxford conference and at S&B), launched @unchcrosswords.com, and started regularly solving the IQ/Listener.
Met loads of people IRL I'd not met before (at the Oxford conference and at S&B), launched @unchcrosswords.com, and started regularly solving the IQ/Listener.
December 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Despite a *terrible* finish on a personal level, I'm very grateful for all the good crossword stuff that happened for me in 2025.
Met loads of people IRL I'd not met before (at the Oxford conference and at S&B), launched @unchcrosswords.com, and started regularly solving the IQ/Listener.
Met loads of people IRL I'd not met before (at the Oxford conference and at S&B), launched @unchcrosswords.com, and started regularly solving the IQ/Listener.
I’ve not really felt like doing crosswords the last few days, but I’m sat in a coffee shop now doing one.
This made me smile >>
“Slippery creeper in German city colder after opening shed (7)”
[Kite, Guardian 29,834]
This made me smile >>
“Slippery creeper in German city colder after opening shed (7)”
[Kite, Guardian 29,834]
December 30, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I’ve not really felt like doing crosswords the last few days, but I’m sat in a coffee shop now doing one.
This made me smile >>
“Slippery creeper in German city colder after opening shed (7)”
[Kite, Guardian 29,834]
This made me smile >>
“Slippery creeper in German city colder after opening shed (7)”
[Kite, Guardian 29,834]
Visiting family again.
They're doing their best to make it festive on the ward.
They're doing their best to make it festive on the ward.
December 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Visiting family again.
They're doing their best to make it festive on the ward.
They're doing their best to make it festive on the ward.
Reposted by Matt
There will be a #CrypticSunday Replacement Stream Service, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with myself come noon, but I am nowhere near organised enough to tell you what I'll be tackling then. Anything from the past week of MyCrossword puzzles is fair game!
twitch.tv/pantherapuzzles
twitch.tv/pantherapuzzles
December 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
There will be a #CrypticSunday Replacement Stream Service, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do with myself come noon, but I am nowhere near organised enough to tell you what I'll be tackling then. Anything from the past week of MyCrossword puzzles is fair game!
twitch.tv/pantherapuzzles
twitch.tv/pantherapuzzles
From 'Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns':
"waefu'-woodie" means "hangman's rope"
www.litscape.com/author/Rober...
"waefu'-woodie" means "hangman's rope"
www.litscape.com/author/Rober...
Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns: W-Words, W-Words, Robert Burns
Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns, W Words
www.litscape.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
From 'Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns':
"waefu'-woodie" means "hangman's rope"
www.litscape.com/author/Rober...
"waefu'-woodie" means "hangman's rope"
www.litscape.com/author/Rober...
Hopefully we’ll be back on track next week. ❤️
No #CrypticSunday stream tomorrow as we're still a bit all over the place. Back in 2026, sending love to all our cryptic friends and a big good riddance to 2025!
December 27, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Hopefully we’ll be back on track next week. ❤️
Reposted by Matt
Puzzlers! Solve a present problem and do your bit for BBC Children in Need Day: www.fifteensquared.net/2025/11/14/3... #BBCChildrenInNeed @rnib.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Puzzlers! Solve a present problem and do your bit for BBC Children in Need Day: www.fifteensquared.net/2025/11/14/3... #BBCChildrenInNeed @rnib.bsky.social
Attempting an even more relaxing Christmas by tackling this year's Apex puzzle. Nice easy day.
December 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Attempting an even more relaxing Christmas by tackling this year's Apex puzzle. Nice easy day.
I’ve spent more hours than I’d like in hospitals this week, & more to come, sadly. Not an ideal Xmas, but an honour to witness the amazing spirit and hard work of all the wonderful #NHS staff. Caring for others‘ loved ones when they could be home with their own. Words can’t express my gratitude ❤️🎄❤️
December 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I’ve spent more hours than I’d like in hospitals this week, & more to come, sadly. Not an ideal Xmas, but an honour to witness the amazing spirit and hard work of all the wonderful #NHS staff. Caring for others‘ loved ones when they could be home with their own. Words can’t express my gratitude ❤️🎄❤️
Does anyone have a timetable for when all the special bonus/big cryptic crosswords etc come out in the papers over Xmas?
December 23, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Does anyone have a timetable for when all the special bonus/big cryptic crosswords etc come out in the papers over Xmas?
Some other fun words I came across this weekend:
• coup de poing: (noun) A blow or punch with the fist
• gytrash: (noun) A ghost or apparition
• subitise: (verb) To perceive or be capable of perceiving (the number of items in a group) at a glance without actually counting
• coup de poing: (noun) A blow or punch with the fist
• gytrash: (noun) A ghost or apparition
• subitise: (verb) To perceive or be capable of perceiving (the number of items in a group) at a glance without actually counting
Usual Sunday morning of digging through Chambers to try and knock the Listener on the head, and found out that apparently "Steven" is defined as "An outcry (Spenser)".
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
Adam & Joe Animated: STEPHEN!
YouTube video by Anim Mate
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Some other fun words I came across this weekend:
• coup de poing: (noun) A blow or punch with the fist
• gytrash: (noun) A ghost or apparition
• subitise: (verb) To perceive or be capable of perceiving (the number of items in a group) at a glance without actually counting
• coup de poing: (noun) A blow or punch with the fist
• gytrash: (noun) A ghost or apparition
• subitise: (verb) To perceive or be capable of perceiving (the number of items in a group) at a glance without actually counting
Current #CrypticSunday plan is:
- Stream a puzzle as normal at noon (UK)
- Once we're done with that, jump onto our traditional festive/chaotic Zoom call to swap seasons greetings and maybe do another one together.
Zoom link will be shared on the stream.
- Stream a puzzle as normal at noon (UK)
- Once we're done with that, jump onto our traditional festive/chaotic Zoom call to swap seasons greetings and maybe do another one together.
Zoom link will be shared on the stream.
December 21, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Current #CrypticSunday plan is:
- Stream a puzzle as normal at noon (UK)
- Once we're done with that, jump onto our traditional festive/chaotic Zoom call to swap seasons greetings and maybe do another one together.
Zoom link will be shared on the stream.
- Stream a puzzle as normal at noon (UK)
- Once we're done with that, jump onto our traditional festive/chaotic Zoom call to swap seasons greetings and maybe do another one together.
Zoom link will be shared on the stream.
Second half was hard going *but* I got there and thankfully the endgame was gentle (if I got it right, that is... I think I did!).
All very clever as ever, many thanks and Xmas greetings to Lionheart.
Looking forward to your video, @michpunk.bsky.social.
All very clever as ever, many thanks and Xmas greetings to Lionheart.
Looking forward to your video, @michpunk.bsky.social.
Listener going quite well so far… over halfway filled on the grid.
December 21, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Second half was hard going *but* I got there and thankfully the endgame was gentle (if I got it right, that is... I think I did!).
All very clever as ever, many thanks and Xmas greetings to Lionheart.
Looking forward to your video, @michpunk.bsky.social.
All very clever as ever, many thanks and Xmas greetings to Lionheart.
Looking forward to your video, @michpunk.bsky.social.
Reposted by Matt
If you like cryptic crosswords repost this
December 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
If you like cryptic crosswords repost this
Usual Sunday morning of digging through Chambers to try and knock the Listener on the head, and found out that apparently "Steven" is defined as "An outcry (Spenser)".
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
Adam & Joe Animated: STEPHEN!
YouTube video by Anim Mate
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Usual Sunday morning of digging through Chambers to try and knock the Listener on the head, and found out that apparently "Steven" is defined as "An outcry (Spenser)".
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
One for the Adam & Joe fans.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISZB...
I would like Karen to win.
December 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I would like Karen to win.
Reposted by Matt
My 14-yo-son has recreated the climax of Back to the Future in gingerbread and I thought you should know.
December 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
My 14-yo-son has recreated the climax of Back to the Future in gingerbread and I thought you should know.