Mr Dean Mayer

[kalahari]

It seems like Mr Mayer has decided we may wish to get to Hogmanay and other such celebrations today as it is the first time I have concluded one of his puzzles without help or reference.....and within 45 minutes!!! Have a Happy New Year and all the best for 2018 to all of you. Kalahari.

[Togo]

Haha Kalahari. Same here almost. Did mine and submitted online in an hour .......whilst prepping lunch. Either he is going "soft" or I am getting "smart", which I very much doubt. :))

[anaxcrosswords]

You're definitely getting smarter. I haven't changed anything about how I write clues.

Happy New Year to you!

[Mamyalynne]

Makes a change you getting good press Anax.

Happy New Year and puzzling all.xxx

[Togo]

Wow Anax. Happy New Year to You, and Thank You for the headaches.

[anaxcrosswords]

Bad press on here, good (well, mostly) press on the T4TT blogs. Goes with the territory XXXX.

[dannyk13]

Have you retired Elkamere??

[anaxcrosswords]

Retired Elkamere? Not at all, Danny. In fact my 'four neices' alias was in the Toughie slot last Wednesday and there are 3 (possibly 4) in the system for editing.

[olichant]

I hadn't realised Anax was on here! Can I just emerge from the Listener thread where I normally lurk and thank you for some really superb puzzles this year? I always enjoy your clueing - invariably fair and fun. Can't ask for more than that!

[dannyk13]

Look forward to solving them (or not) :-)

[anaxcrosswords]

Aw, thanks!
Anax has been a bit quiet this year but I'm about to start a new batch. Loroso (FT) had only a small run, too, but there are 4 new ones in the system. The Sunday Times GK Jumbo was a new project for 2017 which messed around with the work schedule a bit, but it has at least forced me to work out a better timetable for setting, so there should be more regular puzzles all round.

[goodgoalie]

I agree that DM has given us some great puzzles this year, and I always enjoy a joust with him - has improved my lateral thinking no end! One of my favourites (from memory) is:
One complaint after the other (7, 8)

[Lie-in King]

Happy New Year to you & yours Anax & thank you for your work.

[Mamyalynne]

Brings back memories that one GG :-)

[peteby]

Another paean of praise for Mr Meyer.
I believe that crossword solving is one of the few activities that we senior citizens can improve on with age. Certainly I am far better now for having wrestled with DM's creations every third Sunday for the last decade. The satisfaction gained from completion without reference to this site or onelook is immense.
Out of interest, sir, if you are still reading these comments, did you set any of the puzzles used by the Times in the final of their competition? These have been appearing on Wednesdays and I thought i recognised some of your machinations.

[anaxcrosswords]

Hi there Pete.
Very kind words - thank you! As for The Times, no, not recently. Last time one got used was about 5 years ago - it was the final puzzle of the Grand Final. The way it works (or used to, anyway) is the puzzle would be sent in just as a normal one for weekday or Saturday publication. The editor would then decide if he wanted it to be used for the Champs, ie puzzles aren't/weren't set specifically for that purpose.
Anyway, I'm delighted to know you are enjoying what we do. A very Happy New Year to you.

[Jackdaw33]

One complaint after the other (7, 8)

I am intrigued by this. Without any letters I cannot solve it. I was thinking that 'the other' might be a sexual reference. Am I on the right lines?

[Captain2]

Nothing rude Jack.

Think Mums-to-be

[anaxcrosswords]

You are indeed, Jackdaw. I won't give it away just yet though ;)
In any case, I must away. Daughter is partying elsewhere with friends and the rest of my family is scattered across the globe, so I'm bringing in the New Year with a live stream of The Last Of Us.
Sad but true. Lucky I love the game so much.

[Captain2]

Oh, having said that there could be implications. ;)

[Togo]

Venereal Disease would be 8. 7. Jackdaw. :))