About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.
Author Archives: David Stickley
AFR Cryptic (9/8/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CHAMBER Light colour painted at far end of church room (7) AMBER after CH 5 POTATO Vegetable matter kept in depot at orchard (6) dePOT AT Orchard 9 OWING Outstanding work done by crew … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 9/8/2025, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (2/8/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CASTRATE Company fee is cut (8) CAST + RATE 5 DOUBTS Questions driver originally reassigned to bus (6) (D)river + anagram of TO BUS 10 TWADDLE Pair nearly spoil uninteresting talk (7) (TW)o + … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 2/8/2025, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (26/7/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 GAPING Joke about pressure in Open (6) GAG outside (P + IN) 5 FORT Military outpost defended soundly (4) Sounds like FOUGHT 9 RONDO Musical composition is right before performing act (5) R + … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 26/7/2025, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (19/7/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HABIT High somewhat? That’s addiction (5) H + A BIT 4 ETRUSCANS Old Italians converted true digital images (9) Anagram of TRUE + SCANS 9 INSWING Movement of delivery from one state in Germany’s … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 19/7/2025, Clue Hints
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AFR Cryptic (12/7/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 STAMPS Collectables stay mostly with house-sitters? (6) (STA)y + MPS 4 MORASS Primitive growth found on banks of river and a bog (6) MOSS outside (R + A) 8 AWAIT Look for it east … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 12/7/2025, Clue Hints
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