Your Fired

Out of ~850 puzzles completed this was my first Friday solve. Read into that what you will but I'll take it thank you very much.

"Fifteen minutes of fun packed into thirty-one minutes!"

A nice Monday meander. Incidentally, my wife and I often call ourselves Meanderthals cause that's what we like doing when travelling overseas or exploring previously unvisited parts of our own beautiful city.

I have missed rebuses but this is a bit much and inelegant.

Oh no - Ono again!

I didn't even understand the wordplay explanation so how on earth does one figure out the theme or uber gimmick? Must say set ups like this are impenetrable and exclusionary meaning the puzzle is only enjoyable for the few who get it.

Mon CHER - are BEDROOMEYES not a French letter opener too, say?

NERTS!

Loved it and no need to put in my cents today except as needed. And och aye not only was there a LAD but also a LASSI too to dance us a REEL.

No need to zzmule me today. I was untroubled by the theme but in strife with SOUNDERS and NAZCA. Knew the lines but forgot how to spell it. Colour me zzbedaled !

Lil rippa of a puzz! Thx. BEDSLATS - Brill!

ROSINED - I bow to thee.

14 mins faster than usual so based on that makes it an easy one for me. No complaints or judgement though as it had a nice chill vibe making it a fun solve. Looking forward to Thurday's Christmas puzzle and trying to solve under the spell of a festive food coma!

Outta dis woorld!

Didn't need or see the theme today. Just blissfully skipped right past the * until I had enough fills to solve. No point wasting bandwidth on something I don't see right away.

Alas no solve today - too many misqq.

Tasty with some crunchy toppings. Unlike the road kill rabbit stew I once ate while ski instructing in New Zealand. And yes, I found a hare in it.

Third in comments! Never happens but it was a faster than normal and fun Tuesday for me. Got stuck on CRAYFISH until everything made sense.

A nit to pick - SNEAKER is incorrect as shoes come in pairs making them plural when worn together like one would on casual Friday. Unless wearing just a sneaker is a new fad that'll pass.

9:28 slower than my Thu average but now enjoying a 4 day streak. Quite liked this gimmick-free, use your noodle and keep at it puzzle. And happily none of my usual shake my head, what the's on a Thursday.

Ending the year solving 8 minutes faster than my average Wednesday. For reference that's 30 minutes for me. Happy New Year everyone! May 2026 bring you more solves, less rebuses, and even more oreos 'cause who doesn't like them and their equally delectable subs - smores! Peace out. ✌️🙏

Sigh. Clever but my downs let me down so I didn't make the grade today. Now nothing for it but to drag my fail between my legs.

Would playing a bit of French horn be TOOTSWEET for a future puzzle say? When my parents were alive and in their retirement they loved going for a TOOTLE in their car when they would point themselves in one direction to see how far they could go and what they would find. Always came back with great stories.

Typical Saturday for me where I totally overthunk it and failed miserably. Really thought Sia was more contemporary than 2014 so skipped. To my recollection Cousin Itt didn't speak but rather squeaked gibberish so why would you need or pay some like Snoop to voice? Anyway, I didn't get it even though it was so plain to see it. Lesson learned - go with my gut first then unwind it later as required.

Carpe diem! Thank you!

Oddly, I had an awesome time not solving today's puzzle. And totally fine with none of the crosses helping me out. Seriously though I find it impossible to believe so many solvers know so much stuff. I had to bail out - again - but I learn a lot by doing that. Some sticks some doesn't but a few hang about in the background until a matching clue presents itself during future attempts. Words like AGAR and that thingy on the ends of shoe laces. 🤪

I believe it would have been more challenging - for everyone - if the raised capitals were filled in bottom to top to maintain the direction and flow of the answer. Anyway, solve for the answers first then the gimmick last is my new mantra.

Solving today's puzzle made me feel like a real Shining... Brilliant... Dazzling..

Ahhh...starting to see my problem now - the puzzle title doesn't appear at the top of the puzzle but only when I click on info which I don't do until I solve or reveal the puzzle. That's what I'm telling myself anyway! ;>] Real issue is that some answers are beyond my regional domain or areas of interest like names of authors. That challenge plus figuring out revealers makes it a poor experience for me. I'm really intrigued by solvers untroubled by any of it.

Got the trick but it made me antsy trying to believe it so like a noodge I hit reveal. NW was challenging for me today. In general I felt a bit deled.

You had me at ISOMER.

Boa constrictor, say . . . . . . . DRESSCODE

I didn’t get it until the music told me I did! Not a naf.

New PB today for REVEAL PUZZLE!

I learned a new shrubbery fact today which up until now had only been informed by <a href="https://youtu.be/69iB-xy0u4A?si=-eQLS3d3YbCYfWfk" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/69iB-xy0u4A?si=-eQLS3d3YbCYfWfk</a>

Sorry but I have another beef - why are the key clues always positioned deep into puzzles? Today's was 107 down? And asking for a friend - do most worders read the column before attempting to solve? Thanks.

I fall into the 'eventually' camp on this one. Managed to complete without any help though I was so close to bailing. I was good to finish once I figured out Pieta clue (pun intended). 🤪

Crossed, the middle of the Pacific Ocean easily but got held up, west of the, Hawaiin Islands. As usual, total oblivious to the theme until MAHJONG which opened up NIHAO. CONGEE line to celebrate anyone?

On the easy side as I missed only 2 or 3 letters as I never go to bars unless they're wine bars, never watched Game of Thrones as too much sex and nudity alongside extreme depictions of violence - instead I try to solve crosswords which may or may not involve any of that - and never knew until now the plural of oceanarium.

Today was not in my Saturday wheelhouse. I tend to switch off on weekends but had enough neurons to spare to crack a few and leave a wide berth for others. Did realise I have to take potential solves to a third or fourth option like serve restriction - I had alcohol and tennis but didn't press any further. I enjoyed the challenge even though I missed Bluey! Very un-Aussie of me - 'struth!

A SEA would have got me SINGH and a NOTECARD a HOTDATE (who knew?) and a solve. I completely ignored the rebus and just went with BCAP. Carnival game was a soft slow pitch.

Could have been faster if I wasn't doing this on a bouncy bus on my way home from work. 😵‍💫